Opinion ID: 2462695
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Appellant argues that there was not sufficient evidence produced at the hearing for the court to find by clear and convincing evidence that appellant should be tried as an adult. We find no merit to this argument. A circuit court's decision to deny transfer of an appellant's case to juvenile court will not be reversed unless it is clearly erroneous. See, e.g., Williams v. State, 313 Ark. 451, 856 S.W.2d 4 (1993); Vickers v. State, 307 Ark. 298, 819 S.W.2d 13 (1991). Furthermore, it is the movant's burden to prove the transfer to juvenile court was warranted. Williams, 313 Ark. 451, 856 S.W.2d 4; Pennington v. State, 305 Ark. 312, 807 S.W.2d 660 (1991). This is a burden appellant has not met. We recognize that pursuant to section 9-27-318(f), the determination that a juvenile should be tried as an adult must be supported by clear and convincing evidence. See, e.g., Davis v. State, 319 Ark. 613, 893 S.W.2d 768 (1995); Sebastian v. State, 318 Ark. 494, 885 S.W.2d 882 (1994). Clear and convincing evidence is defined as that degree of proof which will produce in the trier of fact a firm conviction as to the allegation sought to be established. Cole v. State, 323 Ark. 136, 140, 913 S.W.2d 779, 781 (1996) (quoting Cobbins v. State, 306 Ark. 447, 450, 816 S.W.2d 161, 163 (1991)). Section 9-27-318(e) provides that the circuit court shall consider the following factors when making the decision to retain jurisdiction or transfer the case to juvenile court: (1) The seriousness of the offense, and whether violence was employed by the juvenile in the commission of the offense; (2) Whether the offense is part of a repetitive pattern of adjudicated offenses which would lead to the determination that the juvenile is beyond rehabilitation under existing rehabilitation programs, as evidenced by past efforts to treat and rehabilitate the juvenile and the response to such efforts; and (3) The prior history, character traits, mental maturity, and any other factor which reflects upon the juvenile's prospects for rehabilitation. In this case, the circuit court announced its decision by stating that: I've gone back and reviewed the evidence in this matter, listened to the Court Reporter's matters, and reviewed the law on it. And after reviewing the facts of this case, there's no question in my mind but this case should not be in juvenile, based upon the circumstances of it, the Defendant's participation, et cetera. From this statement, it appears that the circuit court took into consideration all the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing concerning the three factors listed in section 9-27-318(e), and found that the case should be heard in circuit court. It is of no consequence to appellant's argument concerning the circuit court's alleged failure to consider the second and third factors that the circuit court did not methodically list out each piece of evidence as it related to each specified factor. It is enough that the circuit court stated that it took into consideration all the evidence presented at the hearing in making its decision to deny transfer. We have stated that although a circuit court must consider all the factors listed in section 9-27-318(e), the circuit court need not give each of the factors equal weight, and it is permissible to give substantial weight to the criminal information. Walker v. State, 304 Ark. 393, 803 S.W.2d 502, reh'g denied, 304 Ark. 393, 805 S.W.2d 80 (1991). In fact, the criminal information, on its own, is sufficient to establish that the offense charged is of a violent and serious nature, thus satisfying the first element listed in section 9-27-318(e). Davis, 319 Ark. 613, 893 S.W.2d 768; Vickers, 307 Ark. 298, 819 S.W.2d 13. Moreover, proof of each factor need not be introduced against the juvenile in order for the circuit court to retain jurisdiction. Davis, 319 Ark. 613, 893 S.W.2d 768; Hogan v. State, 311 Ark. 262, 843 S.W.2d 830 (1992). The fact that the offenses charged were serious in nature and committed with the use of violence is sufficient to warrant a denial of transfer of appellant's case to juvenile court. Similarly, the use of violence in the commission of a serious offense is a factor sufficient in and of itself for a circuit court to retain jurisdiction of a juvenile's case. Sebastian, 318 Ark. 494, 885 S.W.2d 882; Blevins v. State, 308 Ark. 613, 826 S.W.2d 265 (1992). Although we have previously recognized that it is possible to commit the offense of aggravated robbery without the actual employment of violence, we find that was not the case in these three incidents. See, e.g., Johnson v. State, 307 Ark. 525, 823 S.W.2d 440 (1992). The circuit court in this case could easily have found that the evidence presented satisfied the first factor provided in section 9-27-318(e), and this factor alone would have been sufficient reason for the circuit court's denial of transfer. Moreover, the fact that appellant may not have held a gun in each of the robberies is of little consolation to appellant as it does not change the nature of the charges pending against him. In fact, in Guy v. State, 323 Ark. 649, 916 S.W.2d 760 (1996), we stated that, [i]t is of no consequence that appellant may or may not have personally used a weapon, as his association with the use of a weapon in the course of the crimes is sufficient to satisfy the violence criterion. Id. at 654, 916 S.W.2d at 763 (citing Collins v. State, 322 Ark. 161, 908 S.W.2d 80 (1995)). Detective Armstrong's testimony coupled with the factual basis set out in the felony information provided sufficient grounds for the circuit court to find that the offenses committed were serious and that violence was employed by the appellant during their commission. We find that there is ample evidence from the record with which to affirm the circuit court's denial of transfer. Because the remaining charges against appellant consist of three counts of aggravated robbery, Class Y felony, the most serious level of offense in the State of Arkansas, and because violence was employed via appellant's use of deadly weapons to cause a threat of death or serious physical injury to the victims, we cannot say that the denial of transfer as to the three counts of aggravated robbery was clearly erroneous.