Opinion ID: 1709584
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: State v. Hezzie R.

Text: ถ 6. The State filed a juvenile petition against 14-year-old Hezzie R., charging him with first degree sexual assault of a child, contrary to Wis. Stat. ง 948.02(1). Hezzie requested a jury trial, alleging that Wis. Stat. ง 938.31(2) deprived him of due process. The State objected to his request. The circuit court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under Wis. Stat. ch. 938 reviewed the new JJC and determined that [t]he procedures of the juvenile court have become more like criminal court proceedings.... Finding it significant that an adjudication of delinquency would make Hezzie subject to placement in the JJC's Serious Juvenile Offender Program (SJOP), the circuit court determined that Wis. Stat. ง 938.31(2) was unconstitutional as applied to Hezzie and that he was entitled to a jury based on due process considerations. ถ 7. At the State's request, the court stayed further proceedings pending appeal of that determination. Upon our acceptance of the certification in Ryan L., the State asked for and received bypass of the court of appeals in Hezzie.