in the Matter of M. A. L. ( 2005 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

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NO. 03-04-00247-CV

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In the Matter of M. A. L.

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FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. J-21,897, HONORABLE W. JEANNE MEURER, JUDGE PRESIDING

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M E M O R A N D U M O P I N I O N

The district court found beyond a reasonable doubt that M.A.L. committed criminal trespass and adjudicated him delinquent. The court committed him to the Texas Youth Commission for an indeterminate period.

M.A.L. stipulated at trial that he intentionally and knowingly entered the premises of Lanier High School with notice that such entry was forbidden and without the permission of a school employee, who is the owner of the school for this purpose. By his sole issue on appeal, M.A.L. contends that the district court lacked jurisdiction over him because he should have been tried under a more specific statute with a less severe punishment range. Compare Tex. Educ. Code Ann. § 37.107 (West 1996) (trespass on school grounds, Class C misdemeanor), with Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 30.05 (West 2004-05) (trespass, Class B misdemeanor). He argues that because the lesser offense is a Class C misdemeanor and is not within the definition of delinquent conduct, the district court lacked jurisdiction. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.03(a) (West Supp. 2004-05); see also Tex. Const. art. V, § 19 (justice court has original jurisdiction over offenses punishable by fine only).

This Court has recently concluded in a similar juvenile case that these statutes are not in pari materia, that the State could charge the juvenile under either statute, and that the district court had jurisdiction over the allegation of criminal trespass against the juvenile. See In re J.M.R., 149 S.W.3d 289, 294-95 (Tex. App.--Austin 2004, no pet.); see also In re K.M., No. 03-04-00315-CV, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 4661, at *2 (Austin June 17, 2005, no pet. h.). This appeal is controlled by that decision. We affirm the judgment of the district court.

David Puryear, Justice

Before Chief Justice Law, Justices Puryear and Pemberton

Affirmed

Filed: July 13, 2005