Matter of Jsc

875 S.W.2d 325, 1994 WL 47072
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 21, 1994
Docket13-93-305-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 875 S.W.2d 325 (Matter of Jsc) 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
Matter of Jsc, 875 S.W.2d 325, 1994 WL 47072 (Tex. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

875 S.W.2d 325 (1994)

In the Matter of J.S.C.

No. 13-93-305-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Corpus Christi.

February 18, 1994.
Rehearing Overruled April 21, 1994.

*326 Ronald Piperi, E. Kent Ellis, Houston, for appellant.

John C. Dickerson, III, Melissa Abshire, Matagorda County Attorney's Office, Bay City, Jim Vollers, Austin, for appellee.

Before KENNEDY, GILBERTO HINOJOSA and YANEZ, JJ.

OPINION

KENNEDY, Justice.

J.S.C. is charged with capital murder of two juveniles, committed when J.S.C. was sixteen years old. He appeals from an order by which a juvenile court waived its exclusive, original jurisdiction and transferred his case to criminal district court. Appellant seeks a reversal and remand of the matter to juvenile court and to have further proceedings against him addressed in juvenile court. By four points of error, appellant complains that the juvenile court improperly transferred its jurisdiction because it reached its decision without first obtaining and considering a diagnostic study of appellant as required by Texas Family Code section 54.02(d). We affirm the trial court's order.

The State alleged in its petition for waiver of jurisdiction that J.S.C., during the same criminal transaction, intentionally and knowingly caused the death of one woman by stabbing her with a knife, and intentionally and knowingly caused the death of a second woman by stabbing her with a knife while in the course of committing and attempting to commit aggravated sexual assault.

Texas Family Code section 54.02(a) provides that the juvenile court may waive its exclusive, original jurisdiction and transfer a child to the appropriate district court for criminal proceedings if the child is alleged to have committed a felony and was aged fifteen or older at the time of the alleged offense. Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 54.02(a) (Vernon Supp.1994). When considering whether to transfer its jurisdiction, the court must conduct a full investigation and hearing. Id. The juvenile court then determines whether there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the offense alleged, and, that because of the seriousness of the offense, or, the background of the child, the welfare of the community requires criminal proceedings. Id. (emphasis added). Texas Family Code section 54.02(d) provides that before the transfer hearing, the juvenile court shall order and obtain a complete diagnostic study, social evaluation, and full investigation of the child, his circumstances, and the circumstances of the alleged offense. Tex.Fam. Code Ann. § 54.02(d) (Vernon 1986). In making its decision, the juvenile court shall consider, among other matters:

1) whether the alleged offense was against person or property, with greater weight in favor of transfer given to offenses against the person; 2) whether the alleged offense was committed in an aggressive and premeditated manner; 3) whether there is evidence on which a grand jury may be expected to return an indictment; 4) the sophistication and maturity of the child; 5) the record and previous history of the child; and 6) the prospects of adequate protection of the public and the likelihood of the rehabilitation of the child by use of procedures, services, and facilities currently available to the juvenile court.

Tex.Fam.Code Ann. § 54.02(f) (Vernon 1986).

Absent a showing of an abuse of discretion, the trial court's findings will not be disturbed. In re D.W.L., 828 S.W.2d 520, 525 (Tex.App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1992, no writ); In re D.J.R., 565 S.W.2d 392, 395 (Tex.App.—Fort Worth 1978, no writ).

Pursuant to section 54.02, the court ordered, obtained and considered a certification investigation report. Typically, the certification report includes a psychiatric report, a psychological report, and a report by a probation *327 department caseworker. See In re W.R.M., 534 S.W.2d 178, 180 (Tex.Civ.App.— Eastland 1976, no writ). Included in the certification report were reports by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and appellant's juvenile probation officer. The court obtained these studies and reports before the hearing.

In its order, the court stated that, among other things, it had considered the factors set forth in Family Code section 54.02(f). After conducting a full investigation and hearing arguments of counsel, the court determined that there was probable cause to believe that appellant committed the offenses of capital murder as alleged. The court waived its exclusive, original jurisdiction for the following reasons: 1) the alleged offenses were against persons; 2) the alleged offenses were committed in an aggressive and premeditated manner; 3) there appears to be evidence upon which a grand jury may be expected to return an indictment; 4) the sophistication and maturity of the juvenile are such that he understands the allegations against him, and he is able to assist his attorney in his defense; 5) the child will not likely be rehabilitated through the juvenile system; 6) without effective rehabilitation through the juvenile system, the public will not be adequately protected; and 7) without adequate protection of the public, the welfare of the community requires criminal proceedings against the juvenile. The court's waiver order then states, "After conducting such full investigation, including evidence and argument of counsel, this Court finds that the welfare of the community requires criminal proceedings that there is probable cause to believe that the child committed the offenses of capital murder."

By point one, appellant asserts that the court did not obtain and consider a complete diagnostic study of appellant as required by the Family Code. By point four, appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion when transferring its jurisdiction. Appellant asserts that the diagnostic study was incomplete because it did not include an interview with appellant. Appellant specifically asserts that the court should have determined that the psychological evaluation received was unsatisfactory. Appellant suggests that the proper action was for the court to order a new psychological evaluation, and reset the hearing to be conducted only when a satisfactory evaluation had been made, obtained, and considered by the court.

The testimony at the hearing reflects that Dr. Williams, a psychiatrist, attempted to interview appellant on three occasions. Dr. Williams explained that upon each attempt, appellant politely declined to answer his questions. Dr. Williams recalled that appellant told him that his attorney advised him not to answer any of the doctor's questions. Dr. Williams reviewed medical and school records that were sent to him regarding appellant. Dr. Williams also spoke with people at the Brazoria County Juvenile Detention Center. Dr. Williams also observed appellant for between an hour and ninety minutes at the detention center. Based on the information collected, Dr.

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875 S.W.2d 325, 1994 WL 47072, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/matter-of-jsc-texapp-1994.