Case Name: In the Matter of the WELFARE OF J.H., Child
Court: Minnesota Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Minnesota
Decision Date: 2013-03-04
Citations: 829 N.W.2d 607
Docket Number: No. A12-1405
Parties: In the Matter of the WELFARE OF J.H., Child.
Judges: Considered and decided by CLEARY, Presiding Judge; HOOTEN, Judge; and COLLINS, Judge.
Reporter: North Western Reporter 2d
Volume: 829
Pages: 607–626

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the WELFARE OF J.H., Child.
No. A12-1405.
Court of Appeals of Minnesota.
March 4, 2013.
Review Granted May 29, 2013.
Lori Swanson, Attorney General, St. Paul, MN; and John Choi, Ramsey County Attorney, Peter R. Marker, Assistant County Attorney, St. Paul, MN, for respondent.
David W. Merchant, Chief Appellate Public Defender, Leslie J. Rosenberg, Assistant Public Defender, St. Paul, MN, for appellant child.
Considered and decided by CLEARY, Presiding Judge; HOOTEN, Judge; and COLLINS, Judge.
Retired judge of the district court, serving as judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals by appointment pursuant to Minn. Const, art. VI, § 10.

Opinion:
OPINION
CLEARY, Judge.
Appellant challenges the district court's order certifying him as an adult, arguing that the court abused its discretion by determining that appellant did not establish by clear and convincing evidence that retaining the proceeding in juvenile court is in the best interests of public safety, and further arguing that certifying appellant as an adult is unconstitutional. Because we conclude that the court failed to comply with Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4, by not expressly giving greater weight to both the seriousness of the offense and the lack of a prior record of delinquency, and because we conclude that the court abused its discretion by determining that appellant's programming history, the adequacy of the punishment or programming available, and the dispositional options available favor adult certification, we reverse.
FACTS
On November 17, 2011 M.Y. picked up G.K. and a friend from school and took them to a party at a house in St. Paul, where they drank alcohol. M.Y., G.K., G.K's friend, and others left the party and went to another house, also in St. Paul, and everyone continued to drink. G.K. and her friend told M.Y. that they wanted to leave the house and got into M.Y.'s car, which was parked outside the house. G.K's friend was mad at M.Y. because he did not want to leave. The friend took M.Y.'s cell phone and walked down the street to look for street signs so she could tell someone where to pick them up. S.L. and Jo.H. came to the car looking for G.K.; they grabbed her under the arms and carried her back into the house. G.K. tried to resist, grabbing at everything, including door frames, to prevent S.L. and Jo.H. from carrying her into the house.
Once inside, G.K. was taken into a bedroom and slammed onto a mattress. At least two people in the room held G.K. down while she was digitally penetrated, and at least one male raped her. One individual told everyone in the room that the police were coming, and everyone except G.K. ran out of the room. G.K's friend and M.Y. were looking for G.K. and found her coming out of the bedroom, crying and pulling up her pants.
Appellant, who had turned 17 three days earlier, was present in the bedroom when the assault took place. He did not assault G.K. or hold her down, but he told officers that she was yelling for help and that someone was covering her mouth. Appellant and all of the other males present are members of or associated with a street gang called the True Blood 22 Gang, or TB22. TB22 is a documented criminal street gang operating in the Twin Cities. M.Y. stated that it was the gang's intent to get G.K. and her friend drunk and rape them on the night of November 17.
In March 2012, appellant was charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.342, subd. l(f)(i) (2010), conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.175, subd. 2(3) (2010), kidnapping in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.25, subd. 1(2) (2010), and committing a crime for the benefit of a gang in violation of Minn.Stat. § 609.229, subd. 2 (2010). The state filed a motion asking the district court to certify appellant to stand trial as an adult pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 3 (2010).
The district court held a certification hearing over three days in May and June 2012. At the certification hearing, the district court received into evidence a report from a juvenile probation and parole certification study (certification study) prepared by Kao Dua Chi Moua and a report from a psychological evaluation prepared by Dr. Gary Hertog, a clinical psychologist. Both reports recommended designating appellant an extended jurisdiction juvenile (EJJ). Both Moua and Dr. Her-tog testified extensively at the certification hearing.
