Court Opinion

ID: 8406181
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-27 19:01:31.764165+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:47:09.672254
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
 UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                 AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                    IN THE
             ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                DIVISION ONE

                                IN RE ADAN R.

                             No. 1 CA-JV 22-0101
                              FILED 10-27-2022

          Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                            No. JV603859
         The Honorable Cynthia L. Gialketsis, Judge Pro Tempore

                                  AFFIRMED

                                   COUNSEL

Maricopa County Public Advocate, Phoenix
By Caitlin Josephine Engstrand
Counsel for Appellant

Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix
By Daniel Strange
Counsel for Appellee
                             IN RE ADAN R.
                           Decision of the Court

                        MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Jennifer M. Perkins delivered the decision of the Court, in
which Judge James B. Morse Jr. and Judge Michael J. Brown joined.

P E R K I N S, Judge:

¶1            Adan R. appeals his felony designation and unsuccessful
termination from probation. We affirm.

             FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2            On July 11 and 30, 2019, the State filed two delinquency
petitions against Adan alleging he had committed robbery, aggravated
assault, disorderly conduct, and assault with intent to injure and provoke.
Resolving both petitions, Adan pled delinquent to the aggravated assault
charge and one assault charge. The court dismissed other charges. The plea
listed the aggravated assault charge as an undesignated felony. Adan
received probation for one year.

¶3            The superior court revoked probation after Adan tested
positive for fentanyl. Adan pled to the violation and the judge reinstated
probation. The superior court revoked probation again because Adan failed
to obey the rules of his treatment facility. But probation was again
reinstated for a year. The court revoked probation for a third time because
Adan tested positive for fentanyl again.

¶4           On September 15, 2021, at a subsequent review of restoration
hearing, the court found Adan incompetent, dismissed the probation
violation, and released him from probation. The day after the hearing,
probation requested the undesignated offense from Adan’s plea be
designated a felony. The request document noted that the defense attorney
opposed the request. On September 23, the court granted probation’s
request (“September Ruling”). The court did not copy Adan’s counsel on
the September Ruling.

¶5           On January 29, 2022, another petition was filed against Adan
for misconduct with a weapon and possession of a firearm as a minor. On
February 14, Adan’s counsel, now aware of the September Ruling, filed a
motion to vacate the finding of unsuccessful release from probation and the

                                    2
                              IN RE ADAN R.
                            Decision of the Court

felony designation. After the court found Adan competent, it held a
disposition hearing in March related to the firearm charges. At the hearing,
Adan contested the September Ruling arguing he was not represented by
counsel and had been determined incompetent at the time of the ruling. The
court affirmed the September Ruling. Adan admitted to the firearm charge
and the court placed him on intensive probation. Adan appeals his
unsuccessful release from probation and designation of the July 11 incident
as a felony. We have jurisdiction. A.R.S. § 12-120.21(A)(1).

                               DISCUSSION

I.     Incompetency

¶6             “A juvenile shall not participate in a delinquency,
incorrigibility, or criminal proceeding if the court determines that the
juvenile is incompetent to proceed.” A.R.S. § 8-291.01(A). It is error when a
court holds a proceeding for an incompetent juvenile. See In re Charles B.,
194 Ariz. 174, 175, ¶ 4 (App. 1998) (stating the purpose of the statute “is to
ensure that no incompetent juvenile is prosecuted”).

¶7           Here, Adan was not restored to competency until February
2022. The court erred in the September Ruling because the court issued it
while Adan was incompetent. But the court cured that error when it
subsequently held a hearing after determining Adan was competent,
provided Adan the opportunity to present argument about the rulings, and
reaffirmed the September Ruling.

II.    Benefit of Counsel

¶8           Arizona law protects the right of juveniles to assistance of
counsel in delinquency proceedings at critical stages. Ariz. R.P. Juv. Ct.
206(a). Adan’s counsel was on notice of probation’s request to designate
one of Adan’s offenses as a felony because counsel opposed the request.
Any error regarding the court’s failure to copy counsel on the September
Ruling was cured when the court held the March hearing with counsel
present.

III.   Abuse of Discretion

¶9            “The juvenile court has broad discretion to determine the
proper disposition of a delinquent juvenile.” In re Thomas D., 231 Ariz. 29,
31, ¶ 8 (App. 2012). Broad discretion also applies to terminating probation.
Id. We review a juvenile court disposition for abuse of discretion. In re
Miguel R., 204 Ariz. 328, 331, ¶ 3 (App. 2003). Abuse of discretion occurs

                                      3
                              IN RE ADAN R.
                            Decision of the Court

when the trial court’s action is “manifestly unreasonable.” Tilley v. Delci,
220 Ariz. 233, 238, ¶ 16 (App. 2009).

¶10           Adan argues that the court cannot release him unsuccessfully
from probation while also placing him on a new probation program for
another petition. We disagree. Adan had violated probation twice before
the court terminated probation during the proceedings regarding a third
violation. Adan pled guilty to the firearm offense and received probation.
We find no reason to prevent a court from terminating a juvenile’s
probation unsuccessfully because they are receiving probation for a new
offense. These circumstances provide sufficient reason for the superior
court to terminate probation and designate the July 11 charge as a felony.
The court did not abuse its discretion.

                               CONCLUSION

¶11          We affirm.

                          AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                          FILED: AA

                                         4