Court Opinion

ID: 4317695
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-03 14:58:47.998761+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:45:13.947632
License: Public Domain

In The
              Court of Appeals
Sixth Appellate District of Texas at Texarkana

                  No. 06-18-00006-CV

               IN THE MATTER OF H.C.

            On Appeal from the County Court
                  Lamar County, Texas
               Trial Court No. 23-CJV-17

      Before Morriss, C.J., Moseley and Burgess, JJ.
              Opinion by Justice Burgess
                                                  OPINION
            On September 29, 2017, the County Court of Lamar County, acting as a juvenile court,

determined that fifteen-year-old H.C. had engaged in delinquent conduct by committing theft of

property valued at $2,500.00 or more, but less than $30,000.00, a state-jail felony, 1 and placed

H.C. on twelve months’ probation in the custody of her great-grandmother, I.B. 2 Approximately

three weeks later, H.C. took her grandmother’s vehicle without permission, and she and some

friends drove it to Houston, thereby violating several conditions of her probation. Consequently,

after a hearing on the State’s motion to modify disposition, the juvenile court entered its order

modifying its disposition by committing H.C. to the care, custody, and control of the Texas

Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) for an indeterminate period of time not to exceed her

nineteenth birthday.

            On appeal, H.C. contends (1) that the juvenile court erred in (a) failing to order a medical

or psychiatric inquiry into her competency to proceed with the modification hearing and (b) failing

to stay the proceedings in order to have her examined to determine whether she had an intellectual

disability; (2) that she received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial; and (3) that there is legally

insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s findings (a) that she could not, in her home, be

provided the care and level of support and supervision needed to meet the conditions of probation

and (2) that reasonable efforts had been made to prevent or eliminate the need to remove her from

the home. We find that (1) the juvenile court did not err by not staying the proceedings and

1
    See TEX. PENAL CODE ANN. § 31.03(e)(4)(A) (West Supp. 2017).
2
    We refer to the juvenile and her family members by their initials. See TEX. R. APP. 9.8(c)(1).

                                                             2
ordering a mental examination, (2) ineffective assistance of counsel has not been shown, and

(3) legally sufficient evidence supports the challenged findings of the trial court. We will affirm

the trial court’s order.

I.          Background

            On September 29, 2017, H.C. pled true to the State’s allegations that she had committed

delinquent conduct by committing a state-jail-felony-level theft. Before her plea, the juvenile court

examined H.C., who testified that she understood the charges, the punishment range, and that she

could be confined in the TJJD until she was nineteen years old. H.C. also affirmed that, if it was

determined that the State’s charges were true, she would have a record that could be used against

her in the future in a criminal proceeding. In addition, she affirmed that she understood her

constitutional rights to a jury, to confront witnesses, to remain silent, and to require the State to

prove its charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Both H.C. and her guardian, I.B., 3 informed the

juvenile court that they had had sufficient time to consult with H.C.’s appointed counsel and that

they were satisfied with his representation. H.C. also told the juvenile court that she had signed

and understood the stipulation of evidence offered by the State, that it had been explained to her

by her attorney, and that she was pleading guilty of her own free will.

            The juvenile court then found that H.C. had engaged in delinquent conduct by committing

the charged theft and placed H.C. on twelve months’ probation in the care of I.B. In addition to

the typical conditions of probation, the juvenile court ordered H.C. to successfully complete

counseling, therapy, or treatment as arranged by her probation officer, to follow through with

3
    I.B. is H.C.’s great-grandmother, who has cared for H.C. since she was five or six weeks old.
                                                            3
Amanda Holmes at Red River Behavioral Health and take medication as prescribed, 4 and to

participate in individual counseling with Melissa Ladd.

           On October 21, 2017, H.C. and two friends took H.C.’s grandmother’s vehicle without

permission and drove it to Houston. On October 25, 2017, H.C. was placed in the Grayson County

Juvenile Detention Center (the Detention Center), where she remained until the hearing to modify

disposition. At the hearing, H.C. pled true to the State’s allegations that she had violated three

terms of her probation, including committing the offense of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

           Testimony at trial showed that H.C. had been in counseling and on medication since she

was ten years old, but that there had been no significant improvement in her behavior. Janean

Butler, H.C.’s juvenile probation officer, testified that there had been a number of medications

tried, which would bring some initial improvement, but H.C. would always return to being defiant,

aggressive, and destructive both at home and in school. As she has gotten older, her behavior

problems have only gotten worse.

           In February 2017, H.C. began to wean off of her medication, until she was taking no

medication by April 2017. 5 Also in February, H.C. and a friend ran away from home and stayed

in a house in Greenville. When she was returned home, she reported that the owner of the house

had sexually assaulted them. Then, in August, H.C. and four other juveniles stole an all-terrain

vehicle in Paris, which resulted in H.C.’s original adjudication and probation. While on probation,

although I.B. supervised H.C. in taking her medication, H.C. would spit it out afterwards. About

4
 Until the preceding April, H.C. had been seeing Holmes and had been taking medication prescribed for her diagnoses
of bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
5
    It is unclear whether Holmes approved of H.C. weaning off of her medication.
                                                           4
three weeks into her probation, H.C. and two friends took her grandmother’s vehicle, drove it to

Houston, and abandoned it. The girls got picked up by a pedophile and the other girls left on a

bus, but H.C. went to a shelter where she was found by the police.