In July 2012, the district court issued an order certifying appellant to stand trial as an adult. The court noted that it considered six factors when determining whether to certify appellant for adult prosecution pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 3-4. The court also noted that greater weight is given to the seriousness of the alleged offense and the child's prior record of delinquency than to the other four factors, but did not expressly weigh appellant's prior record of delinquency in a manner distinguishable from the weighing of the other four factors. The court discussed each of the six factors, determined that appellant did not establish "by clear and convincing evidence that retaining this proceeding in the juvenile court is [ ] in the best interest of public safety," and ruled that the case would proceed as an adult certification. This appeal follows.
ISSUES
I. Did the district court abuse its discretion by determining that appellant's programming history, the adequacy of the punishment or programming available, and the dispositional options available favor adult certification?
II. Did the district court abuse its discretion by giving greater weight to the seriousness of the offense but not to appellant's prior record of delinquency?
ANALYSIS
"A district court has considerable latitude in deciding whether to certify a case for adult prosecution. Its decision will not be reversed unless [the court's] findings are clearly erroneous so as to constitute an abuse of discretion." In re Welfare of D.T.H., 572 N.W.2d 742, 744 (Minn.App.1997) (alteration in original) (quotations and citation omitted), review denied (Minn. Feb. 19, 1998).
Minnesota law provides a presumption of certification to adult court when
(1) the child was 16 or 17 at the time of the offense; and
(2) the delinquency petition alleges that the child committed an offense that would result in a presumptive commitment to prison .
If the court determines that probable cause exists to believe the child committed the alleged offense, the burden is on the child to rebut this presumption by demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that retaining the proceeding in the juvenile court serves public safety. If the court finds that the child has not rebutted the presumption by clear and convincing evidence, the court shall certify the proceeding.
Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 3.
There is no dispute that a presumption of certification existed in this case and that appellant bore the burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that retaining the proceeding in juvenile court serves public safety.
In determining whether certification would serve public safety, the court considers the following statutory factors:
(1) the seriousness of the alleged offense in terms of community protection, including the existence of any aggravating factors recognized by the Sentencing Guidelines, the use of a firearm, and the impact on any victim;
(2) the culpability of the child in committing the alleged offense, including the level of-the child's participation in planning and carrying out the offense and the existence of any mitigating factors recognized by the Sentencing Guidelines;
(3) the child's prior record of delinquency;
(4) the child's programming history, including the child's past willingness to participate meaningfully in available programming;
(5) the adequacy of the punishment or programming available in the juvenile justice system; and
(6) the dispositional options available for the child.
Id., subd. 4. The court must give greater weight to factors one and three than to the other factors. Id. "We cannot emphasize too strongly that the district court must place greater weight on the severity of the alleged crime and the prior delinquency record of the juvenile in deciding whether to certify." In re Welfare of P.C.T., 823 N.W.2d 676, 684 (Minn.App.2012) (quoting St. Louis Cnty. v. S.D.S., 610 N.W.2d 644, 650 (Minn.App.2000)), review denied (Minn. Feb. 19, 2013). Here, the district court concluded that only factor three, which is to receive greater weight than four of the factors and equal weight to the seriousness-of-the-offense factor, favors EJJ designation and that appellant failed to overcome the presumption of certification on all of the remaining factors.
I. By determining that appellant's programming history, the adequacy of the punishment or programming available, and the dispositional options available favor adult certification, the district court abused its discretion.
Seriousness of the Offense
When determining whether public safety is served by certifying the matter, the court shall consider "the seriousness of the alleged offense in terms of community protection, including the existence of any aggravating factors recognized by the Sentencing Guidelines, the use of a firearm, and the impact on any victim." Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4(1).
