In Re J. F., 06-Ca-123 (10-19-2007)

2007 Ohio 5652
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 19, 2007
DocketNo. 06-CA-123.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 2007 Ohio 5652 (In Re J. F., 06-Ca-123 (10-19-2007)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re J. F., 06-Ca-123 (10-19-2007), 2007 Ohio 5652 (Ohio Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

OPINION
{¶ 1} J.F., a minor, appeals from a decision and entry of the Greene County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, committing him to the Ohio Department of Youth Services under a previously suspended commitment.

{¶ 2} The record reflects that J.F. was charged on December 1, 2003 with five *Page 2 counts of delinquency for theft, a felony of the fifth degree if committed by an adult; one count of complicity to theft, a felony of the fourth degree if committed by an adult; one count of resisting a lawful arrest, a misdemeanor of the second degree if committed by an adult; and domestic violence, a misdemeanor of the first degree if committed by an adult. Subsequently, in exchange for his admission to the five counts of theft, one count of complicity to theft, and one count of resisting arrest, the State dismissed the domestic violence charge.

{¶ 3} Following a March 22, 2004 dispositional hearing, the juvenile court committed J.F. to the Department of Youth Services ("DYS") for an indefinite term consisting of a minimum period of six months on each felony offense to run consecutively and a maximum period not to exceed his twenty-first birthday. The court, however, suspended the commitment on the following conditions:

{¶ 4} "(1) No future violation of law.

{¶ 5} "(2) Successful Compliance with Monitored Time (Ohio R.C. Section 2152.19(A)[(4)](i), until the age of 18.

{¶ 6} "(3) Successfully complete the Felony Offenders Program.

{¶ 7} "(4) Successfully complete Community Control.

{¶ 8} "(5) Pay fines, court cost and restitution in a timely manner."

{¶ 9} Between March 2004 and March 2006, J.F. came before the juvenile court on a number of different occasions, including July 2004, on a claim of petty theft; December 2004, for a probation revocation hearing after being caught smoking in a school bathroom; April 2005, for a probation revocation hearing after fleeing from a residential treatment program; and June 2005, on a claim of falsification. Altogether, *Page 3 J.F. appeared before the juvenile court on 12 separate claims. With regard to each claim, J.F.'s probation or intensive probation was continued. In addition, J.F. was ordered by the court to attend Miami Valley Regional Rehabilitation Center, with which he successfully complied until his release from the program in November 2005. At that time, the court continued J.F. on intensive probation and further ordered that he attend counseling with Integrated Youth Services.

{¶ 10} On March 1, 2006, the juvenile court held a probation termination hearing where it ordered that J.F. be released from intensive probation, that he pay off pending fines and court costs, and that his ability to obtain a driver's license be reinstated. Lori Buckwalter, the Intensive Community Control Director, recommended the termination on the condition, however, that monitored time remain in effect. The corresponding journal entry reflected the court's decision except that the following terms were used in place of "intensive probation": "The Child's status on Intensive Community Control shall be terminated effective March 1, 2006." (Emphasis added.) Furthermore, there was no mention of monitored time.

{¶ 11} On August 31, 2006, J.F. appeared before the juvenile court for a plea hearing on a complaint alleging delinquency for one count of possession of a controlled substance, a minor misdemeanor if committed by an adult, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, a fourth degree misdemeanor if committed by an adult. The following exchange took place at the hearing concerning J.F.'s constitutional rights:

{¶ 12} "[THE COURT:] You have the right to have a lawyer represent you at all stages of the proceedings, you may contact the Public Defender's Office to see if you qualify for their services which are income based, or you may contact a private attorney *Page 4 instead.

{¶ 13} "You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to trial; right to cross-examine your witnesses that are presented by the State at the trial; the right to bring in your own witnesses through subpoena at trial.

{¶ 14} "The consequences I could impose upon you are the same regardless of whether or not you would volunteer your admission to me today or if we would later have a trial, the Court would determine, after listening to the testimony, that you committed this offense. I could remand you to detention, I could impose a fine, Court costs, place you back on probation.

{¶ 15} "I'm required to suspend your driver's license if you have one for a minimum period of six months.

{¶ 16} "You have a suspended commitment, excuse me, to the Ohio Department of Youth Services. As you know, that commitment could be imposed and you could be placed at the Ohio Department of Youth Services, although these are misdemeanor offenses, or I can make any other order that I think would be in your best interest.

{¶ 17} "So, as to Count I of this complaint, do you wish to admit or deny your responsibility to the offense of possession of a controlled substance, a minor misdemeanor?

{¶ 18} "A: Admit.

{¶ 19} "THE COURT: As to Count II of the complaint, being possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor of the 4th degree, you wish to admit or deny your responsibility?

{¶ 20} "A: Admit. *Page 5

{¶ 21} "THE COURT: Do you want a lawyer to represent you?

{¶ 22} "A: No, Your Honor.

{¶ 23} "THE COURT: If that is acceptable to your mother, I need you both to sign the waiver of summons form. Thank you.

{¶ 24} "If you admit, you're waiving your right to remain silent. Is that a right you wish to waive, your right to remain silent and tell me you committed these offenses?

{¶ 25} "A: Yes, Your Honor.

{¶ 26} "THE COURT: Do you understand you're waiving your right to a trial?

{¶ 27} "A: Yes, Your Honor.

{¶ 28} "THE COURT: So if you change your mind and you decide that you want me to hear from your witnesses or you want to question the State's witnesses, I'm not going to allow you to have that trial. Do you understand?

{¶ 29} "A: Yes, Your Honor.

{¶ 30} "THE COURT: You have a suspended commitment to the Ohio Department of Youth Services that was suspended in March of 2004. You had six felony offenses. If I want to impose the suspended commitment, you could be placed at the Ohio Department of Youth Services for a minimum period of three years because you have six suspended commitments, or I could commit you until you turn the age of 21. Do you understand?

{¶ 31} "A: Yes, Your Honor.

{¶ 32} "THE COURT: And you still wish to admit to these offenses?

{¶ 33} "A: Yes, Your Honor.

{¶ 34} "THE COURT: Then based on your admission I will find you to be

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Related

In Re A.R.D., Ca2008-04-095 (3-23-2009)
2009 Ohio 1306 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2009)
In re J.F.
902 N.E.2d 19 (Ohio Supreme Court, 2009)
In Re J.G., Ca2007-10-250 (5-12-2008)
2008 Ohio 2260 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2008)

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Bluebook (online)
2007 Ohio 5652, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-j-f-06-ca-123-10-19-2007-ohioctapp-2007.