A Summit County judge was expected to sentence Kouri Richins, the Kamas mother found guilty of killing her husband, to 25 years to life in prison next month, but a new request from her defense team could delay the hearing by five weeks.
On Wednesday, the attorneys asked Third District Court Judge Richard Mrazik to move sentencing from May 13 — which would have been Eric Richins’ 44th birthday — to the week of June 15. The Summit County Attorney’s Office opposed changing the date.
Kouri’s legal team, Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alexander Ramos, cited needing additional time to “properly research and prepare mitigation evidence and witnesses for Ms. Richins,” given the seriousness of her potential prison term, which includes the possibility of life without parole. The defense also wants to provide the family ample time to address the court, likely as character witnesses, and asked that the matter be scheduled for a full day.
The court document noted two of the attorneys had conflicts: a death in the family and a separate trial scheduled, which would make them unavailable on May 13.
Chief Prosecutor Brad Bloodworth argued against moving the sentencing date in the state’s reply filed the same day. He said the defense counsel confirmed they were available for sentencing on May 13 when the guilty verdict was delivered on March 16 and that Kouri told one of her attorneys the next day to “reschedule it for the end of May.”
Bloodworth cited court procedures that say sentencing should be within 45 days of a verdict. The May 13 date is 53 days later, which Bloodworth argued should provide sufficient time for the defense to prepare its evidence that could justify a lighter sentence. He added that the right to counsel in non-capital punishment cases, such as this one, is for one lawyer, not more.
The Summit County Attorney’s Office also expressed concerns that a continuance would have “ripple effects” into other scheduling matters and said the defense’s request should have been filed earlier.
“For three years, Eric Richins’ family has painfully and patiently stood by as the defendant has manufactured one reason after another to delay this proceeding,” court documents state. “There is no good reason for them to suffer further delay. The time has come for the court to sentence Kouri Richins.”
Mrazik had not ruled on the matter as of Friday afternoon.
Last month, a Summit County jury found Kouri guilty of fatally poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022. She was convicted of five felony charges: aggravated murder, attempted homicide, two counts of insurance fraud, and forgery.
Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty in the case. She faces a prison sentence of 25 years to life, with the possibility of no parole.