       Dr. Kevin Weatherly, a licensed psychologist, testified that he had met with H.C. in the

Detention Center in late November and late December 2017, where he tested her

cognitive/intellectual, personality, and emotional functioning. He also spoke with I.B. and a

person at H.C.’s school and reviewed Holmes’ notes. Weatherly confirmed H.C.’s bipolar

disorder, ADHD, and ODD diagnoses. He also found that H.C.’s intellectual functioning was low,

fairly close to where he would diagnose an intellectual disability. Weatherly testified that ADHD

causes an inability to consistently control impulses to act because of a degradation in executive

functioning and that ODD indicates a pattern of behavior that involves repeated violations of rules

and arguing with those in authority. He noted that there had been an inconsistent taking of

medication by H.C., which would cause repeated ups and downs cognitively and emotionally. He

stressed that consistency was the key to her treatment and that medication was the primary factor

for her successful treatment.

       Weatherly opined that H.C. would benefit from consistent medication management

services, including compliance with the regimen prescribed and individual and family counseling.

He testified that all of these services were available locally. Based on his interviews with H.C.

and I.B., Weatherly believed that H.C. would comply with his recommendations and that I.B. was

capable of providing the medication management services and other support necessary.

                                                5
       Weatherly opined that it was in the best interest of H.C. to give her another chance at home

provided she was compliant with the medication and treatment recommendations. However, he

also testified that, without compliance and treatment, the risk would be very large for the

community and to H.C. and that H.C. would repeat her prior behavior and offenses.

       Danna Nixon, a juvenile supervision officer at the Detention Center, testified that H.C. has

had seven incident reports for infractions of Detention Center rules, but that most of the infractions

were minor. She testified that, for the couple of weeks preceding the hearing, H.C. had followed

directions very well. Nixon also testified that the only medications given to H.C. while at the

Detention Center had been over-the-counter medications.

       H.C.’s juvenile probation officer, Janean Butler, testified that, while on probation and

before being placed in the Detention Center, H.C. had attended one individual counseling session.

Family counseling had not been scheduled because no times were available. Butler testified that,

while H.C. had a loving family who wanted her to come back home, the things I.B. and the rest of

the family had tried in an attempt to address H.C.’s issues were not successful. She pointed out

that H.C.’s history of running away had placed her in situations in which she could have been

killed or she could have killed someone else. She also testified that there were not adequate

resources in Lamar County to address H.C.’s issues and that she believed it was in H.C.’s and the

community’s best interests that H.C. not be returned home.

       Butler also testified that she had found no out-of-home alternative to TJJD for H.C. because

of her history of running away and being aggressive toward her peers. Specifically, she testified

that there were no boot camp programs for females available and that there were only short-term

                                                  6
treatment facilities available for juveniles, but that H.C. required more than a short-term facility.

Butler believed that all of the services required by Weatherly’s recommendations could be

obtained both in Paris and at the TJJD. Although Butler agreed with Weatherly that some of H.C.’s

issues arose in part from inconsistent medication and agreed with his recommendations for

treatment for H.C., she disagreed that H.C. could be successful at home. She pointed out that

Weatherly’s recommendations were the same as the conditions of her probation, which H.C. and

I.B. promised they would do, but failed to implement.

       I.B., who is seventy-six years old, testified that the last time H.C. saw Holmes was in

February 2017, when H.C. asked Holmes to let her go off of her medication. She claimed that

Holmes told H.C. she could wean off of them. I.B. testified that H.C. does different chores around

the house, that she screens with whom H.C. associates, and that she will continue to do so in the

future. She also testified that she and H.C.’s grandmother, who lives nearby, have lock boxes for

their car keys, and she assured the trial court that she would help with all of Weatherly’s

recommendations.

       I.B. testified that she believed that being in detention woke H.C. up, that H.C. was

remorseful for her actions, and that H.C. had made genuine changes to her behavior. Nevertheless,

she admitted that H.C. sometimes ran away when she got angry and that, in spite of I.B.’s watchful

eye, H.C. had had seven contacts with the police since 2013. She also agreed that, when H.C. took

her grandmother’s car to Houston, it was incredibly dangerous. I.B. also testified that, before

being placed in the Detention Center, H.C. had been going to an alternative school.

                                                 7
         H.C. also testified. She said that she thought Holmes over medicated her and that the

medications took away her personality. She did not think she needed them in February 2017, but

now she knows that she does. She told the trial court that she would be willing to go back on the

medications, to work with Holmes, and to follow Weatherly’s recommendations. She testified that

going to the Detention Center was a wake-up call and that she now realizes the value of having a

family. She also testified that, at the Detention Center, she learned to control her impulse, attitude,

and behavior and that she plans to go back to school, graduate, and then join the military. H.C.

said that she had been attending an alternative high school because of the felony she committed

and getting into disagreements with other students, some of which became physical.

         At the end of the hearing, the trial court entered its order modifying its disposition by

committing H.C. to the care, custody, and control of the TJJD for an indeterminate period of time

not to exceed her nineteenth birthday.

