In re O.P. CA3 ( 2024 )

Filed 9/24/24 In re O.P. CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered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
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Sacramento)
----
In re O.P., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court C099858
Law.
THE PEOPLE, (Super. Ct. No. JV135755)
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
O.P.,
Defendant and Appellant.
The minor, O.P., admitted he committed a lewd and lascivious act on a child under 14
years old and the juvenile court committed the minor to the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)
for two years. After the Legislature realigned the juvenile justice system, the court recalled the
commitment and committed the minor to a secure youth treatment facility (SYTF) and
immediately stepped down his commitment level to global positioning system (GPS)
monitoring. On appeal, the minor first argues the juvenile court lacked jurisdiction to place
him in the SYTF because he was over 25 at the time of his placement. Second, the minor
further challenges the juvenile court’s denial of his motion to modify the second commitment
order arguing the county improperly failed to provide him with housing. We conclude that we
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lack jurisdiction to consider the commitment to the SYTF but will affirm the juvenile court on
his second argument.1
I. BACKGROUND
While the minor was subject to other juvenile justice proceedings not relevant here, the
prosecution filed a second amended petition under Welfare and Institutions Code2 section 602.
It alleged two counts that the minor committed lewd and lascivious acts on K.D., a child under
14, and two counts the minor assaulted K.D. with the intent to commit rape. (Pen. Code,
§§ 220, 288, subd. (a), 288, subd. (b)(1).)
According to the intake report, the minor was between 15 and 17 years old when he
sexually assaulted the six- or seven-year-old victim. The victim reported the minor would
wake her up from nap time to try to make her orally copulate him. If the victim refused, the
minor would not feed her or her siblings lunch. The minor also threatened to lie about the
victim to her parents to get her in trouble. The victim further reported the minor would
masturbate in front of her and make her watch. He also took her hand and tried to make her
touch his penis. The victim could not remember how many times the minor assaulted her, but
she had clear memories of two episodes.
Pursuant to a negotiated disposition, the minor admitted responsibility to one count of
lewd and lascivious conduct (Pen. Code, § 288, subd. (b)(1)), with the understanding he would
be committed to the DJJ for two years and he would be required to register as a sex offender
(Pen. Code, § 290). The maximum term of confinement for this admission was eight years. In
conjunction with this disposition, the juvenile court dismissed the remaining charges and the
prosecution withdrew its motion to transfer the minor to a court of criminal jurisdiction. On
June 16, 2022, the juvenile court committed the minor to the DJJ for two years. He was 25
years old at the time.
1 The court denies the People’s motion to take judicial notice of the juvenile court’s file in the
separate writ petition.
2 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
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After the minor was committed to the DJJ, he was placed in the sexual behavioral
treatment program.
In January 2023, the probation department filed a petition to recall the minor’s
commitment to DJJ pursuant to Senate Bill No. 823 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) (Stats. 2020,
ch. 337), which realigned the juvenile justice system. Until recently, DJJ was “the state’s most
restrictive placement for its most severe juvenile offenders.” (In re Miguel C. (2021)
69 Cal.App.5th 899, 902.) In 2020, the Legislature enacted juvenile justice realignment by
passing Senate Bill No. 823. Implementing the Legislature’s juvenile justice realignment
program required the eventual closure of DJJ and the transfer of its responsibilities to
California counties. (§ 736.5, subd. (a).) The county-level equivalent of DJJ is a secure track
commitment, also known as a SYTF. (§§ 875, 875.5.) The Sacramento County SYTF is the
Valley Oak Youth Academy (VOYA).
At the time of the probation department’s petition to recall his commitment, the minor
was working on stage one of the sexual behavioral treatment program. The probation
department opposed housing the minor at VOYA because he was 26 years old. Instead, it
recommended the minor be continued as a ward of the court and released on GPS monitoring
until he completed the required sexual behavioral treatment program.
The court granted the probation department’s petition and ordered the probation
department to prepare a reentry plan.
The prosecution followed this order with a petition to house the minor at VOYA where
he could complete the sexual behavioral treatment program, while the probation department
asked the juvenile court to house the minor at an adult facility. The prosecution argued
releasing the minor on GPS monitoring would place the community at great risk.
The juvenile court granted the minor’s motion to apply his DJJ commitment credits
toward his two-year commitment term and ordered the minor to be transferred to the county
jail pending disposition.
The county counsel also filed a brief opposing VOYA housing for the minor. County
counsel argued the court lacked jurisdiction over the minor as it had not committed him to a
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SYTF prior to the date he turned 25. The county counsel further argued placing the minor at
VOYA would have “immense impacts” because he would have to be housed alone in a fully
staffed separate unit.