The district court found that "the acts alleged in the Petition which this Court must accept as true, constitute vul-turine behavior which should not and cannot be tolerated in this community." Appellant does not appear to dispute that this factor favors adult certification. The record supports the district court's determi nation that this factor weighs in favor of adult certification.
Child's Culpability
When determining whether public safety is served by certifying the matter, the court shall consider "the culpability of the child in committing the alleged offense, including the level of the child's participation in planning and carrying out the offense and the existence of any mitigating factors recognized by the Sentencing Guidelines." Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4(2). "For purposes of certification, the juvenile is presumed guilty of the alleged offenses." In re Welfare of S.J.T., 736 N.W.2d 341, 346 (Minn.App.2007), review denied (Minn. Oct. 24, 2007).
Appellant argues that the district court's finding — that appellant was "equally culpable" as the other participants even though he did not sexually assault G.K. — was erroneous. Appellant argues that appellant's culpability "should be assessed in the context of the particular circumstances" of the offense and that a mitigating factor exists because appellant played a minor or passive role in the crime. See Minn. Sent. Guidelines II.D.2.a(2) (2010).
At the certification hearing, Moua testified that she weighed the culpability factor in favor of adult certification because appellant was present in the room when G.K. was assaulted. Moua's report from the certification study also notes that appellant "contributed to the offense by being present throughout the offenses and failed to remove himself of any involvement." Moua acknowledged during the hearing that there was no indication that appellant was involved in dragging G.K. from the car, bringing her into the room, or holding her down.
Dr. Hertog also testified at the certification hearing and noted that appellant was in the room when the assault occurred, observed it occurring, and did not do anything to stop it. Dr. Hertog also testified that appellant "apparently knew what was going to happen or likely knew what was going to happen," but that he did not directly participate in the assault. Dr. Hertog testified that appellant, as one of the people surrounding G.K. in the room during the assault, participated in the assault. Dr. Hertog distinguished between "active" participation and "direct" participation, however, noting that when he mentioned a "direct" participant, he meant someone who actually had physical contact with G.K. Finally, Dr. Hertog noted that appellant informed the police that he did not hold G.K. down because he believed the other gang members were able to do so without him. Dr. Hertog's conclusion was that the culpability factor "possibly" overcomes the presumption of certification.
Because we give the district court "considerable latitude" in certification matters, we conclude that the findings on this factor are not clearly erroneous. The record supports the district court's conclusion that appellant was involved in the rape of G.K.; the court considered the fact that appellant did not actually rape G.K., but determined, that he was not less culpable as a result. The court did not clearly err when it weighed this factor in favor of adult certification.
Prior Record of Delinquency
When determining whether public safety is served by certifying the matter, the court shall consider "the child's prior record of delinquency." Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4(3). This factor, along with the seriousness of the alleged offense, "shall" be given greater weight than the other factors. While appellant has had prior police contacts involving truancy, theft, and curfew, he has no prior record of delinquency involving probation and no history of adjudication. The district court determined that this factor favors EJJ designation. However, as discussed below, it does not appear that the court gave any greater weight to this factor than to any other factor, contrary to the statutory mandate.
Programming History
When determining whether public safety is served by certifying the matter, the court shall consider "the child's programming history, including the child's past willingness to participate meaningfully in available programming." Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4(4).
Both parties agree that appellant has had no prior programming in the juvenile-justice system because he has no delinquency history other than a few police contacts. The district court noted that there was "no evidence of any formal probation programs because the child has not been involved with probation in the past." The court then suggested that appellant's earlier school attendance record, his failure to obey rules at home by engaging in gang-related behavior, and "the seriousness of the alleged offense," along with other considerations, determined that this factor favors adult certification.
The court noted that it has been held that a juvenile court does not abuse its discretion by considering such factors and cited In re Welfare of K.M., 544 N.W.2d 781, 785 (Minn.App.1996). In KM., the juvenile had minimal programming history and the district court based its decision regarding this factor on evidence of his failure to participate in a good-behavior contract with his school, his failure to participate in tutoring after his expulsion, and his gang-related behavior. Id. at 783-85. Although K.M. was not involved in formal probation programming, he was required to participate in the above-mentioned programming as a result of his suspension and expulsion from school. Id, K.M. was similar to appellant here because he had little programming history, but K.M. is nevertheless distinguishable from this case. Although the factors analyzed in KM.'s programming history were not formal probation programming, they were programs that K.M. was required to participate in as a result of his suspension and expulsion from school. Id.
