Opinion ID: 1765448
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: did the trial court err in admitting the confession secured in violation of the youth court act?

Text: Smith's first argument is that the Youth Court Act is applicable to the facts of this case and that his confession was secured in violation of the Act. We have held that when a juvenile is charged with an offense carrying a potential life sentence, such as rape or murder, jurisdiction is vested exclusively in the circuit court and the Youth Court Act is inapplicable. Johnson v. State, 512 So.2d 1246, 1250 (Miss. 1987); Winters v. State, 473 So.2d 452, 459 (Miss. 1985). This determination flows from the language of the Youth Court Act, Mississippi Code Annotated, Section 43-21-105(j) (Supp. 1986), defining a delinquent as: (j). Delinquent Act is any act which if committed by an adult is designated as a crime under state or federal law, or municipal or county ordinance other than offenses punishable by life imprisonment or death. A delinquent act includes escape from lawful detention. (Emphasis added). At the time Smith gave his confession he had not been charged with any crime that would remove him from the Youth Court's jurisdiction. The crimes with which he had been charged, burglary, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, all fall within the Youth Court's jurisdiction. Therefore, the circumstances surrounding Smith's confession must satisfy the Youth Court Act. MCA § 43-21-311(4) (Supp. 1986), provides: Except for the child's counsel, guardian ad litem and authorized personnel of the youth court, no person shall interview or interrogate the child held in a detention or shelter facility unless approval therefor has first been obtained from the judge or his designee. When a child in a detention or shelter facility is represented by counsel or has a guardian ad litem, no person may interview or interrogate the child concerning the violation of a state or federal law, or municipal or county ordinance by the child unless in the presence of his counsel or guardian ad litem or with their consent. In In Interest of W.R.A., 481 So.2d 280 (Miss. 1985), on facts almost identical to those in the case at bar, we held that MCA § 43-21-311(4) had not been violated. In W.R.A., the youthful offender was represented by counsel on charges wholly unrelated to the charges under investigation. The officers interrogating W.R.A. did not know that he had an attorney representing him on the other charges. One of the officers obtained permission from the Youth Court Referee to question W.R.A. After this, W.R.A.'s mother was contacted and consented to his being questioned. W.R.A. was informed of his rights and waived them. Neither he nor his mother told the officers that he had an attorney. One important question left unanswered in W.R.A. was whether law enforcement officials would under section 43-21-311(4) have the obligation to notify and obtain consent from [the attorney] had they known of his representation? In Interest of W.R.A., 481 So.2d at 285. In the case at bar, investigator Dickerson testified that he was aware that Smith was represented by Attorney Jones on charges brought before the Youth Court earlier in the day. He emphasized that neither Smith nor his mother informed him of this fact, nor asked that he be present. We hold, notwithstanding the interrogating officer's knowledge that the defendant had counsel, that the interrogation did not violate MCA § 43-21-311(4). However, we caution that where, as here, no guardian ad litem has been appointed, the better practice is to secure either the presence or the consent of the youth's counsel. Clearly, an attorney or guardian ad litem is in a better position to render meaningful advice and consent than a parent not learned in the law.