M.C. v. State

817 N.E.2d 606, 2004 Ind. App. LEXIS 2234, 2004 WL 2579772
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 23, 2004
DocketNo. 49A04-0404-JV-218
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 817 N.E.2d 606 (M.C. v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
M.C. v. State, 817 N.E.2d 606, 2004 Ind. App. LEXIS 2234, 2004 WL 2579772 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

OPINION

RILEY, Judge.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Appellant-Respondent, M.C., a juvenile, appeals the trial court's restitution order after an adjudication finding him to be a delinquent child for committing Count I, failure to stop after accident, Ind.Code §§ 9-26-1-1, 9-26-1-8, an act which would be a Class A misdemeanor if committed by an adult; and Count ILI, failure to stop after accident, LC. §§ 9-26-1-1, 9-26-1-8, an act which would be a Class B misdemeanor if committed by an adult.

We reverse and remand.

ISSUES

M.C. raises one issue on appeal, which we restate as follows: whether the trial court erred in ordering him to pay $7,005.60 in restitution.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On August 16, 2008, M.C., was involved in a three-car accident at the intersection of State and Raymond in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana. In particular, M.C. was driving one of the vehicles that struck two other automobiles being driven by David Keen (Keen) and Jennifer Marie Keller (Keller) (collectively, "the victims"). M.C. left the scene of the accident after striking the two vehicles.

On August 18, 2003, the State filed a petition alleging that M.C. was a delinquent child for committing Count I, failure to stop after accident, 1.C. §§ 9-26-1-1, 9-26-1-8, a Class A misdemeanor, if committed by an adult; and Count II, failure to stop after accident, I.C. §§ 9-26-1-1, 9-26-1-8, a Class B misdemeanor, if commit[608]*608ted by an adult. On September 30, 2003, the State added an additional allegation of delinquency, Count III, failure to stop after accident, LLC. § 9-26-1-1, an act which would be a Class D felony, if committed by an adult. On October 22, 2003, M.C. entered into a plea agreement with the State. Pursuant to the plea agreement, M.C. admitted to committing Counts I and II. In exchange, the State agreed to dismiss Count III, and would not recommend any disposition to the trial court.

On November 18, 2008, a disposition hearing was held. At the hearing, M.C. entered an admission to the following delinquent acts: Count I, failure to stop after accident causing serious bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor if committed by an adult; and Count II, failure to stop after accident causing property damage, a Class B misdemeanor if committed by an adult. To establish a factual basis, M.C. admitted that on August 16, 2008, he was operating a vehicle at the intersection of State and Raymond, in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana, and was involved in an automobile accident. M.C. further admitted to leaving the scene of the accident.

The trial court accepted M.C.'s admission, finding that there was a sufficient factual basis for the plea. Consequently, the trial court ordered M.C. committed to the Indiana Department of Correction for a recommended term of 12 months. The trial court also ordered that M.C. complete a drug and alcohol treatment program, complete individual counseling, and successfully complete a Vocational and/or GED program. The trial court then asked the State if there was any restitution in this matter. The State responded with a request that restitution remain open at that time, and the trial court agreed. M.C.'s attorney then stated, "we made no agreement asking for restitution, and if the [clourt wants it open the whole issue's open as far as we're concerned. Not just a matter of amount." (Transeript pp. 10-1). Thus, the trial court set a date for the restitution hearing. On February 9, 2003, a restitution hearing was held. At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court ordered M.C. to pay $7,005.60 in restitution to the victims.

M.C. now appeals. Additional facts will be supplied as necessary.

DISCUSSION

M.C. argues that the trial court abused its discretion in ordering him to pay $7,005.60 in restitution to the victims of the car accident. Specifically, M.C. alleges that the restitution order exceeds his plea agreement because the offenses he pled guilty to did not include an admission of fault for the accident or damages for injuries to the victims or their vehicles. M.C. also asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to inquire into his ability to pay restitution.

Conversely, the State argues that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering M.C. to pay restitution. In particular, the State contends that the trial court did not exceed the terms of the plea agreement because M.C.'s disposition was left to the discretion of the trial court. The State further claims that M.C.'s admission to Counts I and II establish that he should be held accountable for the damage to the property and for the injuries of the victims. Additionally, the State maintains that the trial court was not required to make an inquiry into M.C.'s ability to pay because the restitution order was imposed upon M.C. as part of his executed sentence.

An order of restitution is a matter within the trial court's discretion, and we reverse only upon a showing of abuse of that discretion. J.P.B. v. State, 705 [609]*609N.E.2d 1075, 1077 (Ind.Ct.App.1999); Smith v. State, 655 N.E.2d 133, 134 (Ind.Ct.App.1995), trans. denied. An abuse of discretion occurs when .the trial court's determination is clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before the court or the reasonable, probable, and actual deductions to be drawn therefrom. Matter of L.J.M., 473 N.E.2d 637, 640 (Ind.Ct.App.1985). Furthermore, our supreme court has determined that restitution may be paid to those shown to have suffered injury, harm, or loss as a direct and immediate result of the criminal acts of a defendant. Davis v. State, 772 N.E.2d 535, 540 (Ind.Ct.App.2002).

In this case, M.C. argues that the restitution order exceeds his plea agreement because the offenses he pled guilty to did not include an admission of fault for the accident or damages for injuries to the victims or their vehicles. - Particularly, M.C. claims that the offenses he admitted to establish that he left the seene of the accident, but do not establish his fault or liability for the accident. Therefore, M.C. maintains that the trial court was not authorized to order him to pay restitution to the victims. We agree with M.C.

Indiana Code section 31-87-19-5(4) provides that a juvenile court may order a child "to pay restitution if the victim provides reasonable evidence of the victim's loss, which the child may challenge at the dispositional hearing." The "victim" is not limited to the person or entity actually subjected to the commission of the crime. J.P.B., 705 N.E.2d at 1077. Rather, a "victim" also includes a person who is shown to have suffered an injury, harm or loss as a direct and immediate result of the criminal acts of a defendant. Id.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, M.C. admitted to the following, in pertinent part:

Count 1 Failure to stop after accident, Class A misdemeanor LC. [§§] 9-26-1-1, 9-26-1-8
On or about the 16th day of August, 2008, said child did operate a motor vehicle, that is: 1988 chevy automobile, which struck 2 automobiles being driven by [Keen] and [Keller] which caused bodily injury....

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Bluebook (online)
817 N.E.2d 606, 2004 Ind. App. LEXIS 2234, 2004 WL 2579772, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mc-v-state-indctapp-2004.