THIRD DIVISION BARNES, P. J., BOGGS and BRANCH, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/
November 18, 2014
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A14A0860. IN THE INTEREST OF R. M., A CHILD.
BARNES, Presiding Judge.
The juvenile Court revoked R. M.’s probation and committed him to the
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice for 60 months, at least 18 of which were to
be served in confinement at a youth development center. On appeal, R. M. contends
that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to revoke his probation because
the State did not file a proper revocation petition, that his due process rights were
violated because of the State’s failure to file and serve him with a sufficient petition,
and that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he violated his probation.
Upon our review, we affirm. The enumerations related to the revocation of probation involve questions of
law, which we review de novo, and “[w]e review the factual findings supporting the
juvenile court’s order for clear error.” In the Interest of R. F., 295 Ga. App. 739 (673
SE2d 108) (2009).
The record shows that on February 1, 2012, R. M. was adjudicated delinquent
for having committed an offense that would have constituted aggravated child
molestation if he had been an adult. On March 7, 2012, the juvenile court placed R.
M. on 20 months of probation, the conditions of which included that he not violate
any laws or use drugs, among other things.
At some point in 2013, the State filed a petition to adjudicate R. M. delinquent
for theft by taking a motor vehicle, failure to report an accident, and driving without
a license, and at an August 28, 2013 hearing, he was adjudicated delinquent.1 At that
hearing, the State apparently filed a motion to revoke R. M.’s probation on the earlier
child molestation adjudication, alleging numerous probation violations, including the
adjudication for the traffic offenses and car theft and served a copy on R. M.’s
1 The delinquency petition for the traffic offenses and adjudication and disposition orders were not included in the record.
2 attorney. Disposition on the automobile-related offenses was deferred until September
4, 2013, when the juvenile court also considered the probation revocation petition.
At the September 4, 2013, hearing, R. M. argued that the trial court lacked
subject matter jurisdiction to hear the State’s Petition to Revoke his probation.
According to R. M., when the State files a petition to revoke probation, the petition
must contain the same contents as a delinquency petition as set forth in former OCGA
§ 15-11-38.1 and Uniform Juvenile Code Rule 3.8, and the State must follow the
same statutory steps that are required to initiate a delinquency proceeding under
former OCGA § 15-11-39.2
The trial court responded that it considered the State’s Petition to Revoke
proper under former OCGA § 15-11-40 (c) and concluded that, when taken together
with the original delinquency petition, it was sufficient “in terms of facts and notice
to the Defendant.” The court found that in
this case a petition for revocation must be filed, but it must be filed under [former] OCGA § 15-11-40 (b).3. . . When a probation revocation
2 See Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 5-1, which notes that the new Juvenile Code “shall become effective on January 1, 2014, and shall apply to all … juvenile proceedings commenced on or after such date.” 3 Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (b) provided in relevant part that “ [a]n order granting probation to a child found to be delinquent or unruly may be revoked on the
3 petition is filed then the juvenile court is authorized to enter disposition pursuant to the designated felony statute if the original delinquent act is shown to be a designated felony . . . . A delinquency petition alleging a probation violation is not sufficient to revoke a juvenile’s probation imposed for his previous adjudication of delinquency, which is why the State filed this motion.
At the end of the September 4, 2013, hearing, the juvenile court adjudicated R.
M. as delinquent on the automobile-related offenses and subsequently issued a
disposition order for him to serve 30 days in a short-term treatment program. The
court also revoked R. M.’s probation on the aggravated child molestation adjudication
upon finding “beyond a reasonable doubt that [R. M.] had violated his probation
sufficient for revocation, relying principally on his newly adjudicated offense of Theft
By Taking Motor Vehicle (Felony), Driving Without A License, and Failure to Report
an Accident.” The juvenile court delayed final disposition on the revocation until a
new psychological evaluation could be conducted, and held a final hearing on
November 6, 2013.
