Opinion ID: 2207732
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: S.C.S. also contends that there was insufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that he was operating while intoxicated. Our review on this issue is de novo. In re J.D.S., 436 N.W.2d 342, 344 (Iowa 1989). Though we are not bound by the juvenile court's findings, we give weight to those findings and to the credibility the court gives witnesses. Iowa R.App.P. 14(f)(7). Iowa Code section 232.47(10) requires the State to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the juvenile engaged in a delinquent act. Iowa Code section 232.2(12)(a) pertinently defines a delinquent act as [t]he violation of any state law ... which would constitute a public offense if committed by an adult.... The delinquent act alleged here is operating while intoxicated. A person commits this offense when the person operates a motor vehicle and at the time is under the influence of alcohol. Iowa Code § 321J.2(1)(a). A person is under the influence when one or more of the following is true: (1) the person's reason or mental ability has been affected; (2) the person's judgment is impaired; (3) the person's emotions are visibly excited; and (4) the person has, to any extent, lost control of bodily actions or motions. State v. Berch, 222 N.W.2d 741, 747 (Iowa 1974); II Iowa Uniform Criminal Jury Instructions 2500.2 (1988). On our de novo review we think the evidence is sufficient to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that S.C.S. operated a motor vehicle while he was under the influence of alcohol. In the adjudication hearing, S.C.S. admitted he had been driving and that before he was stopped he had consumed six 8-ounce glasses of beer. Furness observed all the classic signs of intoxication. He saw S.C.S.'s pickup cross the center line four or five times before the pickup pulled off the highway. S.C.S. swayed from side to side and had to lean up against the pickup to balance himself. Furness smelled liquor on S.C.S.'s breath and noticed that his eyes were red and watery. S.C.S. slurred his words when he talked and failed three out of the five field sobriety tests.