II.      The Trial Court Did Not Err by Not Ordering a Mental Examination Into H.C.’s
         Alleged Unfitness to Proceed

         In her first and second issues, H.C. complains that the trial court erred when it failed to

sua sponte order a medical or psychiatric inquiry into her unfitness to proceed with the

modification hearing and when it failed to stay the proceedings in order to have her examined to

determine whether she had an intellectual disability. H.C. concedes that, under the Texas Family

Code, a juvenile court is only required to determine whether probable cause exists to believe a

juvenile is unfit to proceed with a modification hearing when a motion is made by a party. 6 See

6
 A juvenile court is required to stay the proceedings and order a physical or mental examination of the child only if it
“determines that probable cause exists to believe that the child is unfit to proceed.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.31(c)
                                                           8
TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.31(b) (West Supp. 2017) (providing that, “[o]n a motion by a party,

the juvenile court shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe that a child . . . is unfit

to proceed as a result of mental illness or an intellectual disability”). She also concedes that,

although the juvenile court may make this determination on its own motion, it is not statutorily

required to do so. In re J.K.N., 115 S.W.3d 166, 168–69 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, no pet.).

No motion contemplated by Section 55.31(b) was made or filed in this case.

        Nevertheless, H.C. contends that, because a juvenile proceeding is quasi-criminal, and

because the evidence at the modification hearing showed that she suffered from a mental illness

and possibly had an intellectual deficiency, due process required that the juvenile court order a

mental examination and make a determination of her fitness to proceed on its own motion. The

State argues that H.C. has not preserved this complaint for our review since she did not make a

timely request, objection, or motion to the trial court asserting her complaint. See TEX. R. APP. P.

33.1(a). Therefore, we must first determine whether H.C. may assert her complaint for the first

time on appeal.

        A.       H.C. Was Not Required to Assert Her Complaints in the Juvenile Court

        On appeal, juvenile proceedings are to be governed by the civil rules of appellate procedure

as far as practicable. In re D.I.B., 988 S.W.2d 753, 756 (Tex. 1999). As the State points out, the

general rule is that, to preserve a complaint for appellate review, the complainant must make a

timely request, objection or motion to the trial court specifically stating the grounds of her

(West Supp. 2017). Therefore, whether the juvenile court was required to order a medical or psychiatric examination
necessarily depends upon, and includes, the question of whether the juvenile court was required, on its own motion,
to determine whether probable cause exists to believe the child is unfit to proceed.
                                                        9
complaint and obtain a ruling, or a refusal to rule, on her request, objection or motion. TEX. R.

APP. P. 33.1(a). However, a juvenile proceeding is only quasi-criminal, and as such, this general

rule “cannot be applied across the board in juvenile proceedings. In re C.O.S., 988 S.W.2d 760,

765 (Tex. 1999).

       In C.O.S., the Texas Supreme Court looked to the decisions of the Texas Court of Criminal

Appeals for guidance on how Rule 33.1 should be applied in juvenile cases. Id. The Texas

Supreme Court noted that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has held that Rule 33.1’s

predecessor, as a procedural rule, “does not affect the substantive rights of a criminal defendant.”

Id. (citing Marin v. State, 851 S.W.2d 275, 278 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993), overruled on other

grounds by Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997)). Recognizing that “it [is]

unwise and problematic to apply one preservation rule in adult, criminal proceedings and another,

stricter rule in juvenile cases,” the Texas Supreme Court applied the preservation scheme set forth

by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Marin to juvenile cases. Id. at 767; see also In re

B.L.D., 113 S.W.3d 340, 350–51 (Tex. 2003).

       In Marin, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recognized that errors may relate to three

categories: (1) absolute or systemic requirements, (2) waivable-only rights, and (3) forfeitable

rights. Marin v. State, 851 S.W.2d 275, 279 (Tex. Crim. App. 1993), overruled on other grounds

by Cain v. State, 947 S.W.2d 262 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997). Forfeitable rights are those “rights that

the trial court has no duty to enforce unless requested.” C.O.S., 988 S.W.2d at 765 (citing Marin,
851 S.W.2d at 279–80). The Texas rules of procedural default, such as Rule 33.1, only apply to

forfeitable rights. Marin, 851 S.W.2d at 279. Absolute or systemic requirements are “law[s] that

                                                10
a trial court has a duty to follow even if the parties wish otherwise.” Mendez v. State, 138 S.W.3d
334, 340 (Tex. Crim. App. 2004). These requirements include personal and subject-matter

jurisdiction and a penal statute’s compliance with the separation of powers section of the Texas

Constitution. Aldrich v. State, 104 S.W.3d 890, 895 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003) (citing Saldano v.

State, 70 S.W.3d 873, 888 (Tex. Crim. App. 2002)).

       Waivable-only rights are “rights of litigants which must be implemented by the system

unless expressly waived.” Mendez, 138 S.W.3d at 340 (quoting Marin, 851 S.W.2d at 279).

Waivable-only rights cannot be forfeited by inaction alone, rather they must be expressly waived.

