Court Opinion

ID: 2867452
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-06 01:49:13.052578+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:29:01.428580
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-02-00238-CV

In the Matter of C.R.H.

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. J-19490, HONORABLE W. JEANNE MEURER, JUDGE PRESIDING

M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N

	On April 9, 2002, appellant C.R.H., a juvenile, was adjudicated to have engaged in
delinquent conduct and committed to the Texas Youth Commission ("TYC").  See Tex. Fam. Code
Ann. §§ 54.03, .04 (West 2002).  C.R.H. appeals, arguing that the evidence is legally and factually
insufficient to support the district court's decision to commit her to TYC.  We will affirm.
	After C.R.H. pleaded true to the State's allegation that in March 2002 she committed
misdemeanor theft by stealing two pairs of shoes, the district court found that she had engaged in
delinquent conduct and proceeded to hold the disposition hearing.  See Tex. Pen. Code Ann.
§ 31.03(a), (e) (West Supp. 2003); Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 54.04(a).  The only witness to testify at
the disposition hearing was Tasha Moore, the probation officer assigned to C.R.H. in February 2002
when C.R.H. was placed on six months' probation for committing another theft-related offense. 
Moore testified that, including the present offense, C.R.H. had been adjudicated delinquent a total
of four times since September 1999, all for theft or shoplifting offenses.  C.R.H. successfully
completed six months' probation in 1999.  C.R.H. committed the present offense one month into her
six-month probation in 2002.  Moore said that before she became C.R.H.'s probation officer, C.R.H.
had problems with school attendance.  Since her release from detention on March 19, C.R.H. had
attended her classes every day, but had been late to her first class about three times in that
approximately three-week period.  She was also sent home early from school once for bad behavior. 
Moore said that as of March 19, C.R.H. was not passing any of her classes.  A drug test taken on
March 19 was negative.  C.R.H. failed to meet with Moore once, and since then Moore had gone to
C.R.H.'s school for their meetings.
	Moore recommended that C.R.H.'s prior six-month term of probation be extended
to nine months.  In addition, she recommended that C.R.H. be placed in Family Preservation and
Healthy Relationship Group, and be assigned a mentor through Austin Metro Ministries; all three
are new programs that were not offered in 1999 when C.R.H. was first adjudicated delinquent. 
Moore said that C.R.H.'s family preservation program had been underway for two weeks.  C.R.H.'s
family was cooperative, but C.R.H. did not attend the second session.  Moore was asked why she
thought family preservation would be successful if, "after only the second time [C.R.H.] is not
engaging in it," and Moore answered, "Well, we'd like to give it more time to see if it would work." 
Moore believed that extending C.R.H.'s probation to nine months was in the best interests of C.R.H.
and the community.
	The record includes several court summaries prepared for C.R.H.'s various
adjudications.  The latest, prepared by Moore in March 2002, indicates that before the present
offense, C.R.H. had been referred to the juvenile justice system for five offenses ranging from assault
to possession of marijuana to theft, resulting in three adjudications for the earlier theft charges;
C.R.H. successfully completed a deferred-prosecution program for the assault and a counseling
program for the drug possession.  The report indicates that after being placed on probation in
February 2002 for the previous theft offense, C.R.H. left her home without permission for several
days.  C.R.H.'s school reported that "they try to encourage [C.R.H.] to stay the whole day at school,
but she always leaves after being at school for a short while," and that she often calls in sick and had
"not been in school even 10% of the time."  C.R.H. had no passing grades and the school
recommended that she go to a GED program, rather than a traditional school program, because she
was so far behind.  Earlier summaries indicate similar problems such as leaving home without
permission, failing to meet with her attorney, behaving badly in school, and failing classes.
	In closing, the State's attorney said, 

Judge, the State would not sign a plea agreement in this case because I do not feel
like placing [C.R.H.] in nine-months probation is adequate.  I feel like, unfortunately,
the system probably has had a part in failing [C.R.H.].  You know, this will be the
third time she's placed on probation.  This is actually her sixth referral to juvenile
court, for which four of which being theft.  I think she just doesn't seem like there's
any consequence to her actions.  And if I were in her shoes, I might feel the same. 
You know, she's tardy to school.  She doesn't show up for Family Preservation
meetings.  She doesn't show up to meet with her probation officer.  What are the
consequences?  She gets placed on probation again, and nothing - nothing changes.

