Opinion ID: 2192738
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: bind-over

Text: [¶ 6] To bind a juvenile over for trial as an adult, the Juvenile Court must find: (1) probable cause to believe the juvenile committed a Class A, B, or C crime; and (2) by a preponderance of the evidence, that it is appropriate to prosecute him as an adult. See 15 M.R.S.A. § 3101(4)(E) (Supp.1993). We review the probable cause determination for clear error, see State v. Sanborn, 644 A.2d 475, 478 (Me.1994), and the determination of appropriateness for abuse of discretion, errors of law, or clear error in subsidiary factual findings. See State v. Rosado, 669 A.2d 180, 183 (Me.1996); State v. Williams, 653 A.2d 902, 906 (Me.1995). During a lengthy hearing, the Juvenile Court heard ample evidence suggesting Poulliot had intended to kill Aaron Mullen. The court's finding that probable cause existed to believe Poulliot had committed attempted murder was not clearly erroneous. [¶ 7] In deciding that it was appropriate to try Poulliot as an adult, the court properly considered the seriousness of the crime, the characteristics of the juvenile, and the dispositional alternatives available to the Juvenile Court. 15 M.R.S.A. § 3101(4)(E)(2). The seriousness of attempted murder is undisputed. Poulliot's most notable characteristics, as multiple witnesses portrayed them, included: (1) a tendency to violent anger when challenged; (2) a thoroughgoing arrogance and egocentricity; and (3) a complete lack of empathy or remorse. The available juvenile disposition was a commitment to the Maine Youth Center until Poulliot's twenty-first birthday. The court found, with ample support in the record, that this disposition would neither rehabilitate Poulliot nor deter him from future criminal conduct. On those facts, the Juvenile Court did not exceed the bounds of its discretion in concluding it was appropriate to try Poulliot as an adult.