Appellant here had absolutely no prior programming, formal or otherwise. The psychological evaluation and certification study reports both noted that appellant has no programming history and concluded that the factor supports EJJ designation. Dr. Hertog concluded that, based on his 23 years of treating juveniles, appellant fell into the category of a juvenile who was amenable to treatment and for whom appropriate programming was available. In addition, he opined that it was highly likely that appellant would benefit from treatment. Moua also testified that appellant has never received any type of probation. This court has previously held that this factor favors EJJ designation when the child has not participated in any programs. See D.T.H., 572 N.W.2d at 744.
Nicholas Rice, a teacher at City Academy High School, testified that appellant was an "exceptional student" and one of the most dedicated of his students. Rice offered a letter from the director at the school, Milo Cutter, who stated that appellant had stayed in school even when gang members told him to leave.
Although the court found that the programming-history factor weighs in favor of adult certification, it acknowledged that there was a mitigating factor present in appellant's participation in school. The court noted that appellant had "reenrolled in high school following this offense and is reportedly doing well in the environment of his school. [Appellant] should be commended for that effort and encouraged to pursue further education."
In light of the experts' reports and testimony documenting appellant's lack of programming history, the district court's findings on this factor are not supported by the record. This factor favors EJJ designation, and the district court clearly erred by determining that this factor favors adult certification.
Adequacy of the Punishment or Programming Available
When determining whether public safety is served by certifying the matter, the court shall consider "the adequacy of the punishment or programming available in the juvenile justice system." MinmStat. § 260B.125, subd. 4(5). The district court found that "[t]he only way this factor could be viewed as overcoming the presumption would be if there were [sic] clear and convincing evidence the programming available in the juvenile justice system was at least likely to assure [appellant's] rehabilitation and public safety."
The district court held that "the punishment and programming in the juvenile justice system would be inadequate for a violent crime of this nature" and "would not be commensurate with the seriousness of this heinous offense," once again emphasizing the seriousness of the crime over all other factors. The court mentioned Dr. Hertog's testimony that he was "not sure" whether appellant would pose a threat to public safety, even with all available programming. The district court also noted that "[e]veryone acknowledges that [appellant] could run from a non-secure facility and that the public would be at great risk if that would happen." Even if appellant was assigned to a secured treatment facility, the court found that "the lengths of confinement, programming, and supervision are inadequate to ensure public safety."
Appellant argues that the court failed to explain how available programming is insufficient to address his alleged behavior. Appellant further argues that the court's reliance on both experts' testimony that they could not guarantee that appellant would be successfully rehabilitated was disingenuous because such a guarantee can never be made.
Both of the experts determined that the programming-history factor weighs in favor of EJJ designation. The certification study found that appellant would benefit from "structured supervision, activities, community supervision, and involvement in positive pro-social programs." The report from the psychological evaluation noted that appellant is "amenable to intervention [ ] because he does not have any significant problems with anger, is generally compliant and does not have a mental illness." Moua testified that there were a number of facilities, including secured facilities, which are likely to accept appellant for treatment because he has not participated in any programming before this charge.
Moua testified that she considered appellant's association with gang members to be the only barrier to successful treatment, but that the barrier could be overcome by close supervision and making sure that the conditions of his probation would include disassociating himself from his friends who are gang members. Moua also believed that "44 months gives [appellant] enough time to work with Probation to be successful. It also would give us enough time to figure things out for [appellant], if EJJ designation is appropriate or if he should be revoked and returned to the adult courts." The Minnesota Supreme Court has noted that, "An initial juvenile disposition reinforced by the possibility of adult sanctions gives juveniles a certainty of punishment combined with an opportunity to be successful in the juvenile system." State v. Garcia, 683 N.W.2d 294, 300 (Minn.2004) (quotation omitted).
