in the Matter of J.L.C.

Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided April 19, 2007·No. 02-06-00252-CV·Published

Opinion

                                               COURT OF APPEALS

                                                 SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                                                FORT WORTH

                                        NO. 2-06-252-CV

IN THE MATTER OF J.L.C.                                                    APPELLANT

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           FROM THE 323RD DISTRICT COURT OF TARRANT COUNTY

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                                MEMORANDUM OPINION[1]

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In two points, appellant J.L.C., a minor child adjudicated delinquent, appeals the result of his disposition hearing.  He complains that the evidence presented at the hearing was factually insufficient to support the trial court=s  finding that commitment was appropriate and that the trial court erred by not allowing him to cross-examine the State=s complaining witness at the disposition hearing.  He does not challenge the adjudication of delinquency.  We affirm.

BACKGROUND

The same underlying facts were presented at both the adjudication and disposition hearings.  Michael Cummings, the complaining witness, testified at both hearings.[2]

Adjudication Hearing

Michael testified that on April 23, 2006, he was adjusting his lawn sprinkler when he saw four teenaged girls attack another teenaged girl.  He started towards them and passed Appellant, a sixteen-year-old male, who was sitting on the back of a car in front of a nearby house and egging on the attackers.  Michael testified that at his approach, the girls broke off their assault and came towards him, shouted some racial slurs at him, and told him that he was not their parent and to leave them alone.


Michael testified that he had only told the girls to leave the other one alone and that he did not hit anyone.  He testified that Appellant ran up to him and demanded to know if Michael wanted a Apiece@ of his cousin, one of the attackers, or of Appellant.  Michael testified that Appellant punched him in the left ear and knocked him to the ground and that Appellant and the girls hit and kicked him and then eventually retreated to the house Appellant had been sitting in front of.  A passing motorist called 911 for Michael.  After Michael was examined by paramedics, his wife, Theresa, took him to the hospital to treat his bruises, lacerations, dislocated right elbow, and fractured radial bone. Michael testified briefly at the adjudication hearing about his surgery and physical therapy treatment.

Appellant=s thirteen-year-old cousin, one of the teenaged attackers, testified that Michael got in the face of one of her other cousins, that Appellant came to that cousin=s rescue, and that Michael slapped Appellant, triggering the fight.  She admitted that she did not give this statement to the police even after she found out that Appellant had gotten in trouble.  Appellant disputed Michael=s testimony about the number of girls hitting Michael and who was hit first.  He admitted that he had not given any statement about Michael hitting him first until the adjudication hearing.  The judge adjudicated Appellant delinquent for assault.  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. ' 51.03 (Vernon Supp. 2006).


Disposition Hearing

The disposition hearing was heard by a different judge.  At the beginning of the hearing, the judge admitted Appellant=s social history report[3] into evidence and asked Appellant when he had last used marijuana.  Appellant said, ANone since I=ve been in trouble,@ and responded affirmatively when the judge asked, ASo you would be clean today?@  The judge requested a current urinalysis.  The results came back positive for marijuana.  When the judge again asked Appellant when he last used drugs, Appellant replied, AI=d say about three or four weeks ago.@


Michael gave the same testimony as he had at the adjudication hearing, and provided additional testimony about his out-of-pocket medical expenses that were not covered by his insurance company, over $4,000 by the disposition hearing, and his physical therapy.  Photographs of his injuries and documentation of his medical bills were admitted.[4]  Theresa testified about the negative changes the injury had wrought on their lives, including Michael=

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