Marin, 851 S.W.2d at 278–79. These rights include the right to assistance of counsel, the right to

a jury trial, and statutory rights made waivable-only. Aldrich, 104 S.W.3d at 895 (citing Saldano,
70 S.W.3d at 888). Errors that assert a violation of an absolute or systemic requirement, or a denial

of a waivable-only right, may be raised for the first time on appeal. Id. (citing Saldano, 70 S.W.3d

at 888).

       As we have previously recognized,

       A fundamental principle of our criminal justice system is “that a person whose
       mental condition is such that he lacks the capacity to understand the nature and
       object of the proceedings against him, to consult with counsel, and to assist in
       preparing his defense may not be subjected to a trial.”

Tadlock v. State, 484 S.W.3d 560, 567–68 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2016, no pet.) (quoting Drope

v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 171 (1975)). The United States Supreme Court has characterized the

right not to stand trial while incompetent as “fundamental,” and that right is “sufficiently important

to merit protection even if the defendant has failed to make a timely request for a competency

                                                 11
determination.” Cooper v. Oklahoma, 517 U.S. 348, 354 n.4 (1996) (citing Pate v. Robinson, 383
U.S. 375, 384 (1966)).

       In Cooper, the Court emphasized,

       Competence to stand trial is rudimentary, for upon it depends the main part of those
       rights deemed essential to a fair trial, including the right to effective assistance of
       counsel, the rights to summon, to confront, and to cross-examine witnesses, and the
       right to testify on one’s own behalf or to remain silent without penalty for doing so.

Id. at 354 (quoting Riggins v. Nevada, 504 U.S. 127, 139–40 (1992) (Kennedy, J., concurring)).

Therefore, “the failure to observe procedures adequate to protect a defendant’s right not to be tried

or convicted while incompetent to stand trial deprives him of his due process right to a fair trial.”

Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 172 (1975) (citing Pate, 383 U.S. at 385); accord McDaniel v.

State, 98 S.W.3d 704, 709 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003).

       In criminal cases, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has long held that, even where there

is no request or demand by the defendant, where facts come before the trial court sufficient to

create a reasonable basis to doubt the accused’s competency, the trial judge must halt the

proceedings and conduct a competency hearing. Bonner v. State, 520 S.W.2d 901, 905–06 (Tex.

Crim. App. 1975) (citing Wages v. State, 501 S.W.2d 105 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973); Price v. State,

496 S.W.2d 103 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973)). The Court has noted that the procedure set forth in the

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure was enacted by the Texas Legislature, consistent with United

States Supreme Court opinions and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals jurisprudence, “[t]o

adequately guard the right to a fair trial where evidence of the defendant’s incompetence is raised

during trial.” McDaniel, 98 S.W.3d at 709 n.13 (quoting Alcott v. State, 51 S.W.3d 596, 599 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2001)).
                                                 12
        The Code of Criminal Procedure states, “If evidence suggesting the defendant may be

incompetent to stand trial comes to the attention of the court, the court on its own motion shall

suggest that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art.

46B.004(b) (West 2018). 7 Once it does so, the trial court “shall determine by informal inquiry

whether there is some evidence from any source that would support a finding that the defendant

may be incompetent to stand trial.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.004(c) (West 2018).

If, after informal inquiry, “the court determines that evidence exists to support a finding of

incompetency,” it must then order an examination by experts “to determine whether the defendant

is incompetent to stand trial.” TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.005(a) (West 2018). The

trial court must then hold a trial to determine the defendant’s incompetency to stand trial, unless

neither party requests the trial, or both parties and the trial court agree the defendant is incompetent.

TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC. ANN. art. 46B.005(b), (c) (West 2018).

        Thus, both the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Legislature have recognized that, in a

criminal proceeding, the procedural safeguards necessary to guard the defendant’s right not to be

tried when she is incompetent to stand trial must include a requirement that the trial court, on its

own motion, make an inquiry into the defendant’s competency to stand trial when sufficient

evidence comes to its attention. Because the failure to observe adequate procedures to protect this

right deprives the defendant of her due process right to a fair trial, we find that a complaint

asserting the failure of a trial court on its own motion to make inquiry into the defendant’s

7
Either party may also suggest by motion that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial. TEX. CODE CRIM. PROC.
ANN. art. 46B.004(a) (West 2018).
                                                      13
competency to stand trial is included among the waivable-only rights that may be asserted for the

first time on appeal. See Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 384 (1966). Therefore, we find that

H.C. did not have to preserve her complaint in the juvenile court.

         B.       No Trial Court Error

         Although H.C. may assert her complaint for the first time on appeal, this does not end the

inquiry into whether the constitutional protections afforded to criminal defendants under the Code

of Criminal Procedure should be afforded to a juvenile defendant. As noted earlier, the Family

Code, unlike the Code of Criminal Procedure, does not require the juvenile court to sua sponte

order an evaluation to determine whether a child is fit to proceed with a modification hearing when

it has evidence before it suggesting that the child may be unfit to proceed. 8 See TEX. FAM. CODE

ANN. § 55.31(b). To determine whether the particular constitutional protections afforded to a

criminal defendant under Section 46B.004 of the Code of Criminal Procedure must be afforded to

a juvenile defendant, we must “balance[] the function that [the asserted] constitutional or

procedural right serve[s] against its impact or degree of impairment on the unique processes of the

juvenile court.” Lanes v. State, 767 S.W.2d 789, 794 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989); accord Hidalgo v.

