M.J. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )


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  • MEMORANDUM DECISION
    Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
    this Memorandum Decision shall not be                                          FILED
    regarded as precedent or cited before any                               Jul 30 2019, 7:27 am
    court except for the purpose of establishing
    CLERK
    the defense of res judicata, collateral                                 Indiana Supreme Court
    Court of Appeals
    estoppel, or the law of the case.                                            and Tax Court
    ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
    Alan K. Wilson                                            Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
    Muncie, Indiana                                           Attorney General of Indiana
    Benjamin J. Shoptaw
    Deputy Attorney General
    Indianapolis, Indiana
    IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
    M.J.,                                                     July 30, 2019
    Appellant-Respondent,                                     Court of Appeals Case No.
    19A-JV-215
    v.                                                Appeal from the
    Delaware Circuit Court
    State of Indiana,                                         The Honorable
    Appellee-Petitioner.                                      Kimberly S. Dowling, Judge
    The Honorable
    Amanda Yonally, Magistrate
    Trial Court Cause No.
    18C02-1809-JD-116
    Kirsch, Judge.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019                    Page 1 of 8
    [1]   M.J. appeals his placement with the Indiana Department of Correction
    (“DOC”) following his admission to theft,1 which would be a Class A
    misdemeanor if committed by an adult. M.J. raises the following restated issue
    for our review: whether placement in DOC was an abuse of discretion because
    it prevents him from completing his HSE program and obtaining employment
    to support his newborn child.
    [2]   We affirm.
    Facts and Procedural History
    [3]   On August 8, 2018, M.J. was placed on Electronic House Arrest and was
    required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet as a result of a separate
    delinquency adjudication under a different cause number. Appellant’s App. Vol.
    II at 3. On August 14, 2018, M.J. cut off his ankle bracelet and broke the terms
    of his house arrest. Tr. Vol. I at 8.
    [4]   On September 20, 2018, the State filed a delinquency petition alleging that M.J.
    committed escape, which would be a Level 6 felony if committed by an adult,
    and theft, which would be a Class A misdemeanor if committed by an adult due
    to M.J. cutting of his ankle bracelet. Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 2. At the
    October 9, 2018 initial hearing, M.J. admitted to committing theft as a Class A
    misdemeanor. Tr. Vol. I at 9. M.J. admitted that he knew he was not supposed
    1
    See 
    Ind. Code § 35-43-4-2
    (a).
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 2 of 8
    to cut off his ankle bracelet or take it off of his person. 
    Id. at 8
    . Count I, escape,
    was dismissed. 
    Id. at 10
    .
    [5]   On January 9, 2019, the juvenile court held a dispositional hearing. Tr. Vol. II
    at 2. At the hearing, Stacy Bell (“Bell”), M.J.’s probation officer, testified as to
    her recommendation that M.J. should be incarcerated in DOC. 
    Id. at 7
    . Bell
    explained that commitment to DOC was necessary because M.J. had a low
    likelihood of appearing at subsequent proceedings, M.J. was a threat to himself
    and the community, and the likelihood was low that M.J. would accept
    treatment offered. 
    Id. at 5
    . Bell also informed the juvenile court of M.J.’s
    criminal history, which included: a pending charge of illegal consumption as a
    Class C misdemeanor if committed by an adult; a delinquency adjudication for
    what would be robbery as a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult; the current
    case; and a pending case for battery as a Class A misdemeanor if committed by
    an adult. 
    Id. at 6-7
    ; Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 23, 28. Bell further explained that
    M.J. frequently ran away and remained a flight risk. Tr. Vol. II at 6; Appellant’s
    App. Vol. II at 40. She mentioned that on one occasion when M.J. ran away, he
    was driving and got in a serious car accident that resulted in his hospitalization.
    Tr. Vol. II at 6. Later, M.J. ran away again and wrecked his father’s truck. 
    Id. at 7
    . Bell concluded that M.J. demonstrated “criminal thinking errors” and that
    commitment to DOC would rehabilitate these errors. 
    Id.
    [6]   The juvenile court issued its findings on January 11, 2019. Appellant’s App. Vol.
    II at 38-40. The court found that M.J. had “failed less restrictive attempts at
    intervention and continues to commit delinquent acts.” 
    Id. at 40
    . The court
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 3 of 8
    further found that M.J. engages in behavior that puts himself and his
    community at risk. 
    Id.
     The juvenile court concluded that M.J. was “beyond
    rehabilitation within the community resources” and ordered that M.J. be
    committed to DOC. 
    Id.
     M.J. now appeals his commitment to DOC.
    Discussion and Decision
    [7]   In making this claim, M.J. argues that M.J.’s sentence is inappropriate under
    Indiana Appellate Rule 7(B) because placement with local detention was a
    more appropriate remedy and that placement with DOC will prevent him from
    completing his high school education, supporting his child, and securing a job.
    He also argues that the standard of review for this case is whether his sentence
    is inappropriate. M.J. is incorrect. The correct standard is whether the trial
    court abused its discretion. T.K.., 899 N.E.2d at 678. Because juvenile
    proceedings are civil in nature, Indiana Appellate Rule 7 does not apply to
    juvenile dispositions. T.K. v. State, 
    899 N.E.2d 686
    , 687-88 (Ind. Ct. App.
    2009). Furthermore, the commitment of a juvenile is not a sentence. Jordan v.
    State, 
    512 N.E.2d 407
    , 408 (Ind. Ct. App. 1987).
