Opinion ID: 1222969
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: due process and lesser included offense

Text: The complaint filed against this juvenile charged an offense  forcible sexual abuse  which, according to this Court's interpretation of the criminal statute, the juvenile did not commit. On this record, can the juvenile be found subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court because he has committed a lesser criminal offense, or would such a finding violate the due process guarantees that are binding on this Court and the juvenile court in such matters? It is well settled that juvenile court procedures must conform to the fundamental requirements of due process and fair treatment. State in re Lindh, 11 Utah 2d 385, 359 P.2d 1058 (1961); In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (1967) (notice, retained or appointed counsel, confrontation, cross-examination, and privilege against self-incrimination); Breed v. Jones, 421 U.S. 519, 95 S.Ct. 1779, 44 L.Ed.2d 346 (1975) (double jeopardy); In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 90 S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970) (proof beyond a reasonable doubt). (The essential elements of due process are summarized in State in re L.G.W., Utah, 638 P.2d 527 (1981).) Subject to that important qualification, however, it is also well settled that the informal and flexible procedures of the juvenile court need not conform with all of the requirements of a criminal trial... . In re Gault, 387 U.S. at 30, 87 S.Ct. at 1445, quoting from Kent v. United States, 383 U.S. 541, 562, 86 S.Ct. 1045, 1057, 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1966); In re Winship, 397 U.S. at 359, 90 S.Ct. at 1069; State in re Lindh, 11 Utah 2d at 386-87; 359 P.2d at 1059. For example, there is no constitutional right to a trial by jury in the juvenile court, even where the court is adjudicating charges on which an adult would have a right to trial by jury. McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528, 91 S.Ct. 1976, 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971). The only due process requirement that seems to offer any basis for challenging a judgment sustaining the jurisdiction of the juvenile court on a finding that the juvenile has committed a lesser offense that is included in the offense charged in the complaint is the requirement of notice. The United States Supreme Court has defined that requirement to include a writing notifying the child and his parents or guardian of the specific charge or factual allegations to be considered at the hearing... . In re Gault, 387 U.S. at 33, 87 S.Ct. at 1446. A juvenile given that kind of notice, which was given in the complaint in this case, is aware that he is accused of committing each element of the offense named in the complaint. If proof fails on any particular element, there is no lack of notice or other unfairness in a finding that the juvenile has violated a lesser included offense consisting entirely of some remaining elements of the offense or act charged in the complaint. Such a finding was entered in State in re Besendorfer, Utah, 568 P.2d 742 (1977). There, the juvenile had been charged with aggravated assault. Finding insufficient evidence of intent to cause serious bodily injury, this Court declined to sustain the adjudication on that charge. However, finding that there was evidence to sustain a finding of an assault as set forth in § 76-5-102(1)(a), a lesser included offense of aggravated assault, this Court affirmed the juvenile court's conclusion that the juvenile was within its jurisdiction. Id. at 745. This Court has its broadest scope of appellate review in an appeal from the exercise of equity powers. This includes appeals from the juvenile court. State in re K.K.H., Utah, 610 P.2d 849 (1980). In such appeals, the Supreme Court is empowered to review the facts as well as the law, and to modify the remedies as appropriate. Utah Const., Art. VIII, § 9; Utah R.Civ.P. 72(a). That broad scope of review gives this Court the same power the juvenile court has to find a juvenile subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court where he has not committed the offense charged in the complaint but has committed a lesser included offense. State in re Besendorfer, supra . [2] Our criminal practice provides that a defendant may be convicted of a lesser offense included in the offense charged when [i]t is established by proof of the same or less than all the facts required to establish the commission of the offense charged... . U.C.A., 1953, § 76-1-402(3)(a). Also, see U.C.A., 1953, § 77-35-21(e). In a recent review of our decisions on this subject, we concluded: In order to be a `lesser included offense,' the elements of the lesser offense must necessarily and always be included within the elements of the greater offense. State v. Williams, Utah, 636 P.2d 1092, 1096 (1981).