Court Opinion

ID: 9674613
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 04:31:44.925994+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:28.505869
License: Public Domain

STEPHENSON, Justice
(dissenting).
I respectfully disagree. I would affirm the judgment of the trial court and leave Daniel Landry in the custody of the Texas Youth Council.
I view this case as one in which a fifteen-year-old boy was given the protection that he and all juveniles are entitled to under the law. The Juvenile Court first appointed a guardian ad litem to represent him, and no complaint is made of that appointment. The court then appointed an attorney to represent him; and, although there is a point of error that the trial court failed to provide effective assistance, there is nothing in the record to indicate such attorney did not have sufficient experience and ability to represent Daniel Landry in this matter.
The record shows his mother was present, and in fact testified. Written notice was given of the charge against this boy, and no complaint is made about the sufficiency of the notice before the trial court heard this matter. No complaint is made about the sufficiency of the warning given to this boy by his attorney, before that attorney announced in open court that Daniel Landry did have a pistol in his possession. No assertion is made here that Daniel Landry was not in possession of a pistol when apprehended, and this was the only issue before the Juvenile Court. The record shows he was born February 4, 1958, and therefore the Juvenile Court had jurisdiction to hear the case.
The contest in the trial court, if there was one, was only that Daniel Landry and his mother wanted the trial court to place him on probation. The only explanation given by the mother to the court as to why Daniel Landry had the gun was that if a daughter, Janet Landry, had not brought it in the house, “He wouldn’t have had none to pick up.” The discourse given by the trial court in considering disposition of this case shows that Daniel Landry’s juvenile record consisting of three pages (dating from 1967 to the present time), prepared by Mr. Boehm, was before him and that Daniel had already been to Gatesville three times and had gotten out the last time on a technicality.
*587A copy of an “Analysis of the Factors” signed by Anthony J. Boehm, Assistant Probation Officer, Jefferson County Probation Services, was filed in this court. There is no showing that such report was filed in the trial court, although from the things said by the trial judge in open court, which are a part of our record, undoubtedly this is the report he had before him while considering the disposition of this matter. Such report shows Daniel Landry’s mother has had to rear thirteen children by herself since her husband died in 1963, eight of whom have been committed to the Texas Youth Council. The three pages of the record of Daniel Landry, referred to by the court, beginning June 10, 1967 through August 23, 1972, shows these charges: malicious mischief, destruction of property, cursing and vulgar signs, theft of a BB gun, nuisance, theft of grain, theft of a bicycle, pointing a gun at some kids, beating up kids, shoplifting, theft of rods and reels, attempted burglary, assault, aggravated assault (threw a knife at kids), stealing bicycle tires and lawnmower, numerous burglaries and thefts.