In the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District STATE OF MISSOURI, ) ) Appellant, ) WD84314 Consolidated with WD84315 ) v. ) OPINION FILED: January 25, 2022 ) M.M.W. JR., ) ) Respondent. )
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri The Honorable David Michael Byrn, Judge
Before Division Four: Cynthia L. Martin, Chief Judge, Presiding, W. Douglas Thomson, Judge and Janet Sutton, Judge
The State appeals from the circuit court's orders dismissing two indictments against
M.M.W., Jr. ("M.M.W."). The State argues that the circuit court erred in dismissing the
indictments because it erroneously relied on amendments to Chapter 2111 that took effect
after M.M.W.'s indictments to conclude that M.M.W., who was seventeen at the time of
his offenses, could not be tried in a court of general jurisdiction. Because the 2018
amendments to Chapter 211 have been conclusively determined by our Supreme Court not
1 All references to statutes within Chapter 211 are to RSMo Cum. Supp. 2020 unless otherwise noted. to be retroactive in application, the circuit court's orders dismissing the indictments against
M.M.W. are reversed, and these consolidated cases are remanded to the circuit court for
further proceedings.
Factual and Procedural Background
On April 13, 2018, M.M.W. was indicted on one count of attempted robbery in
violation of section 570.023,2 one count of armed criminal action in violation of section
571.015, and one count of assault in the fourth degree in violation of section 565.056. On
May 11, 2018, M.M.W. was indicted for endangering a correctional employee in violation
of section 575.155. M.M.W. was alleged to have committed these offenses on January 22,
2017, and May 15, 2017, when he was seventeen years old. M.M.W.'s indictments were
filed in the circuit court of Jackson County, Missouri, and thus in the court of general
jurisdiction ("circuit court").
On January 21, 2021, M.M.W. filed motions to dismiss both indictments. M.M.W.
argued that 2018 amendments to chapter 211 that were enacted after M.M.W.'s indictments
required the dismissal of his indictments because the amended definitions of "adult" and
"child" set forth in section 211.021 required his offenses to be tried in the juvenile division
of the circuit court ("juvenile court")3, since M.M.W. had not been certified for prosecution
as an adult pursuant to section 211.071.1. The State argued that the 2018 amendments to
chapter 211 did not operate retroactively. On January 27, 2021, the circuit court entered
2 The statutory references to M.M.W.'s criminal charges are to the version of each statute in effect at the time of the alleged offense, unless otherwise noted. 3 "Juvenile court" is defined by section 211.021(3) as "the juvenile division or divisions of the circuit court of the county, or judges while hearing juvenile cases assigned to them."
2 orders dismissing the indictments against M.M.W. without prejudice, and referring the
matters to the juvenile court pursuant to section 211.061.2.
The State appeals both orders, and the appeals were consolidated.4 The consolidated
appeals were then stayed pending the disposition of cases before the Missouri Supreme
Court that were expected to resolve when the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 took effect,
and whether the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 should be applied retroactively.
Standard of Review
We are to affirm the grant of a motion to dismiss in a criminal case employing the
same standard used in civil matters, and thus will affirm the dismissal on any ground
alleged in the motion. State v. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359, 364 (Mo. banc 2021) (citing State
v. Merritt, 467 S.W. 3d 808, 810 (Mo. banc 2015)). The sole ground for dismissal raised
in M.M.W.'s motions to dismiss the indictments was the retroactive effect of the 2018
amendments to chapter 211, a question that implicates statutory interpretation. "Statutory
interpretation is an issue of law, which is subject to de novo review." Id. (quoting D.E.G.
v. Juv. Officer of Jackson Cnty., 601 S.W.3d 212, 216 (Mo. banc 2020)).
Analysis
The State raises a single point on appeal, arguing that the circuit court erred in
dismissing M.M.W.'s indictments and referring his criminal matters to the juvenile court
4 The State is authorized to appeal the circuit court's orders of dismissal, even though they were entered without prejudice, because the effect of the dismissals was to enter "final" judgments appealable pursuant to Rule 30.01(a), as the dismissals had the practical effect of terminating the proceedings against M.M.W. in the circuit court, rendering refiling of the actions futile. State v. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359, 362-64 (Mo. banc 2021).
3 because the 2018 amendments to chapter 211, enacted after M.M.W.'s indictments, did not
apply retroactively to M.M.W's indictments.
The collective effect of the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 was to confer statutory
authority to juvenile courts over proceedings involving state law or municipal ordinance
offenses committed by someone prior to attaining the age of eighteen years. Before the
amendments, the juvenile court's statutory authority generally extended only to state law
or municipal ordinance offenses committed by someone prior to attaining the age of
seventeen years. It is uncontested that M.M.W.'s offenses would be subject to the statutory
authority of the juvenile court if the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 apply retroactively
to his indictments, and that the juvenile court would not have the statutory authority to
adjudicate M.M.W.'s offenses if the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 do not apply
retroactively.
