In the Matter of J.J.B. III. v. the State of Texas

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided May 23, 2024·No. 09-23-00162-CV·Published

Opinion

In The

Court of Appeals

Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont

NO. 09-23-00162-CV

IN THE MATTER OF J.J.B. III.

On Appeal from the 279th District Court Jefferson County, Texas

Trial Cause No. F-13502-J

MEMORANDUM OPINION

In this accelerated appeal, Appellant J.J.B. III, a juvenile, complains the juvenile court erred by waiving jurisdiction and transferring his case to criminal district court when there is no evidence that the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department exhausted all means to rehabilitate him. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 54.02, 56.01(a), (c)(1)(A). For the reasons explained below, we affirm the juvenile court’s Waiver of Jurisdiction and Order of Transfer to Criminal Court.

PERTINENT BACKGROUND

J.J.B. III, a sixteen-year-old, was charged with the following felony offenses against persons or property: evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and two counts of theft of a firearm. The State filed a Petition for Discretionary Transfer, requesting that the juvenile court waive jurisdiction and transfer the case to the appropriate criminal district court under section 54.02 of the Texas Family Code because J.J.B. III was sophisticated and mature enough to be treated as an adult. The State alleged that: (1) the prospects of the public’s adequate protection and the likelihood of J.J.B. III’s reasonable rehabilitation by the use of available procedures, services, and facilities to the juvenile court warrant his treatment as an adult; (2) the record and J.J.B. III’s history warrants his treatment as an adult; (3) J.J.B. III is sophisticated and mature enough to be treated as an adult; and (4) the seriousness of the alleged offenses, J.J.B. III’s background, and the community’s welfare requires criminal proceedings.

The trial court appointed counsel to represent J.J.B. III in the discretionary transfer proceeding. The trial court conducted a hearing on the State’s Petition during which it considered witness testimony and the following records in making its decision: Certification Analysis, Dr. Nisha Amin’s Psychological Evaluation Report, and Dr. Edward Gripon’s Psychiatric Evaluation. Dr. Amin’s Psychological Evaluation states that J.J.B. III understood what he was charged with, the nature of

the pending proceedings, and that J.J.B. had demonstrates his capacity to assist his counsel. In her report, Dr. Amin concluded that there are “no critical factors that adversely affect” J.J.B. III and that “there is ample clinical evidence” that he is “fit to proceed.” Dr. Gripon’s Psychiatric Evaluation states he diagnosed J.J.B. III with ADHD by history and that while J.J.B. III had not been treated for that condition, he did not have significant symptoms. Dr. Gripon concluded that J.J.B. III was “not mentally disabled” and during his evaluation appeared to have “no mental health contraindication to certification/discretionary transfer.”

Sheronda Lee (“Lee”), a probation officer with the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department, testified that she prepared J.J.B. III’s Certification Analysis, which includes information from Dr. Amin’s psychological report and Dr. Gripon’s psychiatric report. Lee explained that, in her opinion, Dr. Amin’s and Dr. Gripon’s reports raise no concerns about whether J.J.B. should be certified as an adult.

Lee explained that her analysis includes information that she received from the police about the offenses that resulted in J.J.B.’s arrest. As to J.J.B.’s arrest, Lee stated that on January 15, 2023, at about 3:00 a.m., Jefferson County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched after a black male in black clothing wearing a facemask was reported as seen pulling on car door handles on a security camera. When the deputies spotted the black male, he got into a Ford F-150, and he drove off at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. By Lee’s account, when deputies activated their

emergency lights on their clearly marked Jefferson County patrol units, the driver took deputies on a short pursuit for several miles and only stopped when the vehicle crashed. Information Lee received from the police investigation indicated that upon removing J.J.B. III, the sole occupant and driver in the Ford F-160, deputies found he had two firearms, a Taurus 9mm and Sig Sauer .22, in his possession. J.C.C., the owner of Ford F-150, advised he did not consent to anyone operating his truck. Lee explained that police determined that D.C. owned the two pistols that were found in J.J.B.’s possession, and that D.C. had reported the pistols as having been stolen when two of his vehicles were burglarized the same night J.J.B. took the Ford F-150. When an officer contacted the owner of the Ford F-150, J.C.C. told police that he no longer feels safe and carries a gun when he goes outside.

Lee testified that J.J.B. III was charged with four state jail felonies, evading detention with a vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and two charges for stolen guns. Lee testified J.J.B. III was from Louisiana, where he violated his probation for an aggravated assault case and was sentenced to Louisiana’s version of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Institutional Division. Lee explained J.J.B. III, who was sixteen and a half, was discharged from the Louisiana juvenile prison in February 2020 and committed the current offenses, which are crimes against property, in January 2023 while on parole in Louisiana. Lee explained that J.J.B. III

was in detention and attending school when he ran from police and wrecked J.C.C.’s vehicle.

Lee testified J.J.B. III was smart, polite, articulate, and mature for his age. Lee explained J.J.B. III has a substance abuse problem and knowledge about guns. His prior record includes illegal possession of a handgun, illegal possession of stolen property, and theft of a firearm. Lee also explained that she received a report showing while in Louisiana, J.J.B. III had been placed in a boy’s home and committed to a facility, so the Texas Juvenile Probation Department could offer him no more help than he had already received in Louisiana. Lee testified that based on the multiple charges following J.J.B.’s January 15, 2023 arrest and J.J.B. III’s record, in her opinion the likelihood that J.J.B. III is capable of being rehabilitated through programs offered by or in coordination with those of the Juvenile Probation Department is remote. Lee explained that in her opinion, J.J.B. III’s conduct was willful, aggravating, and could lead to violence, and that she thought it would be in the community’s best interest to treat him as an adult.

Joe Evans (“Evans”), an intervention specialist with the IEA program, testified he is a mentor who intervenes on behalf of youth to ensure they correct their behavior after they are detained. Evans testified he was working with J.J.B. III, who reads a lot, and he meets with him twice a week to visit and play cards and games. Evans explained that J.J.B. III was receptive to intervention, and based on his alleged

offenses, there was a possibility that he could be admitted to the program if he was placed on probation. Evans also explained he would like to continue working with J.J.B. III in the juvenile system and not see him certified as an adult, and he would recommend J.J.B. III for the program, which was unavailable where J.J.B. III lived in Louisiana. Evans testified J.J.B. III was sharper than the usual kids he deals with in the program. Evans did not have an opinion on J.J.B. III being certified as an adult.

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