State of Minnesota v. J.A.H. ( 2015 )


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  •                          This opinion will be unpublished and
    may not be cited except as provided by
    Minn. Stat. § 480A.08, subd. 3 (2014).
    STATE OF MINNESOTA
    IN COURT OF APPEALS
    A14-1592
    State of Minnesota,
    Respondent,
    vs.
    J.A.H.,
    Appellant.
    Filed April 13, 2015
    Affirmed
    Hudson, Judge
    Dissenting, Reyes, Judge
    Hennepin County District Court
    File Nos. 27-CR-14-22063, 27-JV-12-413
    Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota; and
    Michael O. Freeman, Hennepin County Attorney, Jean Burdorf, Assistant County
    Attorney, Minneapolis, Minnesota (for respondent)
    Cathryn Middlebrook, Chief Appellate Public Defender, Susan Andrews, Assistant
    Public Defender, St. Paul, Minnesota (for appellant)
    Considered and decided by Bjorkman, Presiding Judge; Hudson, Judge; and
    Reyes, Judge.
    UNPUBLISHED OPINION
    HUDSON, Judge
    Appellant argues that the district court abused its discretion when, following his
    first probation violation, it declined to follow the recommendation of his probation agent
    and revoked his extended-juvenile-jurisdiction (EJJ) status, executing his 120-month
    sentence. Because the district court appropriately weighed the factors in State v. Austin,
    
    295 N.W.2d 246
    , 249–50 (Minn. 1980), including that the need for appellant’s
    confinement outweighed the policies favoring probation, we affirm.
    FACTS
    In 2012, appellant J.A.H., then 16 years old, was identified as a person who shot
    and seriously injured two people in an incident involving Native Mob gang members.
    The state charged appellant by petition with attempted second-degree felony murder,
    first-degree assault, and first-degree burglary, all committed for the benefit of a gang—
    the Native Mob. The district court denied the state’s motion for presumptive adult
    certification and ordered appellant designated as EJJ pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 260B.130
    (2010).
    In August 2012, appellant pleaded guilty to two amended counts of second-degree
    assault and one count of first-degree burglary. The district court sentenced appellant to
    120 months, stayed on the condition that he successfully comply with EJJ probation,
    which included standard conditions of probation, completing the Woodland Hills
    Residential Treatment Program, and having no contact with the victims.
    Appellant completed the program at Woodland Hills in Duluth and transitioned to
    a semi-independent living program. But he returned to the Twin Cities in December
    2013, and in February 2014, his probation agent filed an arrest-and-detain report after
    2
    appellant failed to maintain contact with his probation agent.1 Appellant waived his right
    to a contested Morrissey hearing and admitted that he had remained out of contact with
    his probation agent for approximately six weeks, tested positive for illegal drugs, had
    ongoing contact with documented Native Mob gang members, and failed to attend school
    or make a good-faith effort to obtain employment. The district court accepted evidence
    of a disposition review from appellant’s probation officer, who recommended
    commitment for appellant at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Red Wing (MCF-Red
    Wing).
    The district court issued an order revoking EJJ probation and ordering execution
    of appellant’s 120-month adult sentence. The district court found that appellant had
    violated the terms of his probation, that the violations were intentional and inexcusable,
    and that the need for his confinement outweighed the policies favoring continued
    probation. The district court found that, although appellant had spent more than 15
    months in treatment in Duluth, within weeks after his return to the Twin Cities, he had
    failed to attend school; failed to maintain contact with his probation agent; used illegal
    drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamine; and actively affiliated with gangs by
    taking pictures with known gang members and posting those pictures on social-media
    sites. The district court found that, based on this immediate departure from his probation
    terms, treatment at MCF-Red Wing would be inadequate. The district court also found
    that appellant had extremely serious original offenses, which implicated public-safety
    1
    Appellant’s probation officer contacted appellant prior to issuing an apprehension-and-
    detention order, directing appellant to report to the probation office immediately.
    Appellant did not do so.
    3
    concerns and were influenced by gang relations; that his re-association with gang
    members demonstrated he was a public-safety risk; and that his use of illegal drugs and
    failure to remain in contact with probation further established that he was unamenable to
    services in the juvenile system. Appellant moved for reconsideration, which the district
    court denied, finding that his actions were a choice; that psychological evidence in the
    EJJ proceeding had identified his association with gang peers as his greatest risk to
    reoffend; that confinement was necessary to protect the public from further criminal
    activity; and that it would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the violation if probation
    were not revoked. This appeal follows.
    DECISION
    A district court has broad discretion in determining whether to revoke probation,
    and this court will not reverse that decision absent a clear abuse of discretion. State v.
    Austin, 
    295 N.W.2d 246
    , 249–50 (Minn. 1980). Before revoking probation, however, the
    district court must perform a three-step analysis: designating the specific probationary
    conditions that were violated, finding that the violation was intentional or inexcusable,
    and finding “that [the] need for confinement outweighs the policies favoring probation.”
    