State, 983 S.W.2d 746, 751–52 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999). This balancing “requires an exploration

of the specific purposes of both the juvenile system and the constitutional right being asserted.”

Lane, 767 S.W.2d at 794.

8
 We note that, until 1995, Section 55.31’s predecessor statute required the juvenile court, on its own motion, to order
an appropriate medical inquiry and to conduct a separate hearing to determine the child’s fitness to proceed, “[i]f it
appear[ed] to the juvenile court” that the child “may be unfit to proceed.” Act of May 25, 1973, 63d Leg., R.S., ch.
544, 1973 Tex. Gen. Laws 1460, 1482 (amended 1995, 1999) (current version at TEX. FAM. CODE § 55.31); In re J.D.,
773 S.W.2d 604, 605 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 1989, writ dism’d w.o.j.).
                                                         14
         In this case, we need not decide whether a juvenile court is required, on its own motion, to

determine whether probable cause exists to believe a child is unfit to proceed with a modification

hearing when it has evidence before it suggesting that the child may be unfit to proceed. Under

the facts of this case, even if the juvenile court was required to make a probable cause

determination on its own motion, it did not abuse its discretion 9 in not doing so. The Family Code

provides that a child is unfit to proceed with a modification hearing when the child “as a result of

mental illness or an intellectual disability lacks capacity to understand the proceeding in juvenile

court or to assist in the child’s own defense.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.31(a). Assuming, but

not deciding, that the juvenile court was required to make the determination on its own motion, we

examine the record to see whether sufficient evidence was before the court showing that H.C., as

a result of mental illness or intellectual disability, lacked capacity to understand the proceeding or

to assist in her own defense, so that the juvenile court was required to make a probable cause

determination. See K.A.H., 700 S.W.2d at 784.

         For purposes of the juvenile justice code, a “mental illness” is defined as “an illness,

disease, or condition, other than epilepsy, dementia, substance abuse, or intellectual disability”

that “substantially impairs a person’s thought, perception of reality, emotional process, or

judgment” or “grossly impairs behavior as demonstrated by recent disturbed behavior.” TEX.

HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 571.003(14) (West 2017); see also TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.01

(West Supp. 2017).           An “intellectual disability” means “significantly subaverage general

9
 We review a juvenile court’s decision regarding whether probable cause exists to believe the child is unfit to proceed
for an abuse of discretion. See In re K.A.H., 700 S.W.2d 782, 784 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 1985, no writ).
                                                         15
intellectual functioning that is concurrent with deficits in adaptive behavior and originates during

the developmental period.” TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 591.003(7-a) (West 2017).

            An examination of the record shows that H.C. was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, ADHD,

and ODD, 10 all of which contributed to her emotional and behavioral problems and, at times,

affected her ability to make proper judgments. Weatherly also testified that H.C.’s intellectual

functions were low and close to what he would classify as an intellectual disability. However,

testimony also showed that, while H.C. was at the Detention Center, her ability to control her

behavior and emotions and her judgment improved, even without medication or treatment of her

disorders. Further, neither Weatherly, nor any other witness, testified that H.C.’s disorders or her

low intellectual functioning impaired her ability to understand the juvenile proceedings or to assist

in her own defense.

            To the contrary, the record shows as a whole that H.C. understood the nature of the

proceedings, was able to consult with her counsel, and was able to assist in her own defense. At

the original adjudication hearing, the juvenile court thoroughly examined and admonished H.C.

regarding her entry of a plea of true and her stipulation to the evidence. Her responses showed

that she understood the charges against her, the consequences of pleading true, the range of

punishment, the terms of her probation, and the possible consequences if she was not successful

in her probation. 11

10
     See supra note 4.
11
  When the juvenile court asked her what could happen if she violated a term or condition of her probation, H.C.
responded, “I could go to TYC ‘til I’m nineteen.”
                                                      16
        At the modification hearing, the juvenile court again examined H.C. before accepting her

plea of true to the State’s allegations to ensure that she had reviewed the stipulation of evidence

with her attorney and understood it before she signed it. Later, in her case-in-chief, H.C. testified

on her own behalf and answered questions from her own counsel, the State, and the juvenile court.

She was able to give appropriate and intelligent answers to the questions that demonstrated that

she knew the nature of the proceeding and that she was able to assist in her defense.

        A juvenile court is only required to stay the proceedings and order a physical or mental

examination of the child if it makes the determination that probable cause exists to believe that the

child is unfit to proceed. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.31(c). On this record, we find that there was

no evidence before the juvenile court to indicate that H.C. lacked the capacity to understand the

proceedings or to assist in her own defense as a result of any mental illness or intellectual disability.

Therefore, assuming a juvenile court is required to make a probable cause determination if

sufficient evidence is before it to indicate the child is unfit to proceed, the record establishes that

H.C. understood the nature of the proceedings and was able to assist with her defense and consult

with her attorney. Accordingly, the record does not establish probable cause to believe that H.C.

was unfit to proceed, and, therefore, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in not making

that determination.

