In the Matter of J.M.

133 S.W.3d 721, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 9087, 2003 WL 22415869
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided October 23, 2003·No. 13-02-139-CV·Published·Cited by 9 cases

Opinion

OPINION

Opinion by

Chief Justice VALDEZ.

Appellant, J.M., III, appeals from the juvenile court’s modified order of disposition committing him to the Texas Youth Commission. Through four issues appellant argues: (1) the evidence presented was legally insufficient to support the trial court’s findings that he violated the terms of his probation; (2) the evidence was also factually insufficient; (3) the trial court erred in allowing a witness to testify; and (4) appellant received ineffective assistance of counsel. Because we conclude the evidence presented was legally insufficient to support the trial court’s findings, we need not address appellant’s remaining contentions. See Tex.R.App. P. 47.1. We reverse and render judgment in appellant’s favor.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In September 2000, the court entered a judgment of adjudication and disposition in cause number J-323-00-A, finding appellant had engaged in delinquent conduct. Appellant was placed on probation in his father’s custody until his eighteenth birthday subject to numerous conditions.

On December 4, 2000, appellant was again found to have engaged in delinquent conduct under cause number J-491-00-A. The court placed appellant on probation in that case.

On June 25, 2001, the court modified the dispositions in both cases, imposing probation in each to be served concurrently. The orders also imposed identical conditions of probation in the two cases. Relevant to this appeal are conditions number one and number thirteen.

*723 Condition number one required appellant to:

1. Remain and stay in the custody of Bokenkamp Children’s Treatment Center ... during the said probationary period, or until further orders of the court.
a. Upon successful completion of program, the custody be given back to his parent(s)....
b. Upon unsuccessful termination from program, the custody be given back to the Hidalgo County Juvenile Probation Department, Edin-burg, Texas.

Condition number thirteen required appellant to pay restitution in the amount of $456.99, payable in monthly installments of $38.08 beginning in July 2001.

On August 23, 2001, the State filed a motion in each case to modify the disposition. In the motions, the State contended appellant violated condition number one by being “wilfully!,] unsuccessfully discharged” from Bokenkamp. The State later amended its motions to include an allegation that appellant violated condition number thirteen by failing to make the first two scheduled payments.

On October 1, 2001, the court held a hearing on both motions. During the adjudication phase of the hearing, Alma Nely Ozuna, appellant’s probation officer, testified that appellant was unsuccessfully terminated from Bokenkamp on August 9. Ozuna said he did not run away from Bokenkamp. Rather, he was transported by the Probation Department from Boken-kamp to the Juvenile Detention Center.

Ozuna also testified appellant did not make any restitution payments. She stated appellant was thirteen at the time and not able to legally work. She also stated that neither Bokenkamp nor the Juvenile Detention Center had any programs that would have allowed appellant to earn credit toward the payment of the monetary restitution. She said appellant’s father was not consistent in providing support for appellant, and his mother was both ill and unemployed. As far as she was aware, appellant had no funds with which to make the restitution payments.

At the conclusion of the adjudication phase, the court found appellant violated condition number one. The court also found appellant wilfully failed to make the first two scheduled restitution payments in violation of condition number thirteen. After hearing additional evidence during the disposition phase of the hearing, the court stated probation and at-home placement were unsatisfactory and entered an order in each case modifying the disposition and placing appellant in the care, custody, and control of the Texas Youth Commission.

This appeal arises from the judgment entered in cause number J-323-00-A. The judgment entered in cause number J-491-00-A is the subject of a separate, but identical, appeal. 2

II. ANALYSIS

In his first issue, appellant challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence presented. He attacks the juvenile court’s determination that he failed to remain in the custody of Bokenkamp and wilfully failed to pay restitution.

A. Standard of Review

We review a trial court’s modification of a juvenile disposition for abuse of discretion. In re J.G., 112 S.W.3d 256, 259 *724 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 2003, no pet.); In re H.G., 993 S.W.2d 211, 213 (Tex.App.San Antonio 1999, no pet.); In re J.L., 664 S.W.2d 119, 120 (Tex.App.-Corpus Christi 1983, no writ). In this type of review, we conduct a two-pronged analysis: (1) did the trial court have sufficient evidence on which to exercise its discretion; and (2) did the trial court err in applying its discretion. In re L.R., 67 S.W.3d 332, 338 (Tex.App.-El Paso 2001, no pet.).

In considering the first prong, we turn to the standards employed in determining the sufficiency of the evidence. Id. When a juvenile challenges the legal sufficiency of the evidence, we consider only the evidence and inferences that tend to support the challenged finding, and disregard any and all evidence and inferences to the contrary. In re H.G., 993 S.W.2d at 213. If more than a scintilla of evidence exists to support the finding, the challenge fails. In re L.R., 67 S.W.3d at 338. In evaluating the second prong, that is, whether the trial court erred in its application of discretion, we consider whether the trial court acted arbitrarily or unreasonably, or without reference to guiding rules or principles. Id.

B. Modification of the Disposition

A juvenile court may modify its prior disposition and order that the juvenile be committed to the Texas Youth Commission if the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence “that the child violated a reasonable and lawful order of the court.” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 54.05(f) (Vernon 2002).

1. Condition Number One

Appellant first attacks the order modifying the disposition by claiming there is no evidence showing he violated condition one. Condition number one required appellant to “remain and stay” at Boken-kamp.

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In the Matter of J.M., 133 S.W.3d 721, 2003 Tex. App. LEXIS 9087, 2003 WL 22415869 (Tex. Ct. App. 2003).

133 S.W.3d 721 (In the Matter of J.M.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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