    Id. at 250
    ; see also State v. B.Y., 
    659 N.W.2d 763
    , 768–69 (Minn. 2003) (holding that the
    Austin factors apply to EJJ revocation proceedings). The decision to revoke cannot be a
    reflexive reaction to an accumulation of technical violations, but requires a showing that
    the offender’s behavior demonstrates that he or she cannot be counted on to avoid
    antisocial activity. Austin, 295 N.W.2d at 251. The district court’s findings on the Austin
    factors must conform to procedural requirements and convey the substantive reasons for
    4
    revoking probation and the evidence supporting that decision. State v. Modtland, 
    695 N.W.2d 602
    , 608 (Minn. 2005). “The required Austin findings ensure that the district
    court has fully considered any claims by the defendant that revocation is not warranted
    because his probation violation was either unintentional or excusable, or because
    revocation would be inconsistent with the public policies favoring probation.” State v.
    Cottew, 
    746 N.W.2d 632
    , 637 (Minn. 2008).
    Appellant challenges the district court’s finding on the third Austin factor. When
    finding that the need for confinement outweighs the policies favoring probation, the
    district court must find the presence of at least one of three policy subfactors:
    (1) “confinement is necessary to protect the public from further criminal activity by the
    offender”; (2) “the offender is in need of correctional treatment which can most
    effectively be provided if he is confined”; or (3) “it would unduly depreciate the
    seriousness of the violation if probation were not revoked.” Modtland, 695 N.W.2d at
    607 (quotations omitted). Appellant maintains that he does not need to be confined to
    protect the public from additional criminal activity because his probation violations
    displayed only immature behavior; that any need for his confinement to protect the public
    can be best served by his commitment through the juvenile system, rather than adult
    prison; and that if probation were not revoked, it would not unduly depreciate the
    seriousness of his offense because he would still be under confinement at MCF-Red
    Wing.
    Here, the district court found that confinement was necessary to protect the public
    from appellant’s further criminal activity, based on his immediate violation of several
    5
    substantive probation conditions after returning to the Twin Cities, including his
    association with gang members, a previously identified risk factor. See Austin, 295
    N.W.2d at 251 (noting that probation revocation “requires a showing that the offender’s
    behavior demonstrates that he or she cannot be counted on to avoid antisocial activity”
    (quotation omitted)). Unlike the minor curfew violations involved in B.Y., 659 N.W.2d at
    770–71, cited by the dissent, appellant’s probation violations included the use of illegal
    drugs and association with gang members.         Thus, the district court also found that
    appellant’s violations made him unamenable to additional treatment in the juvenile
    system and that the seriousness of his violation would be depreciated if probation were
    not revoked. See Austin, 295 N.W.2d. at 251 (noting that a failure to make a commitment
    to rehabilitation supported a reasonable conclusion that treatment had failed).
    Specifically, the district court noted that the MCF-Red Wing program recommended by
    appellant’s probation officer was not a viable option as it was “another out of home
    placement with similar treatment goals [and thus] would be unlikely to change
    [appellant’s] conduct.” Appellant’s failure to heed his probation officer’s warning of
    consequences for failing to maintain contact with probation also illustrates his disinterest
    in rehabilitation. See State v. Theel, 
    532 N.W.2d 265
    , 267 (Minn. App. 1995) (holding
    that failure to heed warnings that a particular behavior violates probation and may trigger
    consequences indicates that probation is not succeeding and a greater need for
    confinement exists), review denied (Minn. July 20, 1995), abrogated in part on other
    grounds by Modtland, 695 N.W.2d at 606.
    6
    The district court’s decision to revoke probation reveals it considered appellant’s
    successful completion of his residential treatment program. Indeed, the district court
    observed that appellant had “accomplished a great deal throughout the time at Woodland
    Hills and has learned the tools to live a clean and health[y] lifestyle if he chooses.” But
    the district court also considered appellant’s inability to commit to continued
    rehabilitation, as shown by his swift violation of probation conditions within weeks after
    re-entering the community. In particular, given the gravity of appellant’s initial crimes
    and his continued association with Native Mob gang members, the district court
    concluded that appellant was a risk to public safety. As evidenced by the district court’s
    willingness to take additional argument on appellant’s motion for reconsideration, the
    district court did not make a reflexive decision to revoke probation, but rather, carefully
    reviewed appellant’s arguments. See, e.g., State v. Osborne, 
    732 N.W.2d 249
    , 255
    (Minn. 2007) (upholding probation-revocation decision when the district court continued
    a hearing to review the record and issued a thorough explanation for its decision). A
    close examination of the record shows that it supports the district court’s findings on the