    [8]   “A juvenile court is accorded ‘wide latitude’ and ‘great flexibility’ in its dealings
    with juveniles.” J.T. v. State, 
    111 N.E.3d 1019
    , 1026 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018)
    (citing J.S. v. State, 
    881 N.E.2d 26
    , 28 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008)). The choice of a
    specific disposition of a juvenile adjudicated as a delinquent child is a matter
    within the sound discretion of the juvenile court and will only be reversed if
    there has been an abuse of that discretion. 
    Id.
     “The juvenile court’s discretion
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 4 of 8
    in determining a disposition is subject to the statutory considerations of the
    welfare of the child, the safety of the community, and the policy of favoring the
    least-harsh disposition.” 
    Id.
     An abuse of discretion occurs when the juvenile
    court’s action is clearly erroneous and against the logic and effect of the facts
    and circumstances before it. 
    Id.
    [9]    The goal of the juvenile process is rehabilitation rather than punishment. 
    Id.
    “‘Accordingly, juvenile courts have a variety of placement choices for juveniles
    who have delinquency problems, none of which are considered sentences.’” 
    Id.
    (quoting R.H. v. State, 
    937 N.E.2d 386
    , 388 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010)). Indiana
    Code section 31-37-18-6(1)(A) states that “[i]f consistent with the safety of the
    community and the best interest of the child, the juvenile court shall enter a
    dispositional decree that is in the least restrictive (most family like) and most
    appropriate setting available.” “[T]he statute recognizes that in certain
    situations the best interest of the child is better served by a more restrictive
    placement.” J.S., 
    881 N.E.2d at
    29 (citing K.A. v. State, 
    775 N.E.2d 382
    , 387
    (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), trans. denied). The law requires only that the disposition
    selected be the least restrictive disposition that is “consistent with the safety of
    the community and the best interest of the child.” J.T., 111 N.E.3d at 1026
    (citing D.S. v. State, 
    829 N.E.2d 1081
    , 1085 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)).
    [10]   This case arises from M.J.’s delinquent behavior while on house arrest for
    another adjudication. His delinquency record includes a pending charge of
    illegal consumption as a Class C misdemeanor if committed by an adult, an
    adjudication of robbery as a Level 3 felony if committed by an adult, the current
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 5 of 8
    case, and a pending charge of battery as a Class A misdemeanor if committed
    by an adult. Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 23, 28. M.J. has been afforded many
    rehabilitative programs: formal probation; home detention; outpatient
    counseling; family counseling; residential treatments; and drug screens. Id. at
    40. Despite these programs, M.J. frequently ran away from home and
    remained a flight risk and at a high risk to reoffend. Id. at 27-28.
    [11]   M.J. argues that a placement at a local detention facility would have been more
    appropriate since Bell, his probation officer, conceded to local detention if the
    juvenile court did not place M.J. in DOC. However, even if a less restrictive
    alternative exists, the juvenile court is not obligated to choose that alternative.
    D.C. v. State, 
    935 N.E.2d 290
    , 292 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (“[T]he availability of a
    less restrictive alternative does not mean the juvenile court was required to
    order that placement.”), aff’d on trans., 
    958 N.E.2d 757
     (Ind. 2011). Indiana
    Code section 31-37-18-6 states that the trial court is only required to consider
    the least restrictive placement if that placement comports with the safety needs
    of the community and the child’s best interests. See J.B. v. State, 
    849 N.E.2d 714
    , 717-18 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006) (concluding that the trial court did not abuse
    its discretion when it committed the juvenile to the DOC because the less-
    restrictive placement suggested by him would have fallen short of meeting the
    community’s safety needs), trans. denied.
    [12]   Here, the juvenile court found that M.J. was “beyond rehabilitation within the
    community resources.” Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 40. M.J. had participated in
    many less restrictive rehabilitation services, but none of these services
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 6 of 8
    rehabilitated M.J.’s delinquent behavior Even though placement in a local
    facility was available, it was within the juvenile court’s discretion to order
    placement in DOC because of M.J.’s failure to reform his delinquent behavior.
    M.J. remained a risk to himself and the safety of his community, and the
    juvenile court did not abuse its discretion.
    [13]   M.J. further argues that placement in DOC will delay his completion of his
    HSE program and will prevent his ability to get a job. M.J. claims that he has a
    job and wants to support his newborn child. While we sympathize with M.J.’s
    desire to provide for his child, M.J. has exhausted his other options of
    rehabilitation. See D.S. v. State, 
    829 N.E.2d 1081
    , 1086 (Ind. Ct. App 2005)
    (holding that when a juvenile exhausts less restrictive rehabilitation efforts, the
    juvenile court does not abuse its discretion in committing the juvenile to DOC).
    M.J.’s commitment to DOC was the only remaining rehabilitative option; thus,
    it was not an abuse of discretion by the juvenile court to order commitment.
    [14]   We conclude that the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in ordering
    placement in DOC. M.J. had ample opportunities to reform his behavior, yet
    he remains a risk to himself and his community. M.J. has exhausted all less
    restrictive attempts of rehabilitation. Further, he is a flight risk and is at a high
    risk to reoffend. It was not an abuse of discretion by the juvenile court to order
    placement in DOC as that placement is consistent with the safety of the
    community and the best interests of M.J. See 
    Ind. Code § 31-37-18-6
    (A).
    [15]   Affirmed.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 7 of 8
    Vaidik, C.J., and Altice, J., concur.
    Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JV-215 | July 30, 2019   Page 8 of 8