In the Matter of R.A.G.

Texas Supreme Court

In the Matter of R.A.G.

866 S.W.2d 199

CourtTexas Supreme Court

DecidedNovember 24, 1993

DocketNo. D-4031

StatusPublished

Cited by15 cases

This text of 866 S.W.2d 199 (In the Matter of R.A.G.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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In the Matter of R.A.G., 866 S.W.2d 199 (Tex. 1993).

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OPINION

HECHT, Justice.

R.A.G., a juvenile, stands accused by the State of Texas of three offenses: capital murder, solicitation of capital murder, and attempted capital murder. On the State’s petition, the juvenile court waived exclusive jurisdiction over the child and ordered the case transferred to criminal district court so that R.A.G. can be tried as an adult. In its order, the juvenile court found that there was probable cause to believe that R.A.G. had “committed the offense [singular] of capital murder, attempted capital murder, or [disjunctive] solicitation of capital murder”. (Emphasis added.) The court of appeals affirmed. 1993 WL 106936.

R.A.G. contends that the juvenile court erred in waiving jurisdiction without finding probable cause to believe that he had committed each offense charged by the State. We agree. Before a juvenile court waives its jurisdiction and orders a case transferred to criminal court, the juvenile court must find “that there is probable cause to believe that [the juvenile] committed the offense alleged.” Tex.Fam.Code § 54.02(a)(3). If the State’s petition charges multiple offenses, the juvenile court must expressly dispose of each. Richardson v. State, 770 S.W.2d 797, 799 (Tex.Crim.App.1989); see Mason v. State, 778 S.W.2d 487, 488 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, no pet.). It can transfer only those which it finds probable cause to believe were committed, and must dismiss the others. See Turner v. State, 796 S.W.2d 492, 494-95 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1990, no writ). If the juvenile court fails to state on the record its disposition of a particular charge, the reviewing court cannot presume that the lower court determined not to exercise its jurisdiction as to that charge. Richardson, 770 S.W.2d at 799. In such case, the juvenile court retains jurisdiction over all offenses alleged by the petition, and the transfer order may be set aside. Id.; see Turner, 796 S.W.2d at 494-95.

The State argues that transfer should be allowed upon a finding of probable cause for [200]*200any offense alleged. Were this the rule, once the juvenile court found probable cause for a less serious offense, it could order the entire case transferred without making the finding for each offense as mandated by statute for protection of the juvenile. For this reason we decline to accept the State’s argument.

Inasmuch as the juvenile court in this case failed to find that probable cause exists to believe that R.A.G. committed each offense, the Court grants petitioner’s application for writ of error, reverses the judgment of the court of appeals, vacates the order of the juvenile court, and remands the case to the juvenile court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. On remand, the juvenile court is free to reconsider the State’s petition, to transfer some charges and dismiss others, or to transfer all charges to the criminal district court. Petitioner’s complaints regarding the issuance and service of summons were correctly resolved by the court of appeals. We need not address petitioner’s other complaints regarding the trial court’s refusal to close its proceedings to the public.

DOGGETT, J., concurs.

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OPINION

HECHT, Justice.

R.A.G., a juvenile, stands accused by the State of Texas of three offenses: capital murder, solicitation of capital murder, and attempted capital murder. On the State’s petition, the juvenile court waived exclusive jurisdiction over the child and ordered the case transferred to criminal district court so that R.A.G. can be tried as an adult. In its order, the juvenile court found that there was probable cause to believe that R.A.G. had “committed the offense [singular] of capital murder, attempted capital murder, or [disjunctive] solicitation of capital murder”. (Emphasis added.) The court of appeals affirmed. 1993 WL 106936.

R.A.G. contends that the juvenile court erred in waiving jurisdiction without finding probable cause to believe that he had committed each offense charged by the State. We agree. Before a juvenile court waives its jurisdiction and orders a case transferred to criminal court, the juvenile court must find “that there is probable cause to believe that [the juvenile] committed the offense alleged.” Tex.Fam.Code § 54.02(a)(3). If the State’s petition charges multiple offenses, the juvenile court must expressly dispose of each. Richardson v. State, 770 S.W.2d 797, 799 (Tex.Crim.App.1989); see Mason v. State, 778 S.W.2d 487, 488 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, no pet.). It can transfer only those which it finds probable cause to believe were committed, and must dismiss the others. See Turner v. State, 796 S.W.2d 492, 494-95 (Tex.App.—Dallas 1990, no writ). If the juvenile court fails to state on the record its disposition of a particular charge, the reviewing court cannot presume that the lower court determined not to exercise its jurisdiction as to that charge. Richardson, 770 S.W.2d at 799. In such case, the juvenile court retains jurisdiction over all offenses alleged by the petition, and the transfer order may be set aside. Id.; see Turner, 796 S.W.2d at 494-95.

The State argues that transfer should be allowed upon a finding of probable cause for [200]*200any offense alleged. Were this the rule, once the juvenile court found probable cause for a less serious offense, it could order the entire case transferred without making the finding for each offense as mandated by statute for protection of the juvenile. For this reason we decline to accept the State’s argument.

Inasmuch as the juvenile court in this case failed to find that probable cause exists to believe that R.A.G. committed each offense, the Court grants petitioner’s application for writ of error, reverses the judgment of the court of appeals, vacates the order of the juvenile court, and remands the case to the juvenile court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. On remand, the juvenile court is free to reconsider the State’s petition, to transfer some charges and dismiss others, or to transfer all charges to the criminal district court. Petitioner’s complaints regarding the issuance and service of summons were correctly resolved by the court of appeals. We need not address petitioner’s other complaints regarding the trial court’s refusal to close its proceedings to the public.

DOGGETT, J., concurs.

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