Opinion ID: 1275303
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: {2} On January 16, 1994, two Sonic restaurants in Hobbs, New Mexico were burglarized, and a small sum of money was taken from each store. On February 1, 1994, the Bowlarama in Hobbs was burglarized. A small sum of money and liquor were taken from the Bowlarama, and the interior was vandalized. {3} On February 12, 1994, Jason, age 17, was arrested for the commission of the burglaries. Jason claims he ingested eight doses of LSD the day before his arrest. After a Hobbs police officer warned him of his Miranda rights, Jason confessed to the crimes, and the confession was recorded on tape. The detective did not ask Jason if he wished to have a parent or attorney present, nor did Jason sign a waiver of his rights. {4} The children's court appointed a special master to preside over a March 18, 1994, adjudicatory hearing on the matter. At the adjudicatory hearing, Jason admitted he committed the crimes. Jason changed counsel in April 1994. Jason's new counsel brought a motion to permit withdrawal of Jason's admission to the children's court, or in the alternative, to order an examination of Jason's mental and physical health. The children's court ordered that Jason be evaluated by the New Mexico State Hospital for the purpose of determining Jason's sanity and competency at the time of the alleged offenses, at the time of the alleged confession, and at the time of his admission to the children's court on March 18, 1994. {5} The children's court held a competency hearing on November 14, 1994. The children's court found Jason was competent at the time the offenses were committed, at the time he confessed to the detective, and at the time he gave his admission to the children's court on March 18, 1994. The children's court found Jason competent and ordered him to stand trial; however, Jason was allowed to withdraw his admission of guilt. {6} The children's court then referred the case back to the special master for an adjudicatory hearing. Jason's counsel filed a motion objecting to the appointment of the special master, and counsel moved to suppress Jason's February 1994 confession. The children's court denied both motions. After an adjudicatory hearing held on January 27, 1995, the special master found Jason delinquent. Although Jason objected to the use of a special master, the children's court adopted the findings of the special master. The Court of Appeals rejected Jason's contentions on appeal, holding that Jason did not properly preserve for appeal his objections to the appointment of a special master, affirming the children's court's findings of competency, and affirming the children's court's denial of Jason's motion to suppress his confession. See State v. Jason F., NMCA 16,329 slip op. (June 18, 1996).