State ex rel. D.W.

125 So. 3d 1180, 13 La.App. 5 Cir. 114, 2013 WL 5230056, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1876
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 18, 2013
DocketNo. 13-KA-114
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 125 So. 3d 1180 (State ex rel. D.W.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. D.W., 125 So. 3d 1180, 13 La.App. 5 Cir. 114, 2013 WL 5230056, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1876 (La. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

STEPHEN J. WINDHORST, Judge.

laD.W.1 was adjudicated delinquent for illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, second offense, in violation of La. R.S. [1185]*118514:95.8B(2), and was committed to the Office of Juvenile Justice (“OJJ”) for two years to run concurrently with the revocation of his parole in Complaint “C.” This appeal followed. For the following reasons, D.W.’s adjudication and commitment are affirmed.

FACTS

On October 27, 2012, Deputy Candice Emmanuel of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office was working a detail at Nicholas2 Playground when a parent pointed out a suspicious male (hereafter “the ‘suspect’ ”), who was wearing a camouflage jacket and denim jeans. Deputy Emmanuel observed the “suspect,” who was with another male later identified as D.W. The “suspect” and D.W. left the park area and began to run “once the coaches began to try to get one of their |3players to come back inside of the playground area.” Deputy Emmanuel notified third district officers that she had been informed that the “suspect” may have a weapon. She requested that officers come to the scene to determine whether the “suspect” or D.W. were armed.

Deputy Michael Leyva responded to Deputy Emmanuel’s call for assistance. While he was traveling down Westwood near the playground, he saw a black male, later identified as D.W., running away from the playground. Deputy Leyva turned around and turned left on St. Ann Street. As soon as he did, he saw the same black male running. When Deputy Leyva got close, he saw D.W. discard a black handgun on the hood of a car, and then duck down. Deputy Leyva jumped out of his car, pulled his “side arm,” and told D.W. to get on the ground and show his hands. Deputy Leyva started walking toward the car, and D.W. came out and got on the ground. He kept his firearm drawn on D.W. until backup arrived.

Deputy Steven Dorsey and Deputy “Mel” arrived at the scene to assist Deputy Leyva. Deputy Dorsey handcuffed D.W. and placed him in the police unit. Deputy “Mel” retrieved a black handgun from the hood of the car. The deputies also retrieved an “extended clip” that was stuck in a garden. The officers radioed for Deputy Emmanuel to come and meet them to possibly identify the “suspect” or D.W. When Deputy Emmanuel arrived at St. Ann Street, she positively identified D.W. The “suspect” who was wearing the camouflage jacket escaped.

D.W. testified that on October 27, 2012, at approximately 3:30 P.M., he was at Nicholson Playground with his mother, stepfather, and two friends. He testified that when he came from the bathroom, one of his friends was in an altercation with another group of friends. The police approached the group, and everybody started running, including D.W. and his friend, who ran from the park in between the houses. He testified that when they got to St. Ann Street, he stopped right by a car |4and a house, but his friend escaped. D.W. denied placing any kind of handgun on the hood of the car. He conceded that he saw the police take the gun off the car, but he did not see where the clip came from. D.W. admitted that he was on parole for illegal carrying of a firearm, the same offense he was charged with in this case.

SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE

In his first assignment of error, D.W. claims that the evidence was insufficient to prove each element of illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, second offense, beyond a reasonable doubt.

In order for the court to adjudicate a child delinquent, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the [1186]*1186child committed a delinquent act alleged in the petition. La. Ch.C. art. 883. In reviewing the sufficiency of evidence, appellate courts must determine that the evidence, direct or circumstantial, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, was sufficient to convince a rational trier of fact that all of the elements of the crime have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, in accord with Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S.Ct. 2781, 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979). State ex rel. D.W., 09-855 (La.App. 5 Cir. 9/14/10), 47 So.3d 1048, 1053. In a juvenile delinquency proceeding, the State’s burden of proof is the same as in a criminal proceeding against an adult, i e., to prove beyond a reasonable doubt every element of the offense alleged in the petition. Id.

The rule as to circumstantial evidence is that “assuming every fact to be proved that the evidence tends to prove, in order to convict, it must exclude every reasonable hypothesis of innocence.” La. R.S. 15:438.

In juvenile proceedings, the scope of review on appeal extends to both law and facts. See La. Const, art. V, Section 10(B); State in the Interest of D.S., 11-416 (La.App. 5 Cir. 12/28/11), 83 So.3d 1131, 1136. The “clearly wrong-manifest | .¡¡error” standard of review should be used to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to satisfy the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Id.

Although appellate review of juvenile cases extends to law and fact, the Juvenile Court judge observes the conduct and demeanor of the witnesses and is in a better position to determine credibility and weigh the evidence. State in the Interest of D.S., 83 So.3d at 1136. Thus, the appellate court should afford great deference to the judge’s findings of fact and to the judge’s determination of witness credibility and weight to be given their testimonies. Id. Appellate courts may not reverse findings of the trial court unless manifestly erroneous or clearly wrong. Id.

Proof of Age

In the present case, D.W. was adjudicated delinquent of illegal possession of a firearm by a juvenile, second offense, in violation of La. R.S. 14:95.8.3 La. R.S. 14:95.8 provides that it is unlawful for any person who has not attained the age of 17 years knowingly to possess any handgun on his person. D.W. argues that the State failed to prove his age at trial.

Our review indicates that at the commencement of the adjudication hearing, but prior to the taking of evidence, the Juvenile Court judge requested D.W. to state his name and date of birth for the [1187]*1187record and D.W. responded, “D.W., 12th month, 8, 95.” Later, after D.W. was sworn in prior to his testimony, defense | fiCounsel asked him to again state his name, and D.W. replied, “D.W., 12th month, 8, 95.” Even though D.W. did not explicitly testify that his date of birth was December 8, 1995, it is clear from his introductory appearance and his testimony that he was referring to his date of birth when he answered, “D.W., 12th month, 8, 95.” Further, the officers’ testimony confirmed that the incident occurred on October 27, 2012. Thus, D.W. was 16 years old at the time of the incident and, therefore, it would have been unlawful for him to possess any handgun on his person under La. R.S. 14:95.8.

Additionally, the date of birth on this petition “E,” and on two earlier petitions, “B” and “C,” is December 8, 1995. Furthermore, at every hearing. prior to December 19, 2012, D.W. identified his date of birth as December 8, 1995. See State in the Interest of Metoyer, 606 So.2d 74, 76 (La.App. 3 Cir.1992); State v. D.L., 29,789 (La.App. 2 Cir. 6/18/97), 697 So.2d 706, 709-710.

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Bluebook (online)
125 So. 3d 1180, 13 La.App. 5 Cir. 114, 2013 WL 5230056, 2013 La. App. LEXIS 1876, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-dw-lactapp-2013.