In re J.M. CA2/8 ( 2014 )


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  • Filed 6/16/14 In re J.M. CA2/8
    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
    California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
    publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
    or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
    IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
    SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
    DIVISION EIGHT
    In re J.M., a Person Coming Under the                                B251853
    Juvenile Court Law.
    (Los Angeles County
    Super. Ct. No. VJ43091)
    THE PEOPLE,
    Plaintiff and Respondent,
    v.
    J.M.,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County,
    Kevin Brown, Judge. Affirmed.
    Bruce G. Finebaum, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
    and Appellant.
    No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent.
    **********
    J.M., now 18, appeals from an order declaring him a ward of the juvenile court
    pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 602, following a finding J.M.
    committed misdemeanor vandalism (Pen. Code, § 594, subd. (a)). We appointed
    appellate counsel to represent him. Appointed counsel filed a brief in which no issues
    were raised. (People v. Wende (1979) 
    25 Cal.3d 436
     (Wende).) The brief included a
    declaration from counsel that he reviewed the record and advised J.M. of his right, under
    Wende, to submit a supplemental brief. On February 19, 2014, this court sent J.M. notice
    advising him that he had 30 days to personally submit any contentions or issues that he
    wished to raise on appeal. No supplemental brief was filed.
    The facts are these: On October 8, 2012, Viviano Favela noticed a large gathering
    of teenage boys at the Dills Park in the City of Paramount. It looked like they were up to
    no good. The boys were gathered around one of the park’s benches. He noticed some of
    them moving their arms as if they were writing. Favela concluded they were tagging on
    the tables. It looked as if the boys were taking turns writing on the table. After
    20 minutes, the boys got up to leave. Favela walked to the bench where the boys had
    been gathered and noticed that it was covered in black writing. Favela, and other
    neighbors, often called for graffiti removal in the park. Earlier that day, Favela had
    glanced at the park’s benches, and had not seen any graffiti.
    Favela got in his car and followed the boys, who split into two groups. He
    followed one of the groups and took pictures of them with his phone. All of the boys in
    the group Favela followed had participated in the tagging. Favela thought J.M. was
    familiar, and looked like one of the individuals he saw that day, who was depicted in his
    photographs. At 3:30 p.m., Favela called 911 to report the incident. Favela pointed the
    boys out to the responding deputies, and they were detained.
    Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Abbot responded to the park, and
    saw graffiti on the park’s benches. He detained five minors. These minors were depicted
    in the photograph taken by Favela. J.M. was in the photograph.
    2
    Favela’s photograph of the minors, as well as photographs of the bench, and
    J.M.’s booking photograph, were admitted into evidence.
    The court denied J.M.’s motion to dismiss the charge. (Welf. & Inst. Code,
    § 701.1.)
    J.M. testified that he went to a donut shop after school, and then went with friends
    to another store. A car drove by and took pictures of his group. He was later detained by
    sheriff’s deputies. He did not go to the park that day, and did not write on the park
    benches.
    The juvenile court, finding the allegations to be true, sustained the petition and
    declared the offense a misdemeanor. The court declared J.M. a ward of the court and
    placed him home on probation for one year. In addition to the standard terms of
    probation, the court ordered J.M. to have no contact with any victims or witnesses of the
    offense, or with the other minors who committed the offense, to make restitution of $50,
    to not possess any markers or spray cans, and to stay away from Dills Park.
    We have examined the entire record, consisting of one volume of clerk’s transcript
    and one volume of reporter’s transcript, and are satisfied that appointed counsel fully
    complied with his responsibilities and that no arguable appellate issues exist. (People v.
    Kelly (2006) 
    40 Cal.4th 106
    ; Wende, supra, 
    25 Cal.3d 436
    .) We therefore affirm the
    order of wardship below.
    DISPOSITION
    The order of wardship is affirmed.
    GRIMES, J.
    We concur:
    BIGELOW, P. J.
    FLIER, J.
    3
    

Document Info

Docket Number: B251853

Filed Date: 6/16/2014

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/18/2021