Source: https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/in-re-j-g-769624117
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 19:45:31+00:00

Document:
Party Name: In re J.G., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. J.G., Defendant and Appellant.
Judge Panel: We Concur: CANTIL-SAKAUYE, C. J., CORRIGAN, J., LIU, J., CUÉLLAR, J., KRUGER, J., McKINSTER, J.
In re J.G., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.
William C. Whaley, under appointment by the Supreme Court, for Defendant and Appellant.
Kamala D. Harris and Xavier Becerra, Attorneys General, Gerald A. Engler, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Michael P. Farrell, Assistant Attorney General, Eric L. Christoffersen, Rachelle A. Newcomb and Brook A. Bennigson, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
Under California's deferred entry of judgment procedure, an eligible minor, after admitting the charges in a petition alleging a violation of law and successfully completing probation, may have the charges dismissed and the juvenile court records sealed. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 790.)1 A minor granted deferred entry of judgment “may... be required to pay restitution to the victim or victims pursuant to the provisions of” the Welfare and Institutions Code. (§ 794.) In this case, the juvenile court granted deferred entry of judgment to J.G., who was charged by petition with trespassing and vandalism, on condition that he pay restitution in the total amount of $36, 381, at the rate of $25 per month. It later found that J.G. had successfully completed all terms of his probation other than the restitution requirement, dismissed the petition, and ordered that the restitution award may be enforced as a civil judgment. On appeal, J.G. challenged the restitution order, arguing that the juvenile court erred by: (1) converting the unpaid restitution to a civil judgment; (2) considering, in determining his ability to pay restitution, the benefits he received from the federal Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI); (3) finding, based on his receipt of SSI benefits, that he had the ability to pay restitution; and (4) imposing an amount that exceeded the $20, 000 per-tort-cap set forth in section 742.16, subdivision (n). The Court of Appeal rejected these arguments and affirmed the juvenile court's judgment. For reasons explained below, we likewise reject J.G.'s first and second arguments. However, based on concessions by the People with respect to the third argument, we remand the matter for a new hearing regarding J.G.'s ability to pay restitution. In light of this disposition, we do not address J.G.'s fourth argument.
On June 6, 2012, the Shasta County District Attorney filed a petition under section 602 alleging that J.G. was within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court because he had committed the following offenses: (1) vandalism (Pen. Code, § 594, subd. (b)(2)); (2) throwing an object at a vehicle (Veh. Code, § 23110, subd. (b)); (3) trespass and damage or removal of highway signs (Pen. Code, § 602, subd. (f)); and (4) trespass by entering and occupying property (Pen. Code, § 602, subd. (m)). In support of these charges, the petition alleged that J.G. had entered and occupied real property and a structure at Shasta State Historic Park and had defaced, damaged, and destroyed signs, brick walls, wood railings, skylights, and a roof at the park. Accompanying the petition was a filing indicating that J.G. was eligible for deferred entry of judgment. Several months later, the probation department recommended that the court grant deferred entry of judgment subject to several conditions, including J.G.'s payment of restitution in the amount of $30, 156.

References: v. 
 § 790
 § 594
 § 23110
 § 602
 § 602