In light of the evidence presented by the experts' reports and their testimony regarding the programming available to appellant, the district court clearly erred by finding that this factor favors adult certification.
Dispositional Options
When determining whether public safety is served by certifying the matter, the court shall consider "the dispositional options available for the child." MinmStat. § 260B.125, subd. 4(6). Certification is presumptive in this case, so the only available dispositional options are adult prosecution or EJJ designation. Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 8(b) (Supp.2011).
The district court compared the 42 months of EJJ with the possible sentence of 204-336 months that appellant would receive as an adult. The court focused on the difference in this length of time and concluded that "long-term supervision in the adult system is far more prudent." However, Moua testified that she was able to reconcile the difference between the length of time that appellant would serve if convicted of these offenses as an adult with the significantly shorter 44-month probation period because appellant "has not ever been placed on probation and we also understand that being designated EJJ, he would have a sentence, an adult sentence that would be stayed if he was to violate or get his status revoked."
In considering this factor, the court ignored the fact that designating appellant EJJ does not mean that he necessarily avoids the prison sentence that would be imposed upon an adult. Appellant must successfully complete the EJJ programming; if he violates the terms of EJJ programming, the adult prison sentence could, and most certainly would, be executed. See generally Minn.Stat. § 260B.130, subd. 5 (2010). In other words, part of the 42 months of EJJ would be served in addition to a prison sentence. On the other hand, if he successfully completes 42 months of EJJ supervision, it would mean that the public safety had been served by appellant's cooperation with programming and law-abiding behavior. Further, appellant would still be required to register as a predatory offender pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 243.166, subd. lb(a)(l)(iii) (Supp.2011). Based on the reports and testimony in the record, the district court clearly erred by finding that this factor weighs in favor of adult certification.
II. By giving greater weight to the seriousness of the offense but not to appellant's prior record of delinquency, the district court abused its discretion.
In considering the factors under Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4, "the court shall give greater weight to the seriousness of the alleged offense and the child's prior record of delinquency than to the other factors listed in this subdivision." See also P.C.T., 823 N.W.2d at 684-85. Certification may not be based solely on the seriousness of the alleged offense. See In re Welfare of K.A.P., 550 N.W.2d 9, 12 (Minn.App.1996), review denied (Minn. Aug. 20, 1996).
In P.C.T., this court found an abuse of discretion in designating a juvenile EJJ because the court had failed to give greater weight to both the seriousness of the offense and the juvenile's prior record of delinquency. 823 N.W.2d at 685-86. In that case, the juvenile was charged with a serious offense and he had a prior felony delinquency record involving a firearm. P.C.T. does not stand for the proposition that a juvenile's prior delinquency record deserves greater weight only if it is extensive; the absence of a prior delinquency record is to receive greater weight as well.
The dissent suggests that if this court finds an abuse of discretion in certifying a juvenile for the same failure found in P.C.T., a failure to properly follow the statutory directive and give greater weight to both the seriousness of the offense and the prior delinquency record, it is not offering "guidance to the district courts." On the contrary, the guidance could not be more clear. Both P.C.T. and this case stand for the same proposition: factors (1) and (3) found in Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4 must be given greater weight than the other factors listed, whether the court designates the proceeding an EJJ proceeding pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 260B.130 or certifies the proceeding for action under the laws and court proceedings controlling adult criminal violations pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 1. Failure to properly follow the statute in either designating EJJ or in certifying to adult court will likely result in a finding of an abuse of discretion, as the court found in P.C.T. and as we find here.
