In re A.S.

2019 Ohio 2558
Ohio Court of Appeals·Decided June 26, 2019·No. C-180045, C-180046·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

[Cite as In re A.S., 2019-Ohio-2558.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO

IN RE: A.S. : APPEAL NOS. C-180045 C-180046 : TRIAL NOS. 16-7750Z 17-2985Z :

: O P I N I O N.

Appeals From: Hamilton County Juvenile Court

Judgments Appealed From Are: Affirmed in Part, Reversed in Part, and Cause Remanded in C-180045; Vacated in C-180046

Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: June 26, 2019

Joseph T. Deters, Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney, and Alex Scott Havlin, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for Appellee State of Ohio,

Raymond T. Faller, Hamilton County Public Defender, and Julie Kahrs Nessler and Caitlin J. Burgess, Assistant Public Defenders, for Appellant A.S. OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

WINKLER, Judge.

{¶1} Appellant A.S. appeals the judgments of the juvenile court revoking his

probation in two delinquency cases, and committing him to the Department of Youth

Services (“DYS”). We determine that the juvenile court violated A.S.’s due-process

rights by revoking his probation in the case numbered 17-2985Z without following

Juv.R. 29 and 35. With respect to the case numbered 16-7750Z, we determine that

the juvenile court erred in failing to give A.S. credit toward his DYS commitment for

the days he spent at Abraxas Youth Center (“Abraxas”).

I. Facts and Procedure

{¶2} In November 2016, the state filed a delinquency complaint against A.S.

alleging that he had committed what would be the offense of burglary, if committed

by an adult. The juvenile court adjudicated A.S. delinquent, imposed a suspended

commitment to DYS, and placed A.S. on probation. In May 2017, the state filed

another delinquency complaint against A.S. for receiving stolen property (“RSP”),

accompanied by a firearm specification. The juvenile court adjudicated A.S.

delinquent, imposed a suspended commitment to DYS, and placed A.S. on probation

at Abraxas—a residential, behavioral-health facility.

{¶3} In November 2017, the state filed a probation-violation complaint in

A.S.’s 2016 burglary case, alleging that A.S. had violated his probation by absconding

from Abraxas. The state did not file a probation-violation complaint in A.S.’s RSP

case.

{¶4} The magistrate held a hearing on the probation violation and A.S.

indicated that he was prepared to admit to the violation. The magistrate told A.S.

that by admitting to the probation violation, he could be sent to DYS for a minimum

2 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

of six months, up to the age of 21. Neither the state nor the magistrate mentioned

A.S.’s RSP case. A.S. admitted to violating his probation, and the matter was

continued for disposition.

{¶5} At the dispositional hearing, the state asked the juvenile court to

“reopen” A.S.’s RSP case in order to impose the suspended commitment in that case,

in addition to imposing the suspended commitment in the burglary case. A.S.’s

attorney objected to the imposition of the suspended commitment in the RSP case on

notice grounds. The juvenile court followed the state’s recommendation and

imposed a DYS commitment of six months, up to the age of 21, in A.S.’s burglary

case, and also imposed a DYS commitment of six months, up to the age of 21, in

A.S.’s RSP case, plus an additional 12 months for the firearm specification. The

juvenile court imposed the commitments in both cases consecutively.

{¶6} A.S. filed a motion requesting confinement credit for the time he spent

at Abraxas to reduce the minimum period of his DYS commitment. The juvenile

court held an evidentiary hearing to consider whether Abraxas had measures

sufficient to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, and whether staff

controlled the youths’ personal liberties, such that Abraxas constitutes confinement.

The juvenile court determined that Abraxas did not constitute confinement.

{¶7} A.S. has appealed.

II. Due Process under Juv.R. 29 and 35

{¶8} We address A.S.’s second assignment of error first. In this assignment,

A.S. argues that his due-process rights were violated when the juvenile court

imposed the suspended commitments without following the procedures laid out in

Juv.R. 29 and 35.

3 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

{¶9} Similar to adults facing criminal charges, juveniles who are subject to

delinquency proceedings “are entitled to proceedings that ‘measure up to the

essentials of due process and fair treatment.’ ” In re J.V., 134 Ohio St.3d 1, 2012-

Ohio-4961, 979 N.E.2d 1203, ¶ 14, citing Kent v. United States, 383 U.S. 541, 562, 86

S.Ct. 1045, 16 L.Ed.2d 84 (1966). Due-process protections apply when the state

seeks to revoke a juvenile’s probation, and those protections are embodied in Juv.R.

29 and 35. See In re L.A.B., 121 Ohio St.3d 112, 2009-Ohio-354, 902 N.E.2d 471, ¶

56.

{¶10} Juv.R. 29 governs adjudicatory hearings, including probation-

revocation hearings. See id. at syllabus. An “adjudicatory hearing” is conducted by

the juvenile court “to determine whether a child is * * * delinquent * * * or otherwise

within the jurisdiction of the court.” Juv.R. 2(B). Juv.R. 29 provides in relevant

part,

(B) Advisement and Findings at the Commencement of the

Hearing. At the beginning of the [adjudicatory] hearing, the court

shall do all of the following: (1) Ascertain whether notice requirements

have been complied with and, if not, whether the affected parties waive

compliance; (2) Inform the parties of the substance of the complaint,

the purpose of the hearing, and possible consequences of the hearing *

* *.

***

(C) Entry of Admission or Denial. The court shall request each

party against whom allegations are being made in the complaint to

admit or deny the allegations.

4 OHIO FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS

(D) Initial Procedure Upon Entry of an Admission. The court

may refuse to accept an admission and shall not accept an admission

without addressing the party personally and determining []: (1) The

party is making the admission voluntarily with understanding of the

nature of the allegations and the consequences of the admission[.]

{¶11} Juv.R. 35 applies specifically to proceedings after judgment, including

probation revocation, and it provides in relevant part,

(A) Continuing Jurisdiction; Invoked by Motion. The

continuing jurisdiction of the court shall be invoked by motion filed in

the original proceeding, notice of which shall be served in the manner

provided for the service of process.

(B) Revocation of Probation. The court shall not revoke

probation except after a hearing at which the child shall be present and

apprised of the grounds on which revocation is proposed. The parties

shall have the right to counsel and the right to appointed counsel

where entitled pursuant to Juv. R. 4(A). Probation shall not be

revoked except upon a finding that the child has violated a condition of

probation of which the child had, pursuant to Juv. R. 34(C), been

notified.

{¶12} Here, with respect to A.S.’s RSP case, no motion was filed alleging a

probation violation, which is required under Juv.R. 35 to invoke the continuing

jurisdiction of the court.

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