D.R.T. v. Juvenile Officer

626 S.W.3d 311

In the Interest of: D.R.T., Appellant,

v.JUVENILE OFFICER, Respondent.

WD 83874

Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.

Opinion filed: June 15, 2021

David E. Wiegert, for Appellant.

Jeffrey C. Esparza, Co-counsel for Appellant.

Daniel G. Barry, for Respondent.

Lori L. Stipp, Kansas City, Co-counsel for Respondent.

Division One: Anthony Rex Gabbert, Presiding Judge, Edward R. Ardini, Jr., Judge and Thomas N. Chapman, Judge

EDWARD R. ARDINI, JR., JUDGE

D.R.T.¹ challenges the judgment entered by the Family Court Division of the Circuit Court of Jackson County ("juvenile court") dismissing him from its jurisdiction and transferring his case to a court of general jurisdiction for prosecution as an adult pursuant to section 211.071, RSMo. Because D.R.T.’s appeal is untimely, we dismiss.

Factual and Procedural Background

On March 6, 2015, the Juvenile Officer of Jackson County filed a petition pursuant to section 211.031.1, RSMo, alleging that D.R.T., born on January 1, 2002, needed mental health services that his parents were unable to provide. Based on that petition, the juvenile court assumed jurisdiction over D.R.T. and placed him in the custody of the Children's Division. On December 5, 2015, the juvenile officer filed a motion to modify the juvenile court's previous order of disposition, alleging that D.R.T. had committed two counts of robbery in the first degree in addition to violating the order committing him to the custody of the Children's Division by leaving his placement. Pursuant to section 211.071, RSMo, the juvenile officer requested the juvenile court hold a hearing to determine whether, based on the allegations set forth in the motion to modify, D.R.T.’s case should be dismissed from the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and transferred to a court of general jurisdiction for prosecution as an adult.²

Prior to the hearing, Deputy Juvenile Officer Sandy Rollo-Hawkins filed a certification report with the juvenile court pursuant to section 211.071.6, RSMo, and Rule 129.03.³ The certification report included summaries of police reports from the alleged robberies, a summary of the surveillance video from the store where one of the robberies allegedly occurred, summaries of D.R.T.’s history with the juvenile court and the Children's Division, and an analysis of the section 211.071.6, RSMo, factors. The certification report was signed by both Rollo-Hawkins and her supervisor, Matt Roberts.

At the start of the certification hearing, the juvenile officer offered two exhibits: the certification report and D.R.T.’s social file. D.R.T. asserted non-specific objections to "any hearsay statements" contained in each exhibit that was overruled:

[Counsel for the juvenile officer:] Your honor, at this time, I have two exhibits for the Court. Juvenile Officer's Exhibit No. 1, his certification report. Pursuant to 211.071, Subsection 6.

THE COURT: Any objection to its receipt, [counsel for D.R.T.]?

[Counsel for D.R.T.:] Just as a matter of record, I would object to any hearsay statements in there.

THE COURT: All right. That objection is overruled. I will receive it as Exhibit 1.

[Counsel for the juvenile officer:] Juvenile Officer's Exhibit No. 2 is the social file of the juvenile, containing the reports previously entered at hearings regarding the juvenile.

THE COURT: [Counsel for D.R.T.]?

[Counsel for D.R.T.:] Also, as a matter of form, I would object to any hearsay statements in there. And I would request that that objection be continuing.

THE COURT: All right. I'll overrule those objections. Exhibits 1 and 2 will be received.

Roberts testified in support of certifying D.R.T. as an adult.⁴ He testified that, based on the police reports and surveillance video,⁵ D.R.T. went to two separate AT&T stores in the Kansas City area, posed as a customer, pointed a gun at employees and demanded cell phones. Roberts explained that robbery in the first degree is "one of the most serious crimes that a person can commit in the state of Missouri, in general." He acknowledged that, "[r]eviewing the video, it appear[ed] to be calm robberies," but offered that pointing a gun at someone is still "a vicious act." Roberts additionally described D.R.T.’s behavior while living in Children's Division facilities as "antisocial and violent[,]" and included fighting, bullying, and defiance. He stated that D.R.T. had a "repetitive pattern of criminal offenses" during his time under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, culminating in the robberies alleged in this case. Roberts also explained that D.R.T.’s "emotional intellectual maturity is less than what [he] would expect of a now 17-year-old[,]" but that "he is at a higher level of sophistication than [Roberts] would expect of a 17-year-old, in that he was able to – well, for one, he has the repetitive pattern of offenses that I've talked about." Finally, Roberts detailed the different types of placements and services available and offered his view that D.R.T. "is not amenable to services that are available to the juvenile court" and "that he should be certified to stand trial as an adult." D.R.T. directed no objections to Roberts’ testimony.