Finally, after that hearing, the juvenile court on November 15, 2013, issued a
dispositional order of commitment for a designated felony, committing R. M. to the
ground that the conditions of probation have not been observed.”
4 custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice for sixty months, to be confined for at
least 18 months in detention.
1. In two related enumerations, R. M. contends that the trial court lacked
subject matter jurisdiction to revoke R. M.’s probation because the State did not file
a petition to revoke probation that satisfied the requirements of a delinquency
petition. We do not agree because requirements for a petition to revoke probation are
controlled by former OCGA § 15-11-40.
“An order granting probation to a child found to be delinquent or unruly may
be revoked on the ground that the conditions of probation have not been observed.”
Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (b). To that end,
Any party to the proceeding, the probation officer, or any other person having supervision or legal custody of or an interest in the child may petition the court for the relief provided in this Code section. The petition shall set forth in clear and concise language the grounds upon which the relief is requested.
Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (c). See In the Interest of B. C., 169 Ga. App. 200,
201-202 (311 SE2d 857) (1983) (“[B]efore a juvenile court may revoke an order
granting probation, a petition must be filed requesting such relief.”). And to satisfy
due process, a “petition must contain sufficient factual details to inform the juvenile
5 of the nature of the offense and must provide data adequate to enable the accused to
prepare his defense.” In the Interest of A. T., 246 Ga. App. 30, 31 (539 SE2d 540)
(2000) (delinquency petition need not inform juvenile he is being charged with
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
THIRD DIVISION BARNES, P. J., BOGGS and BRANCH, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/
November 18, 2014
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A14A0860. IN THE INTEREST OF R. M., A CHILD.
BARNES, Presiding Judge.
The juvenile Court revoked R. M.’s probation and committed him to the
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice for 60 months, at least 18 of which were to
be served in confinement at a youth development center. On appeal, R. M. contends
that the trial court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to revoke his probation because
the State did not file a proper revocation petition, that his due process rights were
violated because of the State’s failure to file and serve him with a sufficient petition,
and that the evidence was insufficient to establish that he violated his probation.
Upon our review, we affirm. The enumerations related to the revocation of probation involve questions of
law, which we review de novo, and “[w]e review the factual findings supporting the
juvenile court’s order for clear error.” In the Interest of R. F., 295 Ga. App. 739 (673
SE2d 108) (2009).
The record shows that on February 1, 2012, R. M. was adjudicated delinquent
for having committed an offense that would have constituted aggravated child
molestation if he had been an adult. On March 7, 2012, the juvenile court placed R.
M. on 20 months of probation, the conditions of which included that he not violate
any laws or use drugs, among other things.
At some point in 2013, the State filed a petition to adjudicate R. M. delinquent
for theft by taking a motor vehicle, failure to report an accident, and driving without
a license, and at an August 28, 2013 hearing, he was adjudicated delinquent.1 At that
hearing, the State apparently filed a motion to revoke R. M.’s probation on the earlier
child molestation adjudication, alleging numerous probation violations, including the
adjudication for the traffic offenses and car theft and served a copy on R. M.’s
1 The delinquency petition for the traffic offenses and adjudication and disposition orders were not included in the record.
2 attorney. Disposition on the automobile-related offenses was deferred until September
4, 2013, when the juvenile court also considered the probation revocation petition.
At the September 4, 2013, hearing, R. M. argued that the trial court lacked
subject matter jurisdiction to hear the State’s Petition to Revoke his probation.