The Missouri Supreme Court resolved the question of retroactive application of the
2018 amendments to chapter 211 in the concurrently decided cases of State ex rel. T.J. v.
Cundiff, 632 S.W.3d 353 (Mo. banc 2021) and State v. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359 (Mo. banc
2021). First, the Supreme Court concluded that the 2018 amendments to section 211,
though purportedly effective on January 1, 2021, were not, in fact, effective "until the
general assembly appropriated sufficient funds on July 1, 2021, for the juvenile division to
provide the expanded services" anticipated by the amendments. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d at 364
(citing T.J., 632 S.W.3d at 356 (holding that section 211.438 controlled the effective date
of the 2018 amendments to chapter 211, as it provided that '[e]xpanding services from
4 seventeen years of age to eighteen years of age is a new service and shall not be effective
until an appropriation sufficient to fund the expanded service is provided therefor'")).
Having determined the effective date of the 2018 amendments to chapter 211, the
Supreme Court then concluded that the amendments do not apply to criminal conduct
committed prior to the effective date. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d at 364-65. Instead, "a defendant
must be tried for the offense as defined by the law that existed at the time of the offense."
Id. at 364 (quoting State v. Pierce, 433 S.W.3d 424, 427 n.1 (Mo. banc 2014)).
Thus, the definitions of "adult" and "child" in effect on the day of M.M.W.'s offenses
control whether the juvenile court had statutory authority over the adjudication of those
offenses. See R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d at 365.
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In the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District STATE OF MISSOURI, ) ) Appellant, ) WD84314 Consolidated with WD84315 ) v. ) OPINION FILED: January 25, 2022 ) M.M.W. JR., ) ) Respondent. )
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri The Honorable David Michael Byrn, Judge
Before Division Four: Cynthia L. Martin, Chief Judge, Presiding, W. Douglas Thomson, Judge and Janet Sutton, Judge
The State appeals from the circuit court's orders dismissing two indictments against
M.M.W., Jr. ("M.M.W."). The State argues that the circuit court erred in dismissing the
indictments because it erroneously relied on amendments to Chapter 2111 that took effect
after M.M.W.'s indictments to conclude that M.M.W., who was seventeen at the time of
his offenses, could not be tried in a court of general jurisdiction. Because the 2018
amendments to Chapter 211 have been conclusively determined by our Supreme Court not
1 All references to statutes within Chapter 211 are to RSMo Cum. Supp. 2020 unless otherwise noted. to be retroactive in application, the circuit court's orders dismissing the indictments against
M.M.W. are reversed, and these consolidated cases are remanded to the circuit court for
further proceedings.
Factual and Procedural Background
On April 13, 2018, M.M.W. was indicted on one count of attempted robbery in
violation of section 570.023,2 one count of armed criminal action in violation of section
571.015, and one count of assault in the fourth degree in violation of section 565.056. On
May 11, 2018, M.M.W. was indicted for endangering a correctional employee in violation
of section 575.155. M.M.W. was alleged to have committed these offenses on January 22,
2017, and May 15, 2017, when he was seventeen years old. M.M.W.'s indictments were
filed in the circuit court of Jackson County, Missouri, and thus in the court of general
jurisdiction ("circuit court").
On January 21, 2021, M.M.W. filed motions to dismiss both indictments. M.M.W.
argued that 2018 amendments to chapter 211 that were enacted after M.M.W.'s indictments
required the dismissal of his indictments because the amended definitions of "adult" and
"child" set forth in section 211.021 required his offenses to be tried in the juvenile division
of the circuit court ("juvenile court")3, since M.M.W. had not been certified for prosecution
as an adult pursuant to section 211.071.1. The State argued that the 2018 amendments to
chapter 211 did not operate retroactively. On January 27, 2021, the circuit court entered
2 The statutory references to M.M.W.'s criminal charges are to the version of each statute in effect at the time of the alleged offense, unless otherwise noted. 3 "Juvenile court" is defined by section 211.021(3) as "the juvenile division or divisions of the circuit court of the county, or judges while hearing juvenile cases assigned to them."
2 orders dismissing the indictments against M.M.W. without prejudice, and referring the
matters to the juvenile court pursuant to section 211.061.2.
The State appeals both orders, and the appeals were consolidated.4 The consolidated
appeals were then stayed pending the disposition of cases before the Missouri Supreme
Court that were expected to resolve when the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 took effect,
and whether the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 should be applied retroactively.
