State in the Interest of J.R., III

Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided October 11, 2017·No. JAK-0017-0345·Unknown

Opinion

NOT DESIGNATED FOR PUBLICATION

STATE OF LOUISIANA

COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

17-345

STATE IN THE INTEREST OF J.R., III

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APPEAL FROM THE

THIRTY-THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ALLEN, NO. J-2016-052 HONORABLE E. DAVID DESHOTELS, DISTRICT JUDGE

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PHYLLIS M. KEATY

JUDGE

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Court composed of Ulysses Gene Thibodeaux, Chief Judge, Phyllis M. Keaty, and Candyce G. Perret, Judges.

AFFIRMED AS AMENDED;

REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

John E. Demoruelle Attorney at Law Post Office Drawer B Oberlin, Louisiana 70655 (337) 639-2220 Counsel for Defendant/Appellant:

J.R., III

H. Todd Nesom District Attorney Luke H. Abrusley Joe Green Assistant District Attorneys Post Office Box 839 Oberlin, Louisiana 70655 (337) 639-2641 Counsel for Appellee:

State of Louisiana

James Robinson, Sr. On behalf of his minor child J.R., III In Proper Person 110 Duplichain Lane Kinder, Louisiana 70648 Defendant/Appellant

KEATY, Judge.

The Juvenile, J.R., III, 1 appeals the trial court’s adjudication of him as delinquent for third degree rape and sexual battery. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court’s adjudication, amend the trial court’s disposition, and remand with instructions.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND On January 9, 2016, the Juvenile, J.R., III, along with X.M., and the victim, T.W., spent the night at Johnny and Pearl Lavergne’s residence. At that time, the Juvenile was thirteen years old; X.M was fifteen years old, and T.W. was fourteen years old. During the night and into the early morning hours of the following day, the Juvenile engaged in anal intercourse and oral sex with T.W. without his consent. As a result, a petition was filed charging the Juvenile with second degree rape and second degree sexual battery. Following the presentation of evidence at the hearing, the trial court adjudicated the Juvenile delinquent for third degree rape and sexual battery. It imposed a disposition on each count of two years in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Justice with placement in a non-secure facility, to run concurrently. One year was suspended, and the Juvenile was placed on two years of probation subject to special conditions.

The Juvenile is before this court seeking review of his delinquency adjudication. 2 On appeal, and in his only assignment of error, the Juvenile

1 Pursuant to Uniform Rules—Courts of Appeal, Rule 5–2 and La.R.S. 46:1844(W), the initials of the parties will be used to protect and maintain the privacy of the minor children involved in this proceeding.

2 Defense counsel originally filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396 (1967); however, after being ordered by this court to file a new brief in compliance with State v. Jyles, 96-2669 (La. 12/12/97), 704 So.2d 241, counsel submitted a brief in which he contended the evidence presented by the State was insufficient to adjudicate the Juvenile delinquent.

contends there was insufficient evidence to sustain the adjudication. The Juvenile’s father also submitted a pro se brief wherein he contends the State erred by presenting insufficient evidence for a rational trier of fact to conclude that the Juvenile committed the two crimes for which he was adjudicated.

DISCUSSION

I. Error Patent Review As noted by this court in State in the Interest of T.T., 96-6, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir. 5/8/96), 677 So.2d 466, 467-68 (quoting State in the Interest of C.D., 95-160 (La.App. 5 Cir. 6/28/95), 658 So.2d 39, 41):

The Louisiana Children’s Code is silent as to whether a juvenile criminal proceeding is entitled to an error patent review on appeal.

However, La.Ch.C. art. 104 states the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure governs in matters which are not provided for in the Children’s Code. Thus, we are mandated by La.C.Cr.P. art. 920 to conduct an error patent review despite the fact defense counsel did not request it.

After conducting an error patent review, we find one error patent regarding the trial court’s advising the Juvenile of his rights, two issues requiring discussion, and an error patent concerning credit for time served.

First, the trial court’s minutes indicate the Juvenile was not advised of his rights when he appeared to answer the allegations of the delinquency petition as required by La.Ch.Code art. 855. Pursuant to La.Ch.Code art. 855, the trial court must first determine if the juvenile is capable of understanding his rights, and if so, must advise the child of his rights, including the nature of the proceedings, the nature of the allegations of the petition, the right to an adjudication hearing, the right to appointed counsel, and the right against self-incrimination. In this case, we find that any error in failing to apprise the Juvenile of his rights pursuant to La.Ch.Code art. 855 is harmless as he was represented by counsel and entered a

plea of not guilty to the allegations contained in the petition. See State in the Interest of D.B, 13-1364 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/23/14), 137 So.3d 1282, writ denied, 14-1092 (La. 1/9/15), 157 So.3d 596; see also State in the Interest of C.P., 12-192 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/6/12), 91 So.3d 1273.

Second, the Juvenile’s disposition hearing was not held within thirty days after the adjudication as required under La.Ch.Code art. 892. Louisiana Children’s Code Article 892 provides: “Prior to entering a judgment of disposition, the court shall conduct a disposition hearing. The disposition hearing may be conducted immediately after the adjudication and shall be conducted within thirty days after the adjudication. Such period may be extended for good cause.”

At the close of the August 4, 2016 adjudication proceeding in this matter, the trial court asked: “Sentencing will be when?” In response, the prosecutor stated: “October 13, 2016.” There was no objection by the Juvenile or his attorney. A similar issue was before this court in State in the Interest of C.C., 13-417 (La.App. 3 Cir. 10/9/13), 124 So.3d 56. The juvenile was adjudicated delinquent on December 6, 2012, and the disposition hearing was originally set for January 29, 2013, which was beyond the thirty-day time limitation set forth in La.Ch.Code art. 892. On error patent review, this court addressed the untimely holding of the disposition hearing and found that the error was harmless because C.C. failed to allege that “any prejudice resulted from the delay.” Id. at 59.

More recently, in State in the Interest of D.B., 14-85, p. 2 (La.App. 3 Cir.

5/7/14), 141 So.3d 296, 298, addressing the untimeliness of an answer hearing, this court found that supreme court jurisprudence suggests that “a juvenile’s failure to object to the untimely setting of a hearing constitutes a good cause extension of the time period.” Louisiana Children’s Code Article 892, like La.Ch.Code art. 854,

allows for an extension of the time period for good cause. Accordingly, we find that the Juvenile’s failure to object to the setting of the disposition hearing outside of the time limit constituted good cause for an extension of the time period; thus, La.Ch.Code art. 892 was complied with, and no error patent occurred.

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