In the Matter of PEC

211 S.W.3d 368, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 6161
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 19, 2006
Docket04-05-00859-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 211 S.W.3d 368 (In the Matter of PEC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In the Matter of PEC, 211 S.W.3d 368, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 6161 (Tex. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

211 S.W.3d 368 (2006)

In the Matter of P.E.C.

No. 04-05-00859-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, San Antonio.

July 19, 2006.

*369 Gerald C. Moton, Law Office of Gerald C. Moton, San Antonio, for appellant.

Kevin P. Yeary, Asst. Crim. Dist. Atty., San Antonio, for appellee.

Sitting: ALMA L. LÓPEZ, Chief Justice, SANDEE BRYAN MARION, Justice, PHYLIS J. SPEEDLIN, Justice.

OPINION

Opinion by PHYLIS J. SPEEDLIN, Justice.

Appellant P.E.C., a juvenile, appeals from a disposition order committing him to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) for an indeterminate period. We affirm the trial court's judgment.

BACKGROUND

On January 28, 2005, the State filed an original petition alleging that P.E.C., a 14 year old special education student, engaged in delinquent conduct by committing burglary of a habitation. An adjudication and disposition hearing was held February 17, 2005, at which P.E.C. pled true to two counts of burglary of a habitation pursuant to a plea bargain. P.E.C. was adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct and was placed in the custody of his parent under the supervision of the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department for 12 months. On May 12, 2005, the State filed a motion to modify his disposition alleging that P.E.C. had violated Condition No. 7 of his probation requiring him to adhere to a 7:00 p.m. curfew, Condition No. 16 requiring him to attend school every day and follow all school rules, and Condition No. 26 requiring him to pay restitution. At the June 2, 2005 hearing, P.E.C. pled true to the alleged violations of his probation pursuant to a plea bargain. The judge modified P.E.C.'s disposition by extending the term of his probation to 18 months from the date of the hearing, and requiring three months to be served under intensive supervision with electronic monitoring, along with other modified conditions.

In September 2005, the State filed another motion to modify P.E.C.'s disposition alleging that he had committed the following violations of his probation: (1) he failed to attend school and follow school rules on or about June 27 and 29, July 8, 12 and 13, *370 2005; (2) on or about July 14, 2005, he failed to participate in and cooperate fully with the 60-day electronic monitoring program; (3) on or about July 14, 2005, he failed to participate in and cooperate fully with his day treatment; and (4) on or about July 14, 2005, he failed to pay restitution in monthly payments as ordered. P.E.C. pled "not true" to each alleged violation and a contested modification hearing was held on September 22, 2005. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial judge found that P.E.C. had committed each of the alleged violations of his probation. After a psychological evaluation was completed, a disposition hearing was held on October 20, 2005, at which the judge entered orders adjudicating P.E.C. delinquent and modifying his disposition to commit him to TYC for an indeterminate period. The court found that it was in P.E.C.'s best interest to be placed outside the home, that reasonable efforts were made to prevent the need for removal from the home, that in the home he could not be provided the quality of care and level of support and supervision needed to meet the conditions of probation, and that commitment to TYC was in his best interest. The court further found that the juvenile probation department had extended numerous programs to P.E.C., including day treatment, but that he had continued to violate the law. Finally, the court found that P.E.C.'s educational needs "are being met and will continue to be met" at the Texas Youth Commission. The written orders were signed on October 26, 2005. P.E.C. timely appealed.

ANALYSIS

On appeal, P.E.C. asserts that (1) he retained rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA")[1] even though he was subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court; (2) the juvenile court lacked authority to change his educational placement by committing him to TYC until his administrative remedies under the IDEA were exhausted; (3) the defense of "necessity" excused his failure to comply with the electronic monitoring condition of his probation; and (4) the court abused its discretion by committing him to TYC based on his failure to pay restitution.

Standard of Review

A juvenile court possesses broad discretion to determine a suitable disposition for a child who has been adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent conduct. In re K.J.N., 103 S.W.3d 465, 465-66 (Tex. App.-San Antonio 2003, no pet.). Absent a showing of abuse of discretion, we will not disturb the court's modification of a juvenile's disposition. Id. at 466; see In re K.T., 107 S.W.3d 65, 73-74 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 2003, no pet.) (applying abuse of discretion standard "divorced from the standards for evidentiary review" in reviewing juvenile commitment order). A court abuses its discretion when it acts in an unreasonable or arbitrary manner, or without reference to any guiding rules or principles. In re K.J.N., 103 S.W.3d at 466. The Texas Family Code permits a trial judge to commit a child to TYC if: (1) it is in the child's best interest to be placed outside the home; (2) reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for the child's removal from the home; and (3) while in the home, the child cannot receive the quality of care and level of support and supervision needed to meet the conditions of probation. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 54.05(m) (Vernon Supp.2005). When a juvenile has been adjudicated delinquent, the court may modify its disposition and commit the juvenile to TYC if, after a hearing, it finds by a preponderance *371 of the evidence that the juvenile violated a reasonable and lawful condition of probation. TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 54.05(j) (Vernon Supp.2005); In re H.G., 993 S.W.2d 211, 213 (Tex.App.-San Antonio 1999, no pet.).

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

In his first and second issues, P.E.C. asserts that he retained special educational rights under the IDEA while he was on juvenile probation, and therefore, the juvenile court lacked authority to modify his disposition and commit him to TYC before his administrative remedies under the IDEA were exhausted. We review questions of law de novo in the context of a juvenile commitment. In re K.T., 107 S.W.3d at 74.

The IDEA is a federal act that seeks "to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living." 20 U.S.C.A. § 1400(d)(1)(A); Schaffer v. Weast, 546 U.S. 49, ___, 126 S.Ct. 528, 531, 163 L.Ed.2d 387 (U.S.2005). The IDEA gives the States the primary responsibility for developing and executing educational programs for disabled children, but "imposes significant requirements to be followed in the discharge of that responsibility." Schaffer, 126 S.Ct. at 531. Under the IDEA, a state or local educational agency must create an "individualized education program" (IEP) for each disabled child. 20 U.S.C.A. § 1414(d).

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In re P.E.C.
211 S.W.3d 368 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2006)

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Bluebook (online)
211 S.W.3d 368, 2006 Tex. App. LEXIS 6161, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-matter-of-pec-texapp-2006.