According to R. M., when the State files a petition to revoke probation, the petition
must contain the same contents as a delinquency petition as set forth in former OCGA
§ 15-11-38.1 and Uniform Juvenile Code Rule 3.8, and the State must follow the
same statutory steps that are required to initiate a delinquency proceeding under
former OCGA § 15-11-39.2
The trial court responded that it considered the State’s Petition to Revoke
proper under former OCGA § 15-11-40 (c) and concluded that, when taken together
with the original delinquency petition, it was sufficient “in terms of facts and notice
to the Defendant.” The court found that in
this case a petition for revocation must be filed, but it must be filed under [former] OCGA § 15-11-40 (b).3. . . When a probation revocation
2 See Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 5-1, which notes that the new Juvenile Code “shall become effective on January 1, 2014, and shall apply to all … juvenile proceedings commenced on or after such date.” 3 Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (b) provided in relevant part that “ [a]n order granting probation to a child found to be delinquent or unruly may be revoked on the
3 petition is filed then the juvenile court is authorized to enter disposition pursuant to the designated felony statute if the original delinquent act is shown to be a designated felony . . . . A delinquency petition alleging a probation violation is not sufficient to revoke a juvenile’s probation imposed for his previous adjudication of delinquency, which is why the State filed this motion.
At the end of the September 4, 2013, hearing, the juvenile court adjudicated R.
M. as delinquent on the automobile-related offenses and subsequently issued a
disposition order for him to serve 30 days in a short-term treatment program. The
court also revoked R. M.’s probation on the aggravated child molestation adjudication
upon finding “beyond a reasonable doubt that [R. M.] had violated his probation
sufficient for revocation, relying principally on his newly adjudicated offense of Theft
By Taking Motor Vehicle (Felony), Driving Without A License, and Failure to Report
an Accident.” The juvenile court delayed final disposition on the revocation until a
new psychological evaluation could be conducted, and held a final hearing on
November 6, 2013.
Finally, after that hearing, the juvenile court on November 15, 2013, issued a
dispositional order of commitment for a designated felony, committing R. M. to the
ground that the conditions of probation have not been observed.”
4 custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice for sixty months, to be confined for at
least 18 months in detention.
1. In two related enumerations, R. M. contends that the trial court lacked
subject matter jurisdiction to revoke R. M.’s probation because the State did not file
a petition to revoke probation that satisfied the requirements of a delinquency
petition. We do not agree because requirements for a petition to revoke probation are
controlled by former OCGA § 15-11-40.
“An order granting probation to a child found to be delinquent or unruly may
be revoked on the ground that the conditions of probation have not been observed.”
Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (b). To that end,
Any party to the proceeding, the probation officer, or any other person having supervision or legal custody of or an interest in the child may petition the court for the relief provided in this Code section. The petition shall set forth in clear and concise language the grounds upon which the relief is requested.
Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (c). See In the Interest of B. C., 169 Ga. App. 200,
201-202 (311 SE2d 857) (1983) (“[B]efore a juvenile court may revoke an order
granting probation, a petition must be filed requesting such relief.”). And to satisfy
due process, a “petition must contain sufficient factual details to inform the juvenile
5 of the nature of the offense and must provide data adequate to enable the accused to
prepare his defense.” In the Interest of A. T., 246 Ga. App. 30, 31 (539 SE2d 540)
(2000) (delinquency petition need not inform juvenile he is being charged with
designated felony and could be sentenced to restrictive custody).
Here, the State denominated its filing as “State’s Motion to Revoke Probation
and Petition to Seek Relief under OCGA § 15-11-40.” The State’s petition met the
requirements of former OCGA § 15-11-40 (c) and (d)4, and that is all that was
required. “For purposes of statutory interpretation, a specific statute will prevail over
a general statute, absent any indication of a contrary legislative intent.” Vines v. State,
269 Ga. 438, 440 (499 SE2d 630) (1998). See State v. Chapman, 322 Ga. App. 82,
83 (744 SE2d 77) (2013) (“Pleadings, motions, and orders are construed according
to their substance and function and not merely by nomenclature.”) (citations and
punctuation omitted). Here, the specific requirements of the juvenile probation
revocation statute prevail over the more general requirements of a petition for an
4 Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (d) provided that “[a]fter the petition is filed, the court shall fix a time for hearing and shall cause notice to be served, as a summons is served under [former] Code Section 15-11-39.1, on the parties to the proceeding or those affected by the relief sought. After the hearing, which may be informal, the court shall deny or grant relief as the evidence warrants.”