    third Austin factor, and the district court did not abuse its discretion in revoking
    probation.
    Affirmed.
    7
    REYES, Judge (dissenting)
    I respectfully dissent. The district court’s failure to address relevant mitigating
    factors when they are present in an Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) probation
    revocation is error under Minnesota Supreme Court precedent. Moreover, the district
    court abused its discretion in determining that the need to execute a 10-year adult prison
    sentence on J.A.H. after his first offense outweighs the policies favoring probation. I
    would reverse.
    Failure to Consider Mitigating Factors
    In determining whether to revoke an EJJ probation and execute a sentence after
    admitted violations, courts must consider all circumstances of probation, including any
    mitigating factors relating to the violations. State v. B.Y., 
    659 N.W.2d 763
    , 772 (Minn.
    2003). Failure to find any mitigating factors when they are present is reversible error. Id.
    at 770. “This is especially true because a mitigation finding, when reduced to writing,
    can be sufficient to avoid the harsh and inflexible result otherwise required by Minn. Stat.
    § 260B.130, subd. 5 or [related EJJ rules].” Id. at 772. Moreover, “[d]ue process
    requires that a defendant be given an opportunity to show that even if a condition of
    probation was violated, mitigating circumstances exist such that the violation does not
    warrant revocation.” State v. Cottew, 
    746 N.W.2d 632
    , 636 (2008) (citing Pearson v.
    State, 
    308 Minn. 287
    , 289–90, 
    241 N.W.2d 490
    , 492 (Minn. 1976)) (other citations
    omitted). “Mitigating factors include amenability to treatment, successful completion of
    a treatment program, and whether the violations show a potential for recidivism.” State
    v. J.E.S., 
    763 N.W.2d 64
    , 69 (Minn. App. 2009) (citing B.Y., 659 N.W.2d at 770).
    D-1
    Here, the district court failed to find any mitigating factors, contrary to the
    undisputed record containing several mitigating factors. See B.Y., 659 N.W.2d at 772
    (stating that “a district court in its mitigation findings must be certain to take all of the
    circumstances of probation into consideration”). In that case, B.Y. was on EJJ probation
    after pleading guilty to kidnapping and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal
    gang. Id. at 764. He had successfully completed the Woodland Hills program, but
    subsequently violated the terms of his probation. Id.at 764-766. B.Y.’s probation officer
    recommended revoking probation, and the state did as well due to his “multiple
    violations.” Id. at 766. The district court revoked probation, “finding no mitigating
    factors,” without additional findings on those factors, and executed his 108-month
    sentence. Id. at 767. B.Y. appealed, and we affirmed, concluding that in the absence of
    written findings of mitigating factors by the district court, the EJJ statute required the
    execution of B.Y.’s sentence. Id. at 765. The supreme court reversed and remanded for
    the district court to make additional findings on mitigating factors present in the record.
    Id. at 771.
    Similarly here, at the July 29, 2014 hearing, the district court twice stated that the
    “Court has previously found that there are no mitigating factors.”2 This finding is clearly
    erroneous based on the record before us.        Here J.A.H., just like B.Y., successfully
    completed the rigorous 16-month residential program at Woodland Hills in Duluth and
    received positive reports from the very beginning of the program, demonstrating his
    2
    The district court stated earlier in the hearing that “[J.A.H.] has accomplished a great
    deal throughout the time at Woodland Hills and has learned the tools to live a clean and
    healthy lifestyle if he chooses,” but apparently did not find this to be a mitigating factor.
    D-2
    amenability to probation.    “[S]uccessful completion of the rigorous Woodland Hills
    rehabilitation program should be appropriately considered by the district court as a
    mitigating factor demonstrating amenability to probation.” B.Y. at 770. J.A.H. then
    successfully transitioned into the semi-independent living program. Moreover, J.A.H.
    obtained his high school diploma while in the program and even finished a semester of
    college. And until the present violation, which was his first and only violation, J.A.H.
    had complied with all of the terms and conditions of his probation. I would conclude that
    on this record, the district court’s failure to address clearly documented mitigating factors
    amounts to reversible error. See B.Y., 659 N.W.2d. at 770.
    Analysis of the Third Austin Factor
    I would also conclude that the district court abused its discretion in determining
    that the need for public safety from J.A.H. outweighs the policies favoring probation.
    Before revoking probation, a district court must make three findings under State v.
    Austin, 
    295 N.W.2d 246
     (Minn. 1980). “[T]he court must (1) designate the specific
    condition or conditions that were violated; (2) find that the violation was intentional or
    inexcusable; and (3) find that the need for confinement outweighs the policies favoring
    probation.” State v. Modtland, 
    695 N.W.2d 602
    , 606 (Minn. 2005) (quoting Austin, 295
    N.W.2d at 250). Only the third Austin factor is at issue here. Furthermore, when