The district court ruled, "Having heard this evidence, I find that it is in the community's best interest,
and in your best interest, that today you be committed to the care, custody, and control of the Texas
Youth Commission."
	On appeal, C.R.H. argues that the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to
support the district court's findings that (1) commitment to TYC was in her best interest, (2) all
reasonable efforts were taken to avoid the need to remove her from her home, and (3) she could not
get the care, support, and supervision she needs to meet probation conditions in her home.  A trial
court may not commit a juvenile to TYC unless it makes those three findings.  Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 54.04(i)(1) (West 2002); In re C.C., 13 S.W.3d 854, 858 (Tex. App.--Austin 2000, no pet.).  We
review the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence supporting a juvenile court's decision to
commit a juvenile to TYC using the standards of review applied in criminal cases.  C.C., 13 S.W.3d
at 858-59; In re M.S., 940 S.W.2d 789, 792 n.2 (Tex. App.--Austin 1997, no writ).  In reviewing
the legal sufficiency, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the trial court's findings
and determine whether a rational trier of fact could have found each criterion beyond a reasonable
doubt.  C.C., 13 S.W.3d at 858; M.S., 940 S.W.2d at 791-92.  In reviewing the factual sufficiency,
we view all of the evidence in a neutral light, setting aside the trial court's order of disposition only
if the findings are so against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly
unjust.  C.C., 13 S.W.3d at 859.  If a trial court has proper evidentiary support for its findings, it has
broad discretion in determining the suitable disposition of the delinquent juvenile.  Id.; In re J.R.,
907 S.W.2d 107, 110 (Tex. App.--Austin 1995, no writ).  We will not disturb a trial court's
disposition order absent an abuse of discretion, which occurs if the court acts unreasonably and
arbitrarily or without reference to guiding rules and principles.  C.C., 13 S.W.3d at 859.
	The evidence shows that C.R.H. had been adjudicated delinquent for theft-related
offenses four times in less than three years.  After completing at least one term of probation, she
again committed a similar offense, received another term of probation, and committed the instant
offense only one month into that term.  She had serious attendance problems in school and, as of
March, was failing every class.  In the month leading up to the present adjudication, she attended
school regularly, but was frequently tardy.  She also was sent home from school for bad behavior and
failed to meet with Moore as required.  Moore had since attempted to accommodate C.R.H. by going
to her school for their meetings.  She had already missed one of two family-preservation meetings. 
C.R.H. has a demonstrated history of failed compliance with the terms of probation.  Further, her
repeated offenses indicate that probation has failed to rehabilitate her delinquent behavior.  When
viewed in the light most favorable to the district court's findings, the evidence is sufficient to show
(1) that commitment to TYC is in C.R.H.'s best interest, (2) that all reasonable efforts were taken
to avoid her removal from home, and (3) that she will not receive in her home the support, care, and
supervision necessary to successfully complete probation.  C.C., 13 S.W.3d at 858.
	Even when all the evidence is viewed in a neutral light, we conclude the evidence is
factually sufficient to support the district court's findings.  See id. at 859.  Although Moore
recommended that C.R.H. should be placed on probation yet again, Moore had only recently
assumed her duties as C.R.H.'s probation officer.  The record includes reports indicating a history
of behavior problems and problems complying with probationary terms.  Moore's statement that she
believed that C.R.H. would be best served being placed on probation does not so outweigh the
evidence supporting the district court's findings as to render the district court's decision manifestly
unjust.  See id.  Nor does the fact that C.R.H. tested negative for drug use or that she had begun to
attend school more regularly since her latest detention overwhelm the evidence supporting the
district court's decision.  We hold that the evidence is factually sufficient to support the district
court's findings.  Id.
	We overrule C.R.H.'s issues on appeal and affirm the district court's order.

					__________________________________________
					Lee Yeakel, Justice
Before Justices Kidd, B. A. Smith and Yeakel
Affirmed
Filed:   January 30, 2003