6 adjudication of delinquency or unruliness, and the juvenile court had subject matter
jurisdiction over the revocation proceedings.
Under these circumstances, and mindful that “[t]he General Assembly has
provided that the [Juvenile Code] shall be liberally construed to effectuate its
purpose,” English v. Milby, 233 Ga. 7, 9 (1) (209 SE2d 603) (1974); former OCGA
§ 15-11-1, we find that the court did not err in finding that, as a matter of law, the
State had filed a sufficient petition to revoke R. M.’s probation pursuant to former
OCGA § 15-11-40 (b).
2. R. M. also contends that his due process rights were violated because he was
denied notice and an opportunity to be heard on the revocation issue. He contends
that he and his guardian never received a copy of the State’s motion.
Former OCGA § 15-11-40 (d) provided that after the petition is filed, then
pursuant to former OCGA § 15-11-39.1 (a), a summons is served at least 24 hours
before the hearing. It appears from the record that R. M.’s guardian was personally
served with the summons and the State’s Petition to Revoke on August 29, 2013, and
notorious service was made upon R. M. by serving the guardian with the summons
for R. M. on that same date. The record also demonstrates that R. M. was also
personally served at the youth detention center where he was being detained on
7 August 28, 2013. Further, the Petition to Revoke stated that the hearing was set for
September 4, 2013, that the purpose was for the revocation of R. M.’s original order
of probation, the alleged grounds for revocation, and the factors for consideration as
a designated felon. Moreover, at the September 4, 2013, hearing, R. M. and his
attorney were present but did not voice any objection to service or request a
continuance and thus waived any objection on the grounds of improper service. See
In the Interest of E. S., 262 Ga. App. 768, 769 (1) (a) (586 SE2d 691) (2003). See also
In the Interest of D. L. S., 224 Ga. App. 660, 661 (2) (482 SE2d 418) (1997)
(“Objections not raised at trial cannot be raised for the first time on appeal, as they
are deemed waived.”) (citation and punctuation omitted). Therefore, we find no due
process violation regarding R. M.’s notice of the revocation petition.
3. R. M. also contends that the evidence did not show beyond a reasonable
doubt that he violated the provisions of his probation. See T. S. I. v. State, 139 Ga.
App. 775, 776-777 (1) (229 SE2d 553) (1976) (in juvenile probation revocation,
proof of violation must be beyond reasonable doubt). Included in the terms and
conditions of R. M.’s probation order were, among other things, that he not have any
positive screens for controlled substances without a doctor’s prescription, that he be
supervised at all times, and that he not “violate any Federal, State, County, Municipal
8 law or ordinance.” We note again that the August 28, 3013, hearing at which N. M.
was adjudicated delinquent for theft of an automobile and other traffic offenses is not
included in the record, and when no transcript is included in the record on appeal, we
must presume that the trial court acted correctly. Davis v. State, 319 Ga. App. 501 n.1
(736 SE2d 160) (2012).
Additionally, at the September 4, 2013, hearing, the trial court took judicial
notice of the prior hearing at which R. M. was adjudicated delinquent for child
molestation and indicated that it would take into account the evidence presented at
that hearing, along with the evidence presented at the September 4, 2013 hearing, in
determining whether to revoke R. M.’s probation. None of the parties objected to this
procedure.
Finally, in addition to the commission of the additional delinquency offenses,
there was evidence that R. M. had violated additional terms and conditions of his
probation, including having a positive drug test and failing to be under adult
supervision at all times. Accordingly, the juvenile court did not err in concluding that
the evidence showed beyond a reasonable doubt that. while on probation, R. M.
committed acts that violated the terms and conditions of his probation. See T. S. I. v.
State, 139 Ga. App. at 777 (3).
9 Judgment affirmed. Boggs and Branch, JJ., concur.