State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Fox

625 P.2d 163, 51 Or. App. 257, 1981 Ore. App. LEXIS 2212
CourtCourt of Appeals of Oregon
DecidedMarch 16, 1981
Docket1225, CA 16946
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 625 P.2d 163 (State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Fox) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Fox, 625 P.2d 163, 51 Or. App. 257, 1981 Ore. App. LEXIS 2212 (Or. Ct. App. 1981).

Opinion

*259 WARREN, J.

The juvenile in this case, age 16, was taken into custody and charged with murder for the October 26,1979, shotgun slaying of his brother in Grant County. On October 29, 1979, he was found to be within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court of Grant County pursuant to ORS 419.476(l)(a), 1 was made a ward of the court and committed to the custody of the Eastern Oregon Regional Juvenile Detention Facility in Pendleton, pursuant to ORS 419.507G). 2

The State requested a hearing to determine whether the juvenile should be remanded to circuit court for disposition as an adult pursuant to ORS 419.533. A psychiatric evaluation was ordered by the court. After the hearing, the juvenile court made lengthy and detailed findings of fact as required by ORS 419.533(2).

From its findings the court concluded that:

"This child suffers from deep seated emotional and mental problems as a result of which he is likely to engage in explosive violent acts and other criminal or anti-social behavior, and that correction of these defects, which are severe, to an extent which would result in the rehabilitation of the child, would at best require long term therapy, and that this is not available in the juvenile system.

*260 Therefore the court concludes that retaining juvenile jurisdiction will not serve the best interests of the child because he is not amenable to rehabilitation in facilities or programs available to the juvenile court.

"It is therefore:
"Ordered that Rodney Steven Fox be remanded to a Circuit, District, Justice or Municipal Court of competent jurisdiction for disposition as an adult for the acts alleged to constitute the offense of murder alleged in the petition herein.”

On his appeal from the order remanding him to adult criminal court, the juvenile contends that the evidence was insufficient to support the remand; that the trial court lacked authority to order the psychiatric evaluation; and that it erred in receiving in evidence the psychiatric report. He also alleges that the trial court erred in receiving certain hearsay testimony of a Grant County juvenile officer.

The juvenile’s contention that the juvenile court had no authority to order a psychiatric evaluation to aid in its determination of the juvenile’s disposition on the remand hearing is without merit. ORS 3.250(2) 3 ; State ex rel Segrest v. Van Hoomissen, 276 Or 1077, 1081, 557 P2d 661 (1976). Likewise, his claim that the court erred in admitting certain exhibits from his juvenile court file in Klamath County and the hearsay testimony of the Grant County juvenile officer is incorrect. The exhibits and testimony related to the juvenile’s prior contacts with the juvenile system in Klamath County and were relevant to the disposition to be made of the child. In any event, ORS 419.500 provides in part:

*261 "(2) For the purpose of determining proper disposition of the child, testimony, reports or other material relating to the child’s mental, physical and social history and prognosis may be received by the court without regard to their competency or relevancy under the rules of evidence.”

We now turn to the juvenile’s contention that the evidence was insufficient to support the remand. We review de novo. State ex rel Juv. Dept. v. Kent, 31 Or App 1219, 572 P2d 1059 (1977).

The facts in this case are not in dispute. For approximately six years prior to the incident, the juvenile and his family had had an unsettled lifestyle, moving frequently to follow the father’s work and living primarily in motels. He had four prior contacts with the juvenile system, commencing in 1976, including three suspected thefts resulting in no disposition within the juvenile system and a burglary in Klamath County in July, 1979, in which the juvenile vandalized a friend’s residence. As a result of the latter incident, the juvenile was made a ward of the court. However, due to the family’s nomadic lifestyle and its lack of cooperation with the juvenile authorities, he received no treatment within the juvenile system.

On October 26, 1979, the juvenile and his family were residing in a motel in John Day, Oregon. The juvenile and his three brothers, Randy, Joe and Charles, had been drinking and playing cribbage. At approximately 3:00 a.m., an argument took place between the juvenile and Charles. Randy interceded and in attempting to stop the struggle, struck Charles. As Charles left the room, the juvenile picked up his loaded 12-gauge shotgun, apparently covered its muzzle with a leather jacket and fired it twice, killing Randy with the second shot.

ORS 419.533(1) specifies the factors which the juvenile court must consider in determining whether to remand a juvenile to an adult criminal court.

"(1) A child may be remanded to a circuit, district, justice or municipal court of competent jurisdiction for disposition as an adult if:
"(a) The child is at the time of the remand 16 years of age of older;
*262 "(b) The child committed or is alleged to have committed a criminal offense or a violation of a municipal ordinance; and
"(c) The juvenile cotut determines that retaining jurisdiction will not serve the best interests of the child because the child is not amenable to rehabilitation in facilities or programs available to the court.”

At the remand hearing there was evidence that the juvenile has an overall I.Q. of 83, and although he has completed the seventh grade, his reading, writing and mathematics skills are far below normal for his grade level. At the time of the incident he was not attending school.

A clinical psychologist employed by the Forensic Psychiatric Services of the Oregon State Hospital testified for the state. Based upon his testing and interview with the juvenile, he concluded that the juvenile is sociopathic and paranoid and as a result of his condition, tends to react violently under minimal stress. It was his opinion that the child would be unable to benefit from either individual or group therapy and that he could not be effectively treated with the programs available in the juvenile system.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

State ex rel. Juvenile Department v. George
862 P.2d 531 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1993)
STATE EX REL JUV. DEPT. v. George
862 P.2d 531 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1993)
State Ex Rel. Juvenile Department v. Geigle
852 P.2d 225 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1993)
State ex rel. Juvenile Department v. Engeweiler
836 P.2d 157 (Court of Appeals of Oregon, 1992)
In the Interest of S.M.P.
285 S.E.2d 408 (West Virginia Supreme Court, 1981)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
625 P.2d 163, 51 Or. App. 257, 1981 Ore. App. LEXIS 2212, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-juvenile-department-v-fox-orctapp-1981.