In re M.A.V.

88 S.W.3d 327
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided July 24, 2002·No. No. 04-01-00533-CV·Published·Cited by 12 cases

Opinion

Opinion by:

CATHERINE STONE, Justice.

This case concerns the State’s fourth attempt to certify M.A.V. to stand trial as an adult for crimes he allegedly committed when he was sixteen.1 M.A.V. is charged with seven counts of capital murder, three counts of murder, eleven counts of burglary, and one count of theft. In three issues, M.A.Y. challenges the juvenile court’s latest certification and transfer order, claiming: (1) transfer to criminal district court is improper because the juvenile court has already adjudicated him guilty of the alleged offenses; (2) there is legally and factually insufficient evidence to support several of the juvenile court’s probable cause findings; and (3) the juvenile court failed to waive its jurisdiction over this matter. We affirm in part, and reverse and render in part.

A. Double Jeopardy

In his first issue, M.A.Y. claims the juvenile court is precluded from transferring him to criminal district court because jeopardy has already attached regarding the alleged offenses. See Breed v. Jones, 421 U.S. 519, 95 S.Ct. 1779, 44 L.Ed.2d 346 (1975). M.A.V. contends jeopardy has attached because the court’s transfer order states: “the court finds ... [M.A.V.] did violate a penal law .... (the order then cites each penal provision M.A.V. purportedly violated).” We disagree.

In Breed v. Jones, the State of California filed a petition in juvenile court alleging Breed had committed robbery. Id. at 521, 95 S.Ct. 1779. An adjudicatory hearing was held, and the court determined Breed had committed the offense. Id. at 521-22, 95 S.Ct. 1779. Shortly thereafter, the court declared Breed “unfit for treatment as a juvenile” and transferred Breed to adult court. Id. at 524, 95 S.Ct. 1779. Breed was tried as an adult and, once again, found guilty of robbery. Id. at 525, 95 S.Ct. 1779. Breed filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in federal district court, alleging his prosecution in adult court subjected him to double jeopardy. Id. at 525-26, 95 S.Ct. 1779. The Supreme Court agreed with Breed, holding jeopardy attaches:

at a proceeding whose object is to determine whether he has committed acts that violate a criminal law and whose potential consequences include both the stigma inherent in such a determination and the deprivation of liberty for many years.

Id. at 529, 95 S.Ct. 1779. The Court determined jeopardy attaches at the point in a juvenile proceeding where the juvenile is “put to trial before the trier of facts.” Id. at 531, 95 S.Ct. 1779. The court recognized its holding will require that a decision to transfer a juvenile be made prior to [330] an adjudicatory hearing. Id. at 535-36, 95 S.Ct. 1779. However, the Court specifically noted:

nothing decided today forecloses States from requiring as a prerequisite to the transfer of a juvenile, substantial evidence that he committed the offense charged, so long as the showing required is not made in an adjudicatory proceeding.

Id. at 538 n. 18, 95 S.Ct. 1779.

Breed is distinguishable from the case at bar. Unlike Breed, we are not confronted with a situation where the child was adjudicated prior to his transfer. Texas courts have consistently held that a certification and transfer hearing is not an adjudicatory trial because the child’s guilt or innocence is not the subject of inquiry. In re L.R.L.C., 693 S.W.2d 552, 553 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1985, no writ). Rather, the subject of inquiry at such hearing is whether:

there is probable cause to believe that the child before the court committed the offense alleged and that because of the seriousness of the offense alleged or the background of the child the welfare of the community requires criminal proceedings.

See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 54.02(a)(3) (Vernon 1996).

It is clear from the record that Judge Míreles knew the difference between transfer and adjudication, and conducted the proceeding as a transfer hearing. Throughout the proceeding, Judge Míreles repeatedly reminded M.A.V. “this is not your trial” and stressed that “this proceeding was not for determining guilt or innocence.” Moreover, Judge Mireles’s order specifically states:

(1)After having been duly appointed ... the Honorable Andy Míreles ... considered whether there is probable cause to believe ... [M.A.V.] committed the offenses listed below.
(2) No adjudication hearing has been conducted to this point concerning the offenses set forth above.
(3) A full investigation and hearing of the child, his circumstances and the circumstances of the offense were conducted by this Court and this Court finds that there is probable cause to believe M.A.V. committed the offenses as charged.
(4) And further, there is probable cause to believe that [M.A.V.] ... engaged in delinquent conduct and that further proceedings in the case in the Adult Court are in the best interest of [M.A.V.] and the general public.
(5) No adjudication concerning the alleged offenses has been made and no adjudication hearing concerning the offenses has been conducted.
(6) This Court determines that there is probable cause to believe [M.A.V.] ... committed the offenses alleged.

Because Judge Míreles recognized that the only issue to be decided at this hearing was whether he should transfer M.A.V. to criminal district court, we hold M.A.V.’s double jeopardy rights were not violated. M.A.V.’s first issue is therefore overruled.

B. Erroneous Probable Cause Findings

In his second issue, M.A.V. claims there is legally and factually insufficient evidence to support several of the juvenile court’s probable cause findings. Specifically, M.A.V. contends there is insufficient evidence' to support the court’s findings regarding: (1) burglary by entering a habitation and attempting to commit and committing a theft of Daniel Dueñez, Jr.; (2) burglary by entering a habitation and attempting to commit and committing a theft of Ruben Martinez, Jr.; (3) burglary by entering a habitation and attempting [331] to commit and committing a robbery of Daniel Dueñez, Jr.; and (4) burglary by entering a habitation and attempting to commit and committing a robbery of Ruben Martinez, Jr. We agree.

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In re M.A.V., 88 S.W.3d 327 (Tex. Ct. App. 2002).

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