        Consequently, we find that the juvenile court did not err in failing to stay the proceedings

and order a mental examination of the child. We overrule H.C.’s first and second issues.

                                                   17
III.   Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Has Not Been Shown

       In her third issue, H.C. complains that she received ineffective assistance of counsel

because her trial counsel failed to request a complete mental health evaluation to determine if she

was mentally ill. Although not entirely clear from her brief, it appears that H.C. complains of her

trial counsel’s failure to file a motion under both Section 55.51 asserting her lack of responsibility

for her conduct and Section 55.31 asserting her unfitness to proceed. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.

§§ 55.31, 55.51 (West Supp. 2017).

       In a juvenile proceeding, the juvenile has a constitutional right to effective assistance of

counsel. In re A.D., 287 S.W.3d 356, 362 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2009, pet. denied); In re S.C.,

229 S.W.3d 837, 842 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007, pet. denied). We review the effectiveness of

counsel’s representation under the two-prong standard set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. 668, 687–88 (1984). A.D., 287 S.W.3d at 362. Under that standard, H.C. must both show

that her “counsel’s performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced the

defense.” A.D., 287 S.W.3d at 362 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687).

       A failure to make a showing under either prong defeats a claim for ineffective assistance.

Rylander v. State, 101 S.W.3d 107, 110–11 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003). Allegations of ineffectiveness

“must ‘be firmly founded in the record.’” Bone v. State, 77 S.W.3d 828, 835 (Tex. Crim. App.

2002) (quoting Thompson v. State, 9 S.W.3d 808, 813–14 (Tex. Crim. App. 1999)). The Strickland

test “of necessity requires a case-by-case examination of the evidence.” Williams v. Taylor, 529
U.S. 362, 382 (2000) (quoting Wright v. West, 505 U.S. 277, 308–09 (1992) (Kennedy, J.,

concurring in judgment)).

                                                 18
        When a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel is raised for the first time on direct

appeal, the record “is in almost all cases inadequate to show that counsel’s conduct fell below an

objectively reasonable standard of performance.” Andrews v. State, 159 S.W.3d 98, 102 (Tex.

Crim. App. 2005). Nevertheless, “when no reasonable trial strategy could justify the trial counsel’s

conduct, counsel’s performance falls below an objective standard of reasonableness as a matter of

law, regardless of whether the record adequately reflects the trial counsel’s subjective reasons for

acting as she did.” Id. Moreover, where the reviewing court “can conceive potential reasonable

trial strategies that counsel could have been pursuing,” the court “simply cannot conclude that

counsel has performed deficiently.” Id. at 103. Essentially, when a party raises an ineffective

assistance of counsel claim for the first time on direct appeal, the defendant must show that, “under

prevailing professional norms,” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690, no competent attorney would do what

trial counsel did or no competent attorney would fail to do what trial counsel failed to do. Andrews,
159 S.W.3d at 101.

        To the extent H.C. complains of trial counsel’s failure to file a motion for a determination

whether she was unfit to proceed under Section 55.31, our discussion above shows that there is

nothing in the record to indicate that H.C. lacked the capacity to understand the proceedings or to

assist in her own defense as a result of any mental illness or intellectual capacity. Therefore, the

record does not show that trial counsel’s performance was deficient in failing to file a motion under

Section 55.31.

        Section 55.51 of the Family Code provides that a child is not responsible for the conduct

alleged “if at the time of the conduct, as a result of mental illness or an intellectual disability, the

                                                  19
child lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of the child’s conduct or to

conform the child’s conduct to the requirements of law.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.51(a) (West

Supp. 2017). On a motion by a party alleging that the child may not be responsible as a result of

mental illness or intellectual disability, the juvenile court is required to order the child to be

examined under Section 51.20 and obtain an expert report about whether the child is not

responsible. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 55.51(b) (West Supp. 2017). Under Section 51.20, the

juvenile court may order an examination of the child to determine whether the child has a mental

illness or an intellectual disability. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 51.20(a) (West 2014); see TEX.

HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 591.003(13) (West 2017). 12

            As we have previously noted, the record shows that H.C. has been diagnosed with bipolar

disorder, ADHD, and ODD, all of which contributed to her emotional and behavioral problems

and, at times, affected her ability to make proper judgments. Weatherly also testified that H.C.’s

intellectual functions were low and close to what he would classify as an intellectual disability.

However, the record also shows that H.C.’s ability to control her emotions and to make proper

judgments was not always impaired by her disorders or low intellectual function.

            No evidence in the record indicates that, at the time H.C. committed the alleged conduct,

she lacked the substantial capacity either to appreciate the wrongfulness of her conduct or to

conform her conduct to the requirements of law. In S.C., the evidence showed that the juvenile

suffered from some of the same disorders as H.C. See S.C., 229 S.W.3d at 843. There, as here,

there was no evidence showing that, at the time she committed the conduct, the disorders caused

12
     We have previously stated the definitions of mental illness and intellectual disability under the juvenile justice code.
                                                              20
her to have a lack of capacity, and we found that there was no ineffective assistance of counsel.

Id.