Underlying the district court's analysis of the statutory factors here, as evidenced by repeated references to the seriousness of the offense in the findings, is the belief that some offenses are so serious that EJJ designation is inappropriate. Yet the legislature and the current statutory scheme provide otherwise. First, Minnesota law designates only one offense so serious that, if alleged to be committed by a juvenile 16 years of age or older, results in immediate transfer to the adult system: murder in the first degree. See Minn.Stat. § 260B.103, subd. 1 (2010). Reasonable minds may differ as to whether that list should include other offenses, but as of now it does not. Second, for all other offenses, public safety is determined through a consideration of six factors, with the court directed to "give greater weight to the seriousness of the alleged offense and the child's prior record of delinquency." Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4.
Appellant argues that seriousness of the offense should not automatically tip the balance in favor of certification and that, while both the certification study and the psychological evaluation weighed this factor more heavily, they also weighed the lack of a prior record of delinquency more heavily, and they both ultimately recommend EJJ designation.
While the district court acknowledged that the lack of a prior record weighs in favor of EJJ designation, it did not expressly weigh the factor any heavier than the other factors, while giving great weight to the seriousness of the offense. If the language of Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4, is to have any meaning, then the district court should expressly weigh these two factors separately from the remaining factors. To state it another way, unless and until the legislature either (1) amends Minn.Stat. § 260B.103, subd. 1, to provide that alleged offenses other than murder in the first degree result in immediate transfer of a juvenile over the age of 16 to the adult system, or (2) amends Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4, to provide that only the seriousness of the alleged offense is to be given greater weight when determining whether public safety is best served by certification, it is incumbent upon the district court to specifically delineate the impact of both of the factors to be given greater weight under the statute. The language of the statute suggests that the more serious the alleged offense is, the more significant the lack of a prior record of delinquency becomes for a juvenile seeking EJJ designation. Arguably, under this statutory framework, the presence of a serious offense is offset by no prior record of delinquency, leaving a consideration of the other four factors as the framework for a decision as to whether EJJ designation is proper. Here, the only other factor that favors adult certification is the culpability of appellant. The remaining three factors, appellant's programming history, the adequacy of the punishment or programming available, and the dispositional options, all favor EJJ designation. We therefore conclude that the district court incorrectly determined that the seriousness of the offense and appellant's culpability outweigh all of the other factors.
DECISION
Appellant rebutted the presumption of certification by demonstrating by clear and convincing evidence that retaining his case in juvenile court serves the public safety pursuant to Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subds. 3-4. The district court abused its discretion by ordering that appellant be certified for prosecution as an adult.
Because we reverse the certification decision based on the statutory factors, we do not reach appellant's additional argument that certifying him as an adult was unconstitutional.
Reversed.
. The dissent cites a footnote from In re Welfare of D.M.D., 607 N.W.2d 432 (Minn.2000) for guidance from our supreme court as to weighing of the factors. In D.M.D., the supreme court upheld a district court's determination that public safety would be served by granting EJJ designation to the juvenile.
. Contrary to the claim made in the dissent, we are not suggesting that a juvenile without a prior delinquency record and programming history is entitled to remain in the juvenile justice system on that basis alone. While the lack of a prior record is to be given greater weight than all factors other than seriousness of the offense, programming history is but one of the four remaining factors to be considered when determining whether the public safety is served by certification. Further, the cases cited in the dissent in support of this claim are easily distinguishable from this case, either involving an allegation of murder in the first degree, which now results in immediate transfer to the adult system, or certification supported by expert testimony suggesting that the juvenile was not treatable within the juvenile system. See S.J.T., 736 N.W.2d 341; In re Welfare of D.T.N., 508 N.W.2d 790 (Minn.App.1993); review denied (Minn. Jan. 14, 1994); In re Welfare of J.A.R., 408 N.W.2d 692 (Minn.App.1987), review denied (Minn. Aug. 26, 1987).
. The court indicated that EJJ supervision would last 42 months, although 44 months was the number used at the time of the hearing.
. The dissent suggests that we are reversing the district court because it weighed the seriousness of the offense too heavily. On the contrary, the district court properly gave greater weight to the seriousness of the offense. What the court failed to do was to comply with the entire mandate of Minn.Stat. § 260B.125, subd. 4, by failing to give greater weight to the lack of a prior juvenile record as well.