D.R.T., who had recently turned seventeen years old at the time of the hearing, called his parents as witnesses.

On February 21, 2019, the juvenile court entered its judgment dismissing D.R.T. from its jurisdiction and transferring him to a court of general jurisdiction. The juvenile court found that the offenses D.R.T. allegedly committed "are considered some of the most serious offenses under the criminal code, and are undoubtedly crimes from which the community has a valid expectation of being protected." The juvenile court also found that the "alleged offenses and behaviors involved viciousness, force, and violence[,]" and were crimes against persons. The juvenile court noted that D.R.T. had "a history of repetitive and increasingly serious and violent pattern of conduct[,]" and "in light of the numerous services that have been offered him in the years he has been under this Court's jurisdiction, his pattern of action indicates he is beyond rehabilitation under the Juvenile Code."

The same day that jurisdiction over D.R.T. was transferred to a court of general jurisdiction, the State filed a felony complaint charging D.R.T. with two counts of robbery in the first degree and two counts of armed criminal action. On April 26, 2019, D.R.T. was indicted by a grand jury for the same offenses. Those charges remain pending.

D.R.T. appeals from the judgment of the juvenile court transferring jurisdiction to a court of general jurisdiction for prosecution under the general laws of the State.

Discussion

D.R.T. raises three points on appeal. In his first point, D.R.T. argues the juvenile court abused its discretion by overruling his objections to hearsay statements contained in the two exhibits admitted at his certification hearing. In his second point, D.R.T. alleges the juvenile court committed plain error when it allowed Roberts to testify about events to which he had no personal knowledge. Finally, in his third point, D.R.T. asserts the juvenile court committed plain error by permitting Roberts to testify concerning the contents of a surveillance video depicting one of the robberies allegedly committed by D.R.T. which was never admitted into evidence.

Final Judgment and Timeliness of Notice of Appeal

Before considering the substantive issues raised in this appeal, we must first determine whether we have jurisdiction to address those claims at all. " ‘This Court has an obligation, acting sua sponte if necessary, to determine its authority to hear the appeals that come before it.’ " State v. Johnson , 617 S.W.3d 439, 443 (Mo. banc 2021) (quoting First Nat'l Bank of Dieterich v. Pointe Royale Prop. Owners’ Ass'n, Inc. , 515 S.W.3d 219, 221 (Mo. banc 2017) ). "The right to appeal derives solely from statute." Id. (citing State v. Waters , 597 S.W.3d 185, 186 (Mo. banc 2020) ).

Section 211.261.1, RSMo, provides that "[a]n appeal shall be allowed to the [juvenile] from any final judgment, order or decree made under the" juvenile code. That section further provides that a "[n]otice of appeal shall be filed within thirty days after the final judgment, order or decree has been entered[.]" § 211.261.1, RSMo. The Missouri Supreme Court has held that in the context of appeals authorized by section 211.261, RSMo, Rules 81.04 and 81.05 govern issues related to finality and timeliness. See In Interest of D.J.B. , 704 S.W.2d 217 (Mo. banc 1986). Accordingly, when no after-trial motion is filed (as is the situation in the present case), a juvenile court's judgment becomes final thirty days after it is entered and a notice of appeal must be filed within ten days thereafter. Id. ; see also Rules 81.05(a)(1) and 81.04(a). " ‘If a notice of appeal is untimely, the appellate court is without jurisdiction and must dismiss the appeal.’ " Fid. Real Estate Co. v. Norman , 586 S.W.3d 873, 878 (Mo. App. W.D. 2019) (quoting Spicer v. Donald N. Spicer Revocable Living Trust , 336 S.W.3d 466, 471 (Mo. banc 2011) ) (additional citation omitted).

D.R.T.’s notice of appeal was filed on June 26, 2020, more than sixteen months after the juvenile court issued its judgment transferring his case to a court of general jurisdiction. The juvenile officer argues that this appeal should therefore be dismissed as untimely. D.R.T. counters that the appeal was timely initiated, arguing that "the date the [juvenile] court's judgment certifying DRT to be prosecuted as an adult was entered, that judgment was not final[;]" instead, the judgment became final and appealable on June 16, 2020, when the Missouri Supreme Court decided D.E.G. v. Juvenile Officer of Jackson County , 601 S.W.3d 212 (Mo. banc 2020).

In D.E.G. , the Missouri Supreme Court held that section 211.261, RSMo, allows a juvenile to appeal from a judgment dismissing the juvenile from the juvenile court's jurisdiction after a section 211.071...