Standard of Review
We are to affirm the grant of a motion to dismiss in a criminal case employing the
same standard used in civil matters, and thus will affirm the dismissal on any ground
alleged in the motion. State v. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359, 364 (Mo. banc 2021) (citing State
v. Merritt, 467 S.W. 3d 808, 810 (Mo. banc 2015)). The sole ground for dismissal raised
in M.M.W.'s motions to dismiss the indictments was the retroactive effect of the 2018
amendments to chapter 211, a question that implicates statutory interpretation. "Statutory
interpretation is an issue of law, which is subject to de novo review." Id. (quoting D.E.G.
v. Juv. Officer of Jackson Cnty., 601 S.W.3d 212, 216 (Mo. banc 2020)).
Analysis
The State raises a single point on appeal, arguing that the circuit court erred in
dismissing M.M.W.'s indictments and referring his criminal matters to the juvenile court
4 The State is authorized to appeal the circuit court's orders of dismissal, even though they were entered without prejudice, because the effect of the dismissals was to enter "final" judgments appealable pursuant to Rule 30.01(a), as the dismissals had the practical effect of terminating the proceedings against M.M.W. in the circuit court, rendering refiling of the actions futile. State v. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359, 362-64 (Mo. banc 2021).
3 because the 2018 amendments to chapter 211, enacted after M.M.W.'s indictments, did not
apply retroactively to M.M.W's indictments.
The collective effect of the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 was to confer statutory
authority to juvenile courts over proceedings involving state law or municipal ordinance
offenses committed by someone prior to attaining the age of eighteen years. Before the
amendments, the juvenile court's statutory authority generally extended only to state law
or municipal ordinance offenses committed by someone prior to attaining the age of
seventeen years. It is uncontested that M.M.W.'s offenses would be subject to the statutory
authority of the juvenile court if the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 apply retroactively
to his indictments, and that the juvenile court would not have the statutory authority to
adjudicate M.M.W.'s offenses if the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 do not apply
retroactively.
The Missouri Supreme Court resolved the question of retroactive application of the
2018 amendments to chapter 211 in the concurrently decided cases of State ex rel. T.J. v.
Cundiff, 632 S.W.3d 353 (Mo. banc 2021) and State v. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359 (Mo. banc
2021). First, the Supreme Court concluded that the 2018 amendments to section 211,
though purportedly effective on January 1, 2021, were not, in fact, effective "until the
general assembly appropriated sufficient funds on July 1, 2021, for the juvenile division to
provide the expanded services" anticipated by the amendments. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d at 364
(citing T.J., 632 S.W.3d at 356 (holding that section 211.438 controlled the effective date
of the 2018 amendments to chapter 211, as it provided that '[e]xpanding services from
4 seventeen years of age to eighteen years of age is a new service and shall not be effective
until an appropriation sufficient to fund the expanded service is provided therefor'")).
Having determined the effective date of the 2018 amendments to chapter 211, the
Supreme Court then concluded that the amendments do not apply to criminal conduct
committed prior to the effective date. R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d at 364-65. Instead, "a defendant
must be tried for the offense as defined by the law that existed at the time of the offense."
Id. at 364 (quoting State v. Pierce, 433 S.W.3d 424, 427 n.1 (Mo. banc 2014)).
Thus, the definitions of "adult" and "child" in effect on the day of M.M.W.'s offenses
control whether the juvenile court had statutory authority over the adjudication of those
offenses. See R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d at 365. Relevant to this case, the definition of "adult"
on the dates of M.M.W.'s offenses was "a person seventeen years of age or older . . . ."
Section 211.021(1) RSMo 2016. The definition of "child" on the dates of M.M.W.'s
offenses was "any person under seventeen years of age . . . ." Section 211.021(2) RSMo
2016. As a matter of law, the 2018 amendments to chapter 211 do not apply to confer
statutory authority on the juvenile court to adjudicate M.M.W.'s offenses.
Our stay of these consolidated appeals was lifted shortly after the Missouri Supreme
Court issued its decisions in T.J., 632 S.W.3d 353, and R.J.G., 632 S.W.3d 359. Thereafter,
M.M.W. filed a letter with this Court "conced[ing] that R.J.G. requires this Court to find
that the [circuit] court erred in dismissing" his indictments, and asking this court to "remand
[his matters] to the [circuit] court for further proceedings consistent with the holding in
R.J.G."
We agree that is the required course of action.
5 Conclusion
The circuit court's orders dismissing M.M.W.'s indictments and referring his matters
to the juvenile court for adjudication are reversed. These cases are remanded to the circuit
court for further proceedings.
__________________________________ Cynthia L. Martin, Judge
All concur