The probation department’s reentry case plan noted the minor did not have a place to
live upon his release. His father was unable to house him due to restrictions placed on him by
his landlord and the minor could not live with other family members because they had children
in the home. While the probation department was attempting to assist him with funding, no
agreements had been reached. The only available option for housing set forth in the reentry
plan was the Exodus Project, but that was limited to a maximum of a three-day hotel voucher.
The reentry plan also indicated the minor would enroll in college and would work as a
caregiver for his father.
At the June 21, 2023, hearing, the juvenile court committed the minor to VOYA with an
immediate transfer to the less restrictive step-down program of GPS monitoring and
transitional housing at Build 2 Thrive. At the hearing, probation represented the Build 2
Thrive program was a pay-per-month program and the minor said he had access to stimulus
money that would allow him to pay for that housing.
At the end of July, the probation department filed a progress report that stated the minor
was living at Build 2 Thrive, meeting his GPS conditions, had completed his Penal Code
section 290 registration, and was enrolled in a medical assistant program at a local college.
In early August 2023, the minor contacted his probation officer and said he was no
longer allowed to live at the Build 2 Thrive program and needed transitional housing.
According to the program, the minor was told to leave the home because he failed to pay rent
and had conflicts with the house manager and other residents. The next day, the probation
department provided the minor with a hotel room voucher.
Later in the month, the minor told the probation department he could live with “family”
in Reno, Nevada. The probation department was not sure this would work due to the minor’s
commitment order with VOYA but asked the minor for the address and information on
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everyone who lived at that residence. Despite representing he would provide this information,
the minor did not.
As of the end of August, the minor had secured a room for a month in a home. A week
later, he reported he got into an argument with the homeowner and was told to leave the home.
In early September 2023, the minor filed a petition to modify the commitment order
pursuant to section 779.5 asserting the probation department failed to provide him with
adequate housing and treatment. At the hearing, counsel represented the probation department
was “wholly failing [the minor] in that they’re not able to provide him with treatment,
programming, and even the basic needs of rehabilitation, which is housing, and we can’t
expect [the minor] to be successful with the JSO or drug counseling when he is currently
homeless.”
In mid-September, the probation department continued its efforts to secure housing for
the minor through the 211 housing coordinator with several providers to no avail. The 211
housing coordinator ultimately found housing at the Salvation Army shelter. The minor called
to inquire about any other options. He said the shelter would not be a safe space for him or
good for his mental health because it was a reminder of being incarcerated. The minor also
said he did not wish to work with the 211 coordinator anymore to find housing. The minor
represented he would try to find shelters he learned about from friends and sleep in a friend’s
car in the meantime.
At the September 19, 2023, hearing, the juvenile court ordered probation to provide a
response at an October 5, 2023, hearing. The minor represented to the juvenile court he was
homeless. The juvenile court ordered probation to provide hotel vouchers pending that next
hearing.
Later in September, the minor sought an order shortening time asserting the probation
department had not given him hotel vouchers from September 19 to October 5, 2023. The
application further stated the probation department could supply only a three-day voucher
starting on September 20, 2023.
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The court granted the order shortening time and issued an order to show cause (OSC) as
to why the probation department should not be held in contempt.
The probation department filed a reentry plan update where they noted the attempts
made to assist the minor to secure housing. The report also stated the minor was unable to
work as his father’s caregiver. The report observed the minor was no longer attending college
because he damaged the tablet the college provided for him and the college was unable to
replace it.
At the September 25, 2023, hearing, the probation department questioned whether the
juvenile court had the power to order them to provide housing for the minor. At the OSC
hearing, the juvenile court received evidence of the efforts made by the probation department
to assist the minor to secure housing. The juvenile court found, “There is no information to
suggest that Probation had not complied with the terms of the reentry plan. [¶] The issues that
have been raised really are that [the minor] has not done the things that he needs to do to get on
his own feet.” As a result, the juvenile court discharged the OSC and found the probation
department to be in compliance with its orders. It did order the probation department to
continue to provide support to the minor.
On October 2, 2023, the minor filed another petition for modification of a previous
order pursuant to section 779.5. The petition alleged that the current step-down program from
the VOYA commitment did not meet the minor’s needs or further his rehabilitation.
