MOW v. State

645 P.2d 1229
CourtCourt of Appeals of Alaska
DecidedJune 11, 1982
Docket4846
StatusPublished

This text of 645 P.2d 1229 (MOW v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Alaska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
MOW v. State, 645 P.2d 1229 (Ala. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinion

645 P.2d 1229 (1982)

M.O.W., Appellant,
v.
STATE of Alaska, Appellee.

No. 4846.

Court of Appeals of Alaska.

June 11, 1982.

*1230 Robert M. Cowan, Kenai, for appellant.

David Mannheimer, Asst. Atty. Gen., Anchorage, and Avrum M. Gross, Atty. Gen., Juneau, for appellee.

Before BRYNER, C.J., and COATS and SINGLETON, JJ.

OPINION

SINGLETON, Judge.

On October 6, 1978, M.O.W., a fourteen-year-old student at Soldotna Junior High School, left the school cafeteria after lunch. Observing a bulge in M.O.W.'s back pocket, Mr. Hultberg, the vice principal, directed him to his office and ordered him to empty his pockets. The minor complied, disclosing a small quantity of marijuana. Acting pursuant to school board regulations, Mr. Hultberg summoned the police. M.O.W. was charged with delinquency[1] for violation of AS 17.12.110(d)(4).[2] Trial was held before the court sitting without a jury on May 9, 1979. The court found that M.O.W. violated AS 17.12.110(d)(4) by possessing marijuana. At the disposition hearing on July 7, 1979, the court reiterated its finding that M.O.W. violated a statute and that therefore the children's court had jurisdiction. However, the court deferred adjudication of delinquency for one year,[3] and placed M.O.W. on probation. As a condition of probation, M.O.W. was to be incarcerated at the McLaughlin Youth Center for five days prior to beginning the 1979-1980 school year. The sentence was stayed by order of the supreme court on August 29, 1979, pending resolution of this appeal.

The minor's appeal rests on four interrelated contentions: (1) that the jurisdiction of the superior court to sit as a children's court for the offense of possession of marijuana by a minor was repealed by implication when the legislature enacted AS 17.12.110(d)(4), which established a specific penalty and implied an intention to establish an exclusive penalty for the offense of possession of marijuana by a minor; (2) that the trial court erred in denying M.O.W.'s motion to waive children's court jurisdiction since a minor has an absolute right to waive such jurisdiction at least where, as here, he acts on the advice of counsel and with his parent's consent; (3) that where a statute unambiguously prohibits certain conduct but the penalty to be imposed is ambiguous when the statute is read with other statutes — as in this case where the penalty can be either a fine under AS 17.12.110(d)(4) or incarceration under AS 47.10.080 which lists the judgments and orders *1231 the court may enter after a minor is found to be delinquent — it is a violation of due process under the state and federal constitutions to impose the harsher penalty, (Alaska Const. art. 1, § 7; U.S.Const. amend. XIV, § 1); (4) that the superior court, sitting as a children's court, lacks jurisdiction to impose a period of incarceration as a condition of probation.[4] We will discuss these contentions in turn.

REPEAL BY IMPLICATION

M.O.W. argues that AS 17.12.110(d)(4) is clear and unambiguous in providing that a violation is a misdemeanor triable only in district court with a specified maximum penalty of $1,000. It is therefore, M.O.W. continues, irreconcilable with AS 47.10.010(a)(1) and 47.10.080[5] and thus implicitly repeals them insofar as they would otherwise give the children's court jurisdiction over minors accused of possession of marijuana.

Comparison of AS 17.12.110(d)(4) with AS 47.10.010(a)(1) and 47.10.080(b)(1) suggests an ambiguity requiring interpretation. Hafling v. Inland Boatmen's Union of the Pacific, 585 P.2d 870, 872 (Alaska 1978). While AS 17.12.110(d)(4) does seem to establish an exclusive penalty for a minor's possession of marijuana, we note that the procedure set forth in AS 47.10.010(a)(1) governs minors under eighteen found to have violated a criminal[6] law of the state or of a municipality of the state "except as otherwise provided in this chapter." (Emphasis supplied). Alaska Statute 47.10.010(b) provides that prosecutions for traffic violations are exempted from the procedures prescribed in AS 47.10.020-47.10.090 but marijuana violations are not mentioned.[7]

In discussing repeal by implication, the supreme court has said "Legislative intent is the key and if the inconsistency between the two enactments is not fatal to the operation of either, the two may stand together and there will be no implied repeal." Hafling, 585 P.2d at 876 n. 20 (citations omitted).

Fortunately, the legislature has given us guidance regarding its intent. AS 17.12.110(d)(4) was added to our statutes in 1975, originating as Senate Bill 350. On April 11, 1975, the Senate Judiciary Committee recommended *1232 that the senate pass the senate substitute for Senate Bill 350. Senator Terry Miller, a member of that committee, individually commented on his recommendation to pass SB 350, 2 Senate Journal 695-96 (1975). Significantly, he said:

A couple of points concerning the sponsor substitutes; first, the provisions for minors in possession for use [of marijuana] are substantially the same as for minors in possession of alcohol. The intent here is to treat alcohol and marijuana equally with regard to juveniles rather than establish arbitrary distinctions between the two not justified by evidence or reason. In these cases, juveniles are afforded all the protections of the law under special procedures developed by AS 47.10 and the Supreme Court.

2 Senate Journal 696 (1975) (matter in brackets supplied). Differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill resulted in the appointment of a free conference committee, which in reporting out what ultimately became AS 17.12.110(d)(4) said:

While it may appear that the bill establishes criminal treatment of juveniles who possess, control or use any amount of marijuana, the conferees are of the view that AS 47.10 and the Supreme Court's Rules of Children's Procedure will certainly apply, so that those under the age of 18 who are in violation of this law will be treated in the same manner as any juveniles who have committed acts which, were they adults, would be prosecuted as misdemeanors. The conferees consider this section akin to present laws regarding the use of alcohol by minors or laws regarding minors on the premises of establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold.

3 House Journal 1264 (1975).

The committee's report accurately reflects the treatment of alcohol possession by minors at the time it was written. Alaska Statute 04.16.050 forbids those under nineteen years of age from possessing alcohol and AS 04.16.049 prevents those under nineteen years of age, with certain exceptions, from entering licensed premises; AS 04.16.180 makes violations of AS 04.16.049 and 04.16.050 class A misdemeanors. Although these sections were repealed, reenacted, and renumbered in 1980, they reflect the continuous legislative policy since 1957. ACLA 1949 § 35-4-15(11) was added in 1957 to read:

(11) Purchase by minors. It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of twenty-one years to solicit the purchase of or in any other way to attempt to purchase or otherwise secure any intoxicating liquors, including beer and wine.

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