In re: D.R.F. Jr.

CourtCourt of Appeals of North Carolina
DecidedMay 7, 2024
Docket23-473
StatusPublished

This text of In re: D.R.F. Jr. (In re: D.R.F. Jr.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re: D.R.F. Jr., (N.C. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA

No. COA23-473

Filed 7 May 2024

Yadkin County, No. 19 JB 13

IN THE MATTER OF: D.R.F., JR.

Appeal by Juvenile from Orders entered 28 November 2022 by Judge David V.

Byrd in Yadkin County District Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 31 October

2023.

Attorney General Joshua H. Stein, by Deputy Solicitor General Lindsay Vance Smith, for the State.

Appellate Defender Glenn Gerding, by Assistant Appellate Defender John F. Carella, for Juvenile-Appellant.

HAMPSON, Judge.

Juvenile D.R.F., Jr. (Daniel1) appeals from a Juvenile Adjudication Order

finding he committed the offense of Communicating a Threat to Commit Mass

Violence on Educational Property and adjudicating him as a delinquent juvenile and

a Juvenile Level 2 Disposition Order placing him on 12 months of probation and

committing him in secure custody for seven days. The Record before us tends to

1 A pseudonym for the Juvenile stipulated to by the parties. IN RE: D.R.F. JR.

Opinion of the Court

reflect the following:

On 26 May 2022—after two prior Juvenile Petitions in the case alleging similar

facts had previously been filed and dismissed in the case—a Deputy with the Yadkin

County Sheriff's Office filed a verified Juvenile Petition. The Petition alleged Daniel

had threatened to commit an act of mass violence on educational property in violation

of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-277.6. The Petition was heard by the trial court on 2 June

2022.

At the outset of this hearing, the trial court, with consent of the parties,

conducted a consolidated first appearance, probable cause, and adjudication hearing.

The parties agreed the trial court could record and consider the evidence presented

in support of the State’s showing of probable cause as the State’s evidence for

adjudication. At this hearing, the State presented testimony from three other

students: Samantha, Jillian, and Gerald.2

Samantha, Jillian, and Gerald each testified that they were in a chorus class

with Daniel at a local high school during the spring semester of 2022. Samantha

testified there were approximately 15 to 17 students in the class. On 6 January 2022,

the students were gathered near the exit of the auditorium after the chorus class

waiting to go to lunch. Samantha saw Daniel talking with a group of other students.

She heard Daniel say “that he was going to shoot up the school.” Samantha could not

2 Pseudonyms employed by the parties.

-2- IN RE: D.R.F. JR.

identify any of the other students. Samantha testified the statement made her feel

“[f]rightened like I was really scared.” She reported Daniel’s statement to the School

Resource Officer.

Jillian testified she “heard someone say, ‘I will bring the guns.’ ” Jillian further

testified Samantha told her she heard Daniel “say that he was going to shoot up the

school[.]” Jillian “was scared because I don’t want to be in the next school to get shot

up.” She made a report to the School Resource Officer after lunch.

Gerald testified he heard Daniel state: “that they was going to shoot up the

school.” Like Samantha, he did not know the other students. He testified that

hearing the statement made him feel “sick to my stomach[,]” meaning scared. Over

Daniel’s objection, Gerald testified about a separate incident with Daniel where

Daniel had threatened Gerald by text message and told Gerald he was going to make

a “diss track.” Gerald further testified Daniel then made “a video about blowing my

brains out and others.” This was why Gerald’s sense of fear was heightened when he

heard Daniel’s comment. Gerald described Daniel’s tone of voice as “serious.” Gerald

did not see anyone’s reaction to the statement but did not hear anyone laugh.

Following this testimony, the trial court found there was probable cause to

proceed to adjudication. Daniel, through counsel, denied the allegations in the

Petition. The State rested on the evidence presented through the testimony of

Samantha, Jillian, and Gerald.

-3- IN RE: D.R.F. JR.

At the close of the State’s evidence, Daniel, through counsel, moved to dismiss

the Petition for insufficient evidence. The trial court denied the motion and the

parties presented arguments. Daniel’s trial counsel argued there was insufficient

evidence Daniel communicated a threat to commit mass violence on educational

property. Daniel’s trial counsel also argued there was no evidence Daniel’s statement

constituted a true threat and, as such, was protected speech under the First

Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Following trial counsel’s argument, the trial court rendered its adjudication

finding beyond a reasonable doubt Daniel had committed the offense of

Communicating a Threat to Commit Mass Violence on Educational Property. The

State requested the trial court continue disposition for seven days while Daniel was

held in secure custody. Daniel’s trial counsel objected to Daniel being held in secure

custody. The trial court continued disposition and required Daniel to be held in

secure custody for seven days pending disposition.

The disposition hearing was held on 9 June 2022. The trial court orally ordered

Daniel placed on juvenile probation for 12 months. The trial court further ordered

Daniel to intermittent detention of an additional seven days suspended upon Daniel’s

completion of 50 hours of community work. The trial court also noted Daniel’s oral

Notice of Appeal.

-4- IN RE: D.R.F. JR.

On 28 November 2022, the trial court entered its written Juvenile Adjudication

Order and Juvenile Level 2 Disposition Order. In the written Juvenile Adjudication

Order, the trial court found:

The juvenile made a “true threat” to shoot up the school. Each student witness who heard the juvenile’s threat testified that they took the threat seriously. One witness testified that it made him “sick to his stomach” with fear. Although one witness did not believe that the threat would be carried out immediately, she believed that it would be carried out. The Court finds that a reasonable hearer would objectively construe the statement as an actual threat causing fear. The Court further finds the juvenile subjectively intended the statement to be construed as a threat. Indeed, another student told the juvenile that he “would bring the gun.” There is no evidence that there was any laughter or joking at the time that the threat was made. Further, the juvenile’s prior making of a video threatening a fellow student tends to show his intent that the statement be construed as a threat.

The trial court’s Adjudication Order also noted the continuance of disposition and

placement of Daniel in secure custody for seven days pending disposition. The trial

court’s Juvenile Level 2 Disposition Order was entered consistent with its prior

orally-rendered ruling. Daniel timely filed written Notice of Appeal from both the

Juvenile Adjudication Order and the Juvenile Level 2 Disposition Order on 8

December 2022.

Issues

The issues on appeal are whether: (I) there was sufficient evidence Daniel’s

statement that he was going to shoot up the school constituted a true threat to survive

dismissal on constitutional grounds; (II) there was sufficient evidence Daniel

-5- IN RE: D.R.F. JR.

committed the offense of Communicating a Threat of Mass Violence on Educational

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Bluebook (online)
In re: D.R.F. Jr., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-drf-jr-ncctapp-2024.