On October 5, 2023, the juvenile court held a hearing on this motion. The minor argued
probation did not place him in any treatment programs, but rather merely provided him with
referrals. The minor argued the provision of housing was an essential element of the minor’s
reentry plan. The juvenile court found, “In reviewing the information in the reentry update, the
Court notes that there have been consistent implementation of the plan that was developed and
approved at a prior court hearing, that the update indicates that [the minor] is challenged to
obtain housing, but that he has been receiving support through the plan, as indicated, and some
of the reasons why he was not able to maintain housing is because he had conflicts with the
individuals who live there.· He does seem to have ongoing contact with Probation, and they are
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continuing to provide him with the support to obtain access to the resources that will get him in
a position so that he can provide for those needs. [¶] The Court goes on here to note treatment
support. The subject was referred to Hope Therapeutic Services.· The individuals from Hope
reached out to the subject, but never received a response.· The subject was referred to Turning
Point Community Outreach and Recovery.· There has been back and forth between the subject
and Turning Point.· The subject was referred to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and there was a
life coach that’s assigned to the subject.· The life coach reported that he last heard from the
subject three weeks prior to the date of this report, and the life coach indicates that he will
continue his efforts to enroll [the minor] in some of their employment programs. [¶] With
regard to employment education, it was previously noted the father, who has been here at prior
hearings, did indicate to Probation he worked with the father on the reentry case plan, that the
subject could be employed as his caretaker through in-home supportive services, but
apparently [the minor] reported that he was unable to work with his father. [¶] There have
been other efforts.· The subject apparently was enrolled in a UEI college, in a medical assistant
program, but they reported that he was unable to continue as he damaged a tablet that was
assigned. [¶] So the Court does, after considering all of the evidence, find that there is not
good cause to grant the request and the motion filed, and so that motion is denied.”
On November 7, 2023, the minor filed a notice of appeal from the October 5, 2023,
denial of his motion.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Appellate Jurisdiction Over the Disposition Order
The minor first argues the juvenile court lacked jurisdiction to enter a dispositional
order committing the minor to VOYA because the minor was 25 at the time of the order. The
People respond the order is final and cannot now be challenged on appeal because the minor
failed to timely appeal from the original June 21, 2023, dispositional order. We agree with the
People.
“One of the most fundamental rules of appellate review is that the time for filing a
notice of appeal is jurisdictional.” (In re A.O. (2015) 242 Cal.App.4th 145, 148.) A minor
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may appeal a judgment in a section 602 proceeding “in the same manner as any final
judgment.” (§ 800, subd. (a).) The minor may also appeal any subsequent order in such
proceedings “as from an order after judgment.” (§ 800, subd. (a).) Generally, an appeal in a
juvenile case must be filed “within 60 days after the rendition of the judgment or the making of
the order being appealed.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.406(a)(1); In re Shaun R. (2010)
188 Cal.App.4th 1129, 1138.)
Our Supreme Court’s opinion of In re G.C. (2020) 8 Cal.5th 1119 is dispositive on this
issue. There, the juvenile court entered a dispositional order for certain offenses on
November 19, 2015. (Id. at p. 1124.) After two additional dispositional hearings and orders
on December 30, 2015, and January 26, 2016, G.C. filed a notice of appeal on February 1,
2016. (Ibid.) G.C. attempted to challenge the November 2015 dispositional order in her
appeal, by arguing the juvenile court neglected a mandatory statutory duty to specify whether
the offenses found true in her wardship petitions were felonies or misdemeanors. (Ibid.) The
Supreme Court concluded G.C.’s appeal was untimely. (Id. at p. 1127.) It explained the
juvenile court’s error was ripe for review upon the disposition of her petition in November
2015 but were not timely appealed. (Id. at p. 1126.) Thus, “well-settled law defeat[ed] G.C.’s
further right to appellate review” of the earlier petitions. (Id. at p. 1127.)
Here, the same well-settled law that defeated G.C.’s right to appellate review defeats
this minor’s right to appellate review of the June 21, 2023, dispositional order. The 60-day
deadline for appealing that order ran in September 2023, before the November 23, 2023, notice
of appeal was filed. As a result, we lack appellate jurisdiction over those orders. They are
final and binding and cannot be attacked here.3
3 We are cognizant that “ ‘When courts use the phrase “lack of jurisdiction,” they are usually
referring to one of two different concepts, although, as one court has observed, the distinction
between them is “hazy.” [Citations.]’ A lack of jurisdiction in its fundamental or strict sense
results in ‘ “an entire absence of power to hear or determine the case, an absence of authority
over the subject matter or the parties.” [Citation.] On the other hand, a court may have
jurisdiction in the strict sense but nevertheless lack “ ‘jurisdiction’ (or power) to act except in a
particular manner, or to give certain kinds of relief, or to act without the occurrence of certain
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B. Motion to Modify the Commitment Order
The minor’s asserted second point of error is that the juvenile court’s step-down order
did not meet the minor’s rehabilitative needs and the court abused its discretion in failing to
modify it when he brought his petition under section 779.5. The gravamen of the minor’s
argument is the county’s failure to provide the minor with adequate housing constituted good
cause to modify the order. We conclude the court did not abuse its discretion.