    analyzing the third Austin factor, the district court must find at least one of three policy
    factors: (1) the need for “confinement is necessary to protect the public from further
    criminal activity by the offender”; (2) “the offender is in need of correctional treatment
    D-3
    which can most effectively be provided if he is confined”; or (3) “it would unduly
    depreciate the seriousness of the violation if probation were not revoked.” Id. at 607.
    The supreme court has stated that “[w]hen determining if revocation is
    appropriate, courts must balance ‘the probationer's interest in freedom and the state's
    interest in insuring his rehabilitation and the public safety’. . . .” Id. at 606-607 (citing
    Austin, 295 N.W.2d at 250).       But even when probation terms are violated, “policy
    considerations may require that probation not be revoked.” Austin, 295 N.W.2d at 250.
    Indeed, “revocation should be used only as a last resort when treatment has failed.” Id.
    “If the violation is one of youthful obstinance, it may not always foreclose a
    determination that an EJJ defendant is amenable to probation.” B.Y., 659 N.W.2d at 772.
    In its June 3, 2014 order and again during the July 29, 2014 hearing, the district
    court relied on the first policy factor—that “confinement is necessary to protect the
    public from further criminal activity”—to support its finding on the third Austin factor.
    At the July 29, 2014 hearing, the district court also found “that it would unduly
    depreciate the seriousness of the violation if the probation was not revoked.” However,
    the district court did not provide any substantive reasons for this finding. See Modtland,
    695 N.W.2d at 608 (“courts must seek to convey their substantive reasons for revocation
    and the evidence relied upon”). Because the district court primarily relied on the
    confinement policy with substantive reasoning but did not do so for the third policy
    factor, I address the confinement policy. Id.
    The district court’s finding on the third Austin factor, that the need for
    confinement outweighed the policies favoring probation, is an abuse of discretion for
    D-4
    three reasons. First, there is a viable alternative to execution of his 120-month sentence
    with the MCF-Red Wing program recommended by J.A.H.’s probation officer.3 This
    program would provide treatment while keeping him confined, thereby addressing the
    concern for confinement to protect the public expressed by the district court. At the same
    time, that placement would encourage rehabilitation, which has been recognized as “the
    purpose of probation”. Modtland, 695 N.W.2d at 606 (quotation omitted).
    Second, J.A.H. has shown that he is amenable to probation and rehabilitation. As
    stated above, he successfully completed a 16-month residential program, transitioned into
    a semi-independent living program, obtained his high school diploma, completed a
    semester of college and until the violation otherwise complied with the terms of
    probation. See B.Y., 659 N.W.2d at 770 (stating that “successful completion of the
    rigorous Woodland Hills rehabilitation program . . . demonstrate[ed] amenability to
    probation”).   The MCF-Red Wing program would provide J.A.H. the skills and
    individual therapy necessary to assist him in avoiding association with gang members.
    And since he obtained his high school diploma while in the Woodland Hills program, he
    would be eligible to continue his post-secondary education or vocational training at the
    MCF-Red Wing program.
    3
    In contrast to the probation officer’s recommendation in the instant case, in Modtland
    the probation officer recommended incarceration, stating that he was a “huge risk to
    public safety,” not amenable to the Minnesota Teen Challenge program, and that the only
    alternative was execution of his sentence. 695 N.W.2d at 605. The supreme court
    nevertheless reversed and remanded for failing to address the second and third Austin
    factors. Id. at 608.
    D-5
    Third, while J.A.H’s underlying convictions were for unquestionably serious
    crimes (second-degree assault and first-degree burglary), his probation violations were
    unrelated to those underlying crimes. Nevertheless, the district placed great weight on
    J.A.H. violating the terms of his probation by having contact with gang members, noting
    that he posted photographs on Facebook of himself wearing gang colors and flashing
    gang signs. While these were admitted violations of probation, postings on Facebook
    appear to reflect “youthful obstinance” and do not necessarily foreclose the possibility
    that he is amenable to probation. Id. at 772.
    I recognize the challenge district courts face when having to make decisions on
    EJJ revocation hearings by balancing public safety concerns with the desire for
    rehabilitation. Although we afford district courts great deference, as an error-correcting
    court we must reverse when errors occur. Failure to find mitigating factors when such
    exist is reversible error. Moreover, the supreme court has consistently emphasized the
    strong preference for rehabilitation and using revocation as a last resort only when
    treatment has failed. See Modtland, 695 N.W.2d at 606 (quoting Austin, 295 N.W.2d at
    250). I would reverse.
    D-6
    

Document Info

Docket Number: A14-1592

Filed Date: 4/13/2015

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/17/2021