Opinion ID: 2166762
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Matter of Bernard T.

Text: On October 31, 1996, the presentment agency filed a petition in Family Court alleging that 13-year-old Bernard T. stole a bicycle from another boy. The presentment agency asserted that Bernard committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would constitute the crimes of petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree  both class A misdemeanors. At the initial appearance that same day, the court inquired into Bernard's detention status and learned that he had been remanded to secure detention in another juvenile delinquency case scheduled to be heard on November 6, 1996. The court then remanded Bernard to the custody of the Commissioner of Juvenile Justice, noting that no adult was present to take responsibility for him, and adjourned the matter to November 8. Through his attorney, Bernard waived his speedy trial rights for five days until the adjourned date. Upon his return to court on November 8, Bernard learned that, for unexplained reasons, the presentment agency was not ready to proceed and he moved to dismiss the petition, noting that the top count charged was a misdemeanor and he had been in secure detention. Bernard argued that the presentment agency had violated his speedy hearing rights because, in contravention of Family Court Act § 340.1, it had failed to commence a fact-finding hearing within the statutory period. The court, however, did not agree that dismissal was required, choosing instead to release Bernard and adjourn the matter to December 18 for trial. Prior to the trial date, Bernard filed a written motion to dismiss the petition due to the presentment agency's failure to comply with Family Court Act § 340.1. Bernard maintained that on November 8 the presentment agency did not request, and the court did not make, a finding of good cause for the adjournment. As such, Bernard argued, the only permissible remedy was dismissal of the petition. At the commencement of the fact-finding hearing on December 18, the court denied Bernard's motion to dismiss. After the hearing, the court found that Bernard had committed the acts alleged in the petition, adjudicated him a juvenile delinquent and placed him with the Division for Youth for 12 months. The Appellate Division affirmed, noting compliance with section 340.1 (1) until Bernard's release from detention, and compliance with section 340.1 (2).