State v. Dunn ( 2021 )

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
STATE OF DELAWARE )
)
v. ) ID Nos. 2008008165 and
) 2008008210
AMEER DUNN and JAHEIM )
HAMILTON, )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Submitted: May 27, 2021
Decided: June 15, 2021
Upon Defendant Ameer Dunn’s Motion to Transfer Charges to Family Court,
DENIED.
Erika Flaschner, Esquire, and Christina Ruggiero, Esquire, Deputy Attorneys
General, Department of Justice, Wilmington, Delaware. Attorneys for the State.
Monika Germono, Esquire, and Meghan Crist, Esquire, Assistant Public
Defenders, Office of Defense Services, Wilmington, Delaware. Attorneys for
Defendant Ameer Dunn.
MEDINILLA, J.
I. INTRODUCTION
Defendants Ameer Dunn and Jaheim Hamilton, ages 17 and 161 seek to
transfer their charges to Family Court under 10 Del. C. § 1011. They stand accused
of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, two counts of Attempted Assault First Degree, five
counts of Reckless Endangering First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the
Commission of a Felony (“PFDCF”), Conspiracy Second Degree, and Possession or
Control of a Firearm by a Prohibited Juvenile.
After both defendants sought a preliminary determination as to whether the
State had carried its respective burdens of proof to try them as adults, the Court
determined in Part I of the Reverse Amenability hearing that the State established
its prima facie case against both Defendants to support a fair likelihood of conviction
under a theory of accomplice liability.2 Though the State failed to establish its
burden under 11 Del. C. § 1447A(f) to mandate Defendants be tried as adults for the
firearm charges, the Court determined that it may exercise its discretion and
determine whether to retain jurisdiction.3
1
Ameer Dunn’s date of birth is October 14, 2002; Jaheim Hamilton’s date of birth is October 10,
2003.
2
See Memorandum Opinion, State of Delaware v. Ameer Dunn, Crim. ID. No. 2008008165, D.I.
17, at 9 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 15, 2021).
3
Id. at 14-15.
2
Accordingly, the Court held part II of the bifurcated hearing for Defendant
Dunn on May 25, 2021. The factual and procedural history will not be reiterated.4
The Court now considers whether Defendant Dunn is amenable to the rehabilitative
processes of the Family Court5 and weighs the four factors set forth in 10 Del. C. §
1011(b).6
II. DISCUSSION
A. Section 1011(b) Factor One: Nature of Present Offense and the Extent
and Nature of Defendant’s Prior Record
The first § 1011(b) factor focuses on the nature of the present offense. The
evidence against Defendant for the offense of Theft of a Motor Vehicle is strong and
his behavior with co-defendant Hamilton demonstrates a conscious decision to steal
a vehicle where at least one of the defendants possessed a firearm while so doing.
Furthermore, Defendant’s past criminal record is lengthy. He was adjudicated
delinquent on three prior occasions which included various thefts of motor vehicles.7
4
For a recitation of the facts, see Memorandum Opinion, State of Delaware v. Ameer Dunn,
Crim. I.D. No. 2008008165, D.I. 17, at 3-7 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 15, 2021).
5
See generally 10 Del. C. §§ 1010-11 (2013 & Supp. 2016). See Hughes v. State, 653 A.2d 241,
249 (Del. 1994) (quoting Marine v. State, 624 A.2d 1181, 1184 (Del. 1993); Marine v. State, 607
A.2d 1185, 1209 (Del. 1992)).
6
See, e.g., State v. Harper, 2014 WL 1303012, at *5-7 (Del. Super. Mar. 31, 2014); see also 10
Del. C. § 1011(b) (stating that the Court may consider evidence of: (1) “[t]he nature of the
present offense and the extent and nature of the defendant’s prior record, if any;” (2) “[t]he
nature of past treatment and rehabilitative efforts and the nature of defendant’s response thereto,
if any;” (3) “[w]hether the interests of society and the defendant would be best served by trial in
the Family Court or in the Superior Court[;]” and (4) any “other factors which, in the judgment
of the Court are deemed relevant.”).
7
According to the DELJIS charge summary provided in Dr. Thompson’s psychological evaluation
dated May 18, 202 and the Reverse Amenability Report from DSCYF, Defendant became involved
3
The most recent arrest in August of 2020 that led to the current charges occurred
only two weeks from his release from the Ferris School in July of 2020. As to both
prongs, this factor weighs against transfer.
B. Section 1011(b) Factor Two: Nature of Past Treatment and Defendant’s
Response
Defendant’s lengthy and varied criminal history demonstrates that numerous
attempts at supervision and rehabilitative efforts have failed. Robert G. Thompson,
Psy.D. testified on behalf of Defendant. Navigating through his seventeen-page
report, he opined that Defendant should remain in the Family Court with “favorable
prognosis for change.”8 This opinion was based on examinations conducted on
December 20, 2020, and February 25, 2021, and without jurisdictional or legal
considerations of his charges.
By contrast, Master Family Service Specialist Alexandra Blasi and Supervisor
George Chakar of DSCYF submitted their report that recommends these charges
remain in this Court.9 They did take into consideration that services cannot be
provided past age 19. They noted that Defendant was placed on Pre-trial supervision
with YRS following an arrest on April 4, 2017. His first felony adjudication was after an arrest
that occurred on February 4, 2019, for Theft of a Motor Vehicle, with a second felony for providing
false statements, and a third felony adjudication was secondary to a January 23, 2020, arrest, where
he was charged with Possession, Purchase, Ownership or Control of a Firearm by a Prohibited
Juvenile (2 counts), to which he pled guilty to one charge.
8
See Forensic Psychological Report, State of Delaware v. Ameer Dunn, Crim. I.D. No.
2008008165, D.I. 15, at 17 (Del. Super. Ct. May 18, 2021).
9
See DSCYF Reverse Amenability Report, Exhibit 8, at 7.
4
in 2017, completed community supervision but incurred new chares while on
supervision. He also was placed in a non-secured detention but escaped. Despite
efforts after he violated the conditions of his probation, and placement at Level IV,
he was shot two weeks after and charged with a firearm charge less than a month
after his release from Level IV.
At age 18.6 months, at the time of the report, Defendant has failed to comply
with terms of community supervision. YRS recommends Defendant be found non-
amenable and remain in this Court. This Court agrees. YRS can provide only
limited services. This factor weighs against transfer.
C. Section 1011(b) Factor Three: Interests of Society and Defendant
After multiple rehabilitative efforts and services, Defendant’s violent
behavior has escalated despite efforts from YRS and the Family Court. The various
youth programs have not worked. Lesser sanctions through Family Court have also
failed. The Court finds that the interests of society and Defendant weigh against a
transfer.10
10
The fourth factor of § 1011(b)—other relevant factors the Court deems relevant—has been
sufficiently addressed in the other § 1011(b) factors such that the Court need not explicitly address
this factor in this ruling.
5
CONCLUSION
Under § 1011(b), the Court finds that all factors weigh against transfer. For
the reasons stated above, Defendant’s Motion is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ Vivian L. Medinilla
Vivian L. Medinilla
Judge
oc: Prothonotary
cc: Defendant
6