       H.C. also points to her trial counsel’s attorney fee voucher and supporting records and

contends that counsel was deficient in failing to consult with a psychologist to investigate H.C.’s

mental state. The supporting records show that trial counsel charged for a one-hour meeting with

H.C.’s great-grandmother, for two hours to review the file and psychologist and counseling reports

and to prepare for the modification hearing, and for four hours for final preparation and the hearing.

From this sparse record, H.C. asks us to assume that trial counsel never spoke to Weatherly or any

other psychologist regarding their opinions of whether H.C. lacked substantial capacity at the time

of the alleged conduct as a result of mental illness or intellectual capacity. However, there is “a

strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional

assistance.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. Without an explanation from trial counsel regarding the

nature and extent of his trial preparation, we cannot presume that he failed to consult with

Weatherly or another psychologist to gather enough information to satisfy himself that requesting

a court-ordered mental examination of H.C. would not yield a viable defense under Section 55.51.

       On this record, we find that H.C. has not shown that her trial counsel’s performance was

deficient. Therefore, ineffective assistance of counsel has not been shown. Rylander, 101 S.W.3d

at 110–11. We overrule H.C.’s third point of error.

IV.    Legally Sufficient Evidence Supports the Challenged Findings

       In her fourth and fifth issues, H.C. contends that there is legally insufficient evidence

supporting the juvenile court’s findings that (1) H.C., in her home, cannot be provided the care

                                                 21
and level of support and supervision necessary to meet the conditions of probation and (2) that

reasonable efforts had been made to prevent or eliminate the need to remove H.C. from the home.13

         A.       Standard of Review

         Modifying a disposition in a juvenile case lies within the sound discretion of the juvenile

court and will only be reversed for abuse of discretion. In re J.M., 287 S.W.3d 481, 486 (Tex.

App.—Texarkana 2009, no pet.); In re J.R.C., 236 S.W.3d 870, 875 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2007,

no pet.). A juvenile court abuses its discretion when it acts arbitrarily or unreasonably or without

reference to guiding rules or principles. J.M., 287 S.W.3d at 486; J.R.C., 236 S.W.3d at 875.

Whether there is legally sufficient evidence supporting the juvenile court’s findings is a relevant

factor in determining whether the juvenile court abused its discretion. In re A.D., 287 S.W.3d 356,

366 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2009, pet. denied); In re A.E.E., 89 S.W.3d 250, 256 (Tex. App.—

Texarkana 2002, no pet.).

         As with orders of disposition, we use the civil standard of legal sufficiency in considering

whether the juvenile court abused its discretion in its order modifying disposition. 14 A.D., 287

13
  In a modification of disposition proceeding, if the child is placed outside the home, or is committed to the TJJD or
a secure correctional facility, the juvenile court’s order must include a determination that:
                  (A)        it is in the child’s best interests to be placed outside the child’s home;
                  (B)        reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for the child’s
         removal from the child’s home and to make it possible for the child to return home; and
                  (C)        the child, in the child’s home, cannot be provided the quality of care and level of
         support and supervision that the child needs to meet the conditions of probation.
TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 54.05(m) (West Supp. 2017).
14
  The test for legal sufficiency is “whether the evidence at trial would enable reasonable and fair-minded people to
reach the verdict under review.” City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 827 (Tex. 2005). In making this
determination, we credit favorable evidence if a reasonable fact-finder could, and disregard contrary evidence unless
a reasonable fact-finder could not. Id. So long as the evidence falls within the zone of reasonable disagreement, we
may not substitute our judgment for that of the fact-finder. Id. at 822. The trier of fact is the sole judge of the
credibility of the witnesses and the weight to give their testimony. Id. at 819. Although we consider the evidence in
22
S.W.3d at 366; In re T.E.G., 222 S.W.3d 677 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2007, no pet.). If some

evidence supports the juvenile court’s decision, there is no abuse of discretion. J.M., 287 S.W.3d

at 486; J.R.C., 236 S.W.3d at 875. Further, there is no abuse of discretion where the juvenile court

bases its decision on conflicting evidence. A.D., 287 S.W.3d at 366; In re B.N.F., 120 S.W.3d
873, 877 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2003, no pet.).

        B.       Inability to Provide the Necessary Care, Support, and Supervision in the
                 Home

        H.C. argues that the evidence shows that the level of care, support, and supervision

necessary for her to meet the conditions of probation can be provided in her home. She points

primarily to the testimony of Weatherly, who opined, based on two meetings with H.C. and a

conversation with I.B., that H.C.’s chances of compliance with his recommendations for treatment

and medication were greater than in the past because her insights into her behavior had improved.

It was undisputed that the medications for H.C.’s disorders and the individual and family

counseling recommended by Weatherly were all available in the community.                           It was also

undisputed that I.B. desired for H.C. to return home and that there were other family members

living nearby who would help support H.C. H.C. testified that she wanted to return home, that she

realized that she needs her medication, and that she promised to stay out of trouble.

