Justices to hear appeal in sex-abuse case

State prosecutors will get their chance to have their conviction upheld against a former Moab softball coach who was convicted of "grooming" a 14-year-old girl for a sexual affair.

In a notice filed Friday, the Utah Supreme Court has agreed to hear the state's appeal in the case of Arielle Beck.

Beck was convicted by a jury of three counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanor counts of unlawful supply of alcohol to a minor and violating a civil stalking injunction. She was sentenced to three consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison and one year in jail for each misdemeanor count.

However, last May the Utah Court of Appeals overturned Beck's conviction, finding that 7th District Judge Lyle Anderson engaged in prolonged adversarial questioning of Beck before a jury.

The Utah Attorney General's Office has argued that Beck did receive a fair trial and that she was convicted on the evidence brought before the jury.

The Court of Appeals has found that Beck should have a new trial. That order will be stayed pending a decision by the Supreme Court.