Section 779.5 provides a SYTF commitment order may be modified or set aside on the
following grounds: “The court committing a ward to a secure youth treatment facility as
provided in Section 875 may thereafter modify or set aside the order of commitment upon the
written application of the ward or the probation department and upon a showing of good cause
that the county or the commitment facility has failed, or is unable to, provide the ward with
treatment, programming, and education that are consistent with the individual rehabilitation
plan described in subdivision (d) of Section 875, that the conditions under which the ward is
confined are harmful to the ward, or that the juvenile justice goals of rehabilitation and
community safety are no longer served by continued confinement of the ward in a [SYTF].”
procedural prerequisites.” [Citation.] When a court fails to conduct itself in the manner
prescribed, it is said to have acted in excess of jurisdiction.’ [Citations.] [¶] The distinction is
important because the remedies are different. ‘[F]undamental jurisdiction cannot be conferred
by waiver, estoppel, or consent. Rather, an act beyond a court’s jurisdiction in the fundamental
sense is null and void’ ab initio. [Citation.] ‘Therefore, a claim based on a lack of . . .
fundamental jurisdiction[] may be raised for the first time on appeal. [Citation.] “In contrast,
an act in excess of jurisdiction is valid until set aside, and parties may be precluded from
setting it aside by such things as waiver, estoppel, or the passage of time.” ’ ” (People v. Lara
(2010) 48 Cal.4th 216, 224-225.)
Under these standards, the challenged juvenile court order was not void and may not be
attacked at any time. The juvenile court did not lack jurisdiction over the minor in the
fundamental sense. Barring exceptions not applicable here, “any minor who is between 12
years of age and 17 years of age, inclusive, when he or she violates any law of this state or of
the United States or any ordinance of any city or county of this state defining crime . . . is
within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge the minor to be a ward of the
court.” (§ 602, subd. (a).) This minor was 15 to 17 when he committed the offenses charged.
Thus, the juvenile court had fundamental authority over the minor to adjudicate his petitions.
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“As a general matter appellate courts have recognized a trial court ‘has broad discretion
to determine whether good cause exists.’ [Citation.] In circumstances where such discretion
exists, our review of the trial court’s ‘good cause’ determination employs the familiar ‘abuse of
discretion’ standard. [Citations.] We recognize, of course, that the court’s discretion must be
‘ “ ‘exercised in conformity with the spirit of the law and in a manner to subserve and not to
impede or defeat the ends of substantial justice.’ ” ’ ” (People v. Drew (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th
253, 257.)
Here, the minor has failed to demonstrate the juvenile court abused its discretion when
it found the minor failed to establish good cause based on the issues the minor had in securing
housing. In the first instance, the minor has provided no authority for the proposition that
failing to provide housing means the probation department failed to provide “treatment,
programming, and education that are consistent with the individual rehabilitation plan.”
(§ 779.5, subd. (a).) The minor has pointed to no legal authority mandating this nor has the
minor specified funding that might allow the probation department to accomplish this task.
More importantly, as the juvenile court noted, the record demonstrates minor’s
challenges in securing housing and completing work and educational programs were of the
minor’s own making, not failures of the probation department. The probation department
worked with the minor continuously in attempts to secure him a housing placement. The
minor was removed from the Build 2 Thrive placement due to conflicts he had with residents
and the manager and his inability to pay rent despite his original agreement to do so. He was
told to leave the room he rented in a residence due to an argument with the owner of the house.
He rejected the Salvation Army housing opportunity and was unwilling to work further with
the 211 housing coordinator to secure housing. The minor did not follow through on his
commitment to provide information to the probation department about who lived with his
“family” in Reno.
As it relates to his employment and education, despite promising starts on these issues,
the minor was unable to secure an in-home caregiver placement with his father. Further, he
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withdrew from the medical assistant program because he damaged the tablet the college gave
him.
Given this, we conclude the court did not abuse its discretion when it found the minor
failed to set forth good cause to modify its previous commitment order.
III. DISPOSITION
The postjudgment order is affirmed.
/s/
WISEMAN, J.*
We concur:
/s/
HULL, Acting P. J.
/s/
BOULWARE EURIE, J.
* Retired Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District, assigned by the
Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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