        However, the evidence also showed that, although H.C. had been on medications for her

disorders and in counseling since she was ten years old, her behavior both in the home and at

school had become progressively worse and more dangerous, all while living in the same home

a light most favorable to the challenged findings, indulging every reasonable inference that supports them, we may
not disregard evidence that allows only one inference. Id. at 822.
                                                       23
and having the support of her extended family. Testimony showed that, in 2017 alone, H.C. had

run away at least two times, committed two thefts, and had been in physical altercations at school.

In addition, the evidence showed that, although H.C. was aware of the possible consequences of

violating the conditions of her probation, she continued to refuse to take her medication and

ultimately took her grandmother’s vehicle without permission and drove it to Houston, placing her

friends and herself in a dangerous situation.

       Although Weatherly recommended that H.C. be given another chance to stay in her home,

he also emphasized that consistently taking her medication was the lynchpin in her compliance

with the conditions of her probation. If she failed to do that, he opined, the risk was very high that

she would repeat her past behavior and place herself and others in danger. Further, although H.C.’s

probation officer agreed with Weatherly’s treatment recommendations, she disagreed that H.C.

could be successful at home. She pointed out that his recommendations were the same as H.C.’s

conditions of probation, which had not been successful.

       Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the findings, we cannot say that the

juvenile court’s finding falls outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Therefore, we find that

there is legally sufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s finding that H.C. cannot be

provided that level of care, support, and supervision in her home that is necessary to meet the

conditions of probation. We overrule H.C.’s fourth issue.

       C.      Reasonable Efforts to Prevent H.C.’s Removal from Her Home

       H.C. contends that there was no testimony that the probation department had attempted to

find a less restrictive placement for her than TJJD. We recognize that commitment to the TJJD

                                                 24
“is the most severe form of incarceration in the juvenile justice system.” J.R.C., 236 S.W.3d at

873 (citing In re J.P., 136 S.W.3d 629, 634 (Tex. 2004) (Schneider, J., concurring)). However,

when, as here, a juvenile was originally adjudicated for committing a felony and subsequently

violated one or more conditions of probation, commitment to the TJJD by modification order is

proper. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 54.05(f) (West Supp. 2017); In re J.P., 136 S.W.3d 629, 631–32

(Tex. 2004). “In such circumstances, the statute allows a trial court to decline third and fourth

chances to a juvenile who has abused a second one.” J.P., 136 S.W.3d at 632. Further, the Texas

Supreme Court has noted that “the act of modification itself indicates an in-home alternative has

been tried, and undoubtedly most trial courts would find these efforts reasonable because they

ordered them.” Id. at 632. Thus, there is no requirement that the juvenile court “exhaust all

possible alternatives before sending a juvenile to the [TJJD].” J.R.C., 236 S.W.3d at 875 (citing

In re M.A., 198 S.W.3d 388, 391 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2006, no pet.)).

       As we discussed above, the evidence showed that the level of care, support, and supervision

in the home had been inadequate to address the needs of H.C., or to enable her to meet the

conditions of her probation, both before and after she was placed on probation. Although H.C.

was on probation for only three weeks before being placed in detention, in that time, she

demonstrated her ability and inclination to undermine I.B.’s supervision and the conditions of

probation by appearing to take her medication, then spitting it out when I.B. left her room. The

juvenile court could have reasonably concluded that, even with more restrictive conditions of

probation, H.C. was likely to continue to undermine I.B.’s supervision. In addition, H.C.’s

                                               25
probation officer testified that there were no facilities or programs for juvenile females available

in Lamar County that would adequately address H.C.’s needs.

         Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the findings, we cannot say that the

juvenile court’s finding falls outside the zone of reasonable disagreement. Therefore, we find that

there is legally sufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s finding that reasonable efforts

were made to prevent or eliminate the need for H.C.’s removal from her home. Further, since

some evidence supports the juvenile court’s decision to commit H.C. to the TJJD, we find that the

juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in committing her to the TJJD.15 See J.M., 287 S.W.3d

at 486; J.R.C., 236 S.W.3d at 875. We overrule H.C.’s fifth point of error.

         For the reasons stated above, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.

                                                       Ralph K. Burgess
                                                       Justice

Date Submitted:            July 16, 2018
Date Decided:              October 3, 2018

15
  In her brief, H.C. cites several cases in which the courts of appeals reversed the juvenile court order committing the
juvenile to the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), the predecessor to TJJD, in support of her argument that reasonable
efforts have not been made to prevent H.C.’s removal from her home. See In re S.G., No. 04-04-00475-CV, 2005 WL
763277 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Apr. 6, 2005, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re K.L.C., 972 S.W.2d 203 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 1998, no pet.); In re A.S., 954 S.W.2d 855 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1997, no pet.). However, both K.L.C. and
A.S. were appeals from original orders of disposition where no efforts had been made to rehabilitate the juvenile in
their home. K.L.C., 972 S.W.2d at 204, 206; A.S., 954 S.W.2d at 857, 862–63. Although S.G. was an appeal from a
modification of disposition, the trial court based the commitment to TYC for the stated reason that it was time for the
State, rather than the county, to begin paying for S.G.’s upkeep. The San Antonio court found that this did not conform
to the stated goals of the juvenile justice code, so the juvenile court had no proper reason to commit S.G. to the TYC.
S.G., 2005 WL 763277, at *4.
                                                          26