F.A. v. State of Indiana

CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 1, 2020
Docket19A-JV-2438
StatusPublished

This text of F.A. v. State of Indiana (F.A. v. State of Indiana) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
F.A. v. State of Indiana, (Ind. Ct. App. 2020).

Opinion

FILED May 01 2020, 9:06 am

CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Amy Karozos Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Indianapolis, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana Samantha M. Sumcad Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

F.A., May 1, 2020 Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No. 19A-JV-2438 v. Appeal from the Lawrence Circuit Court State of Indiana, The Honorable Nathan Nikirk, Appellee-Plaintiff. Judge Trial Court Cause No. 47C01-1908-JD-270 47C01-1906-JD-206 47C01-1904-JD-151 47C01-1904-JS-125

Tavitas, Judge.

Case Summary [1] F.A. appeals the juvenile court’s order requiring F.A. and her mother to

reimburse the costs of F.A.’s secure detention. We reverse and remand.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-JV-2438 | May 1, 2020 Page 1 of 14 Issues [2] F.A. raises two issues, which we consolidate and restate as whether the juvenile

court abused its discretion in ordering F.A. and her mother to reimburse the

costs of F.A.’s secure detention.

Facts [3] In April 2019, the State filed a delinquency petition against F.A. for

“committing the status offense of Runaway.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 220.

Also in April 2019, the State filed another delinquency petition alleging that

F.A. committed acts that would be escape if committed by an adult, a Level 6

felony. F.A. admitted the allegations of both petitions.

[4] In June 2019, the State filed a third delinquency petition alleging that F.A.

committed the status offense of runaway and acts that would be escape if

committed by an adult, a Level 6 felony. F.A. admitted the allegations of the

third petition, and at a dispositional hearing for all three of these petitions, the

juvenile court ordered F.A. to participate in a problem-solving court program.

[5] In August 2019, the State filed a fourth delinquency petition alleging that F.A.

committed acts that would be two counts of resisting law enforcement if

committed by an adult, Class A misdemeanors, and unauthorized entry of a

motor vehicle if committed by an adult, a Class B misdemeanor. F.A. admitted

to one count of resisting law enforcement if committed by an adult, Class A

misdemeanors, and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle if committed by an

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-JV-2438 | May 1, 2020 Page 2 of 14 adult, a Class B misdemeanor. The juvenile court placed F.A. at Crossroad

Child and Family Services (“Crossroad”).

[6] In September 2019, however, F.A. left Crossroad without permission. The

State filed a petition to modify probation based on the new offenses and the

offenses of runaway and escape from Crossroad. F.A. was then terminated

from the problem-solving court.

[7] In September 2019, the juvenile court held a dispositional hearing for the four

delinquency cases. The probation department’s pre-dispositional report left the

parents’ financial information blank except for noting that F.A.’s mother

receives $645.00 per month in “food stamps.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 83.

The trial court did not inquire into F.A.’s ability to pay or her mother’s ability

to pay at the dispositional hearing. 1

[8] The juvenile court awarded “wardship of the juvenile to the Indiana

Department of Correction [(“DOC”)] for housing in any correctional facility for

children.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 7. In a separate order, the juvenile court

ordered F.A. and her mother to pay the following: (1) $20.00 for a drug screen;

1 There was minimal discussion during the hearing of the fees and costs to be assessed to F.A. and her mother. During the hearing, the following interaction occurred between the juvenile court and F.A.’s counsel: THE COURT: Mr. Andis, witnesses or evidence in regards to the dispositional hearing? MR. ANDIS: No, Your Honor. As we discussed before this is something that we’re amenable to. Tr. Vol. II p. 13. It is unclear whether F.A.’s counsel was referring to the award of wardship of F.A. to the DOC or the fees and costs later ordered.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-JV-2438 | May 1, 2020 Page 3 of 14 (2) $15.00 for an informal adjustment fee; (3) $290.00 for a problem solving

court fee; (4) $328.00 for home detention fees; (5) $176.00 for court costs; (6)

$575.00 for restitution; and (7) $11,475.00 in secure detention costs, for total

fees of $12,879.00. 2 The juvenile court then ordered F.A.’s mother “to ensure

and guarantee that all fees and costs are paid as ordered.” Id. at 11.

Analysis [9] F.A. appeals the juvenile court’s order requiring F.A. and her mother to pay the

costs of secure detention. We review the award of such costs for an abuse of

discretion. E.M. v. State, 128 N.E.3d 1, 6 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019). An abuse of

discretion occurs if the decision is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts

and circumstances before the court. Schuler v. State, 132 N.E.3d 903, 904 (Ind.

2019).

[10] On appeal, F.A. makes no argument concerning the juvenile court’s imposition

of the drug screen fee, the informal adjustment fee, the problem solving court

fee, the home detention fees, the restitution, or the court costs. Rather, F.A.’s

arguments pertain only to the secure detention costs. Accordingly, we will

2 The fees pertained to five causes: 47C01-1903-JM-90; 47C01-1904-JS-125; 47C01-1904-JD-151; 47C01- 1906-JD-206; and 47C01-1908-JD-270. The record does not include details regarding Cause No. 47C01- 1903-JM-90.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 19A-JV-2438 | May 1, 2020 Page 4 of 14 address only the juvenile court’s imposition of secure detention costs in the

amount of $11,475.00. 3

[11] F.A. argues: (1) the juvenile court abused its discretion by imposing secure

detention costs without inquiring into F.A.’s and F.A.’s mother’s ability to pay;

(2) the juvenile court abused its discretion by ordering F.A. to pay the secure

detention costs; and (3) the juvenile court erred by failing to consider the Child

Support Rules and Guidelines. The State concedes that the juvenile court was

required to inquire into F.A.’s and her mother’s ability to pay the secure

detention costs. The State, however, does not address F.A.’s remaining

arguments.

[12] Addressing F.A.’s arguments requires that we interpret the reimbursement

statutes. When interpreting a statute, our primary goal is to fulfill the

legislature’s intent. State v. Brown, 70 N.E.3d 331, 334 (Ind. 2017). The “best

evidence” of that intent is the statute’s language. Id. If that language is clear

and unambiguous, we simply apply its plain and ordinary meaning. Id.

[13] F.A.’s arguments concern the trial court’s imposition of the costs of secure

detention. Indiana Code Section 31-40-1-1.5(a) defines “costs of secure

detention” as:

3 F.A. notes in her Appellant’s Brief that the courts in the county at issue here have ordered parents to pay substantial reimbursements in several cases. See E.M. v. State, 128 N.E.3d 1, 6 (Ind. Ct. App. 2019); J.T. v. State, 111 N.E.3d 1019 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018), trans. denied.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State of Indiana v. David Brown
70 N.E.3d 331 (Indiana Supreme Court, 2017)
J.T. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
111 N.E.3d 1019 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2018)
E.M. v. State
128 N.E.3d 1 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2019)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
F.A. v. State of Indiana, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fa-v-state-of-indiana-indctapp-2020.