In the Interest of: D.S., a Minor ( 2021 )

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NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.S., A : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MINOR : PENNSYLVANIA
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APPEAL OF: D.S., A MINOR :
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: No. 223 MDA 2021
Appeal from the Dispositional Order Entered January 27, 2021
In the Court of Common Pleas of Snyder County Juvenile Division at
No(s): CP-55-JV-0000039-2020
BEFORE: PANELLA, P.J., McCAFFERY, J., and PELLEGRINI, J.*
MEMORANDUM BY PELLEGRINI, J.: FILED: AUGUST 9, 2021
D.S. appeals from the dispositional order1 entered in the Snyder County
Court of Common Pleas (juvenile court) adjudicating him delinquent of
conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft, felony burglary,
criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property,
possession of instruments of crime (PIC), institutional vandalism, disorderly
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* Retired Senior Judge assigned to the Superior Court.
1 D.S. purports to appeal from the court’s January 27, 2021 dispositional order
and its February 5, 2021 order denying his post-dispositional order. (See
Notice of Appeal, 2/17/21). However, the appeal properly lies from only the
dispositional order. See In Interest of P.S., 158 A.3d 643, 649 (Pa. Super.
2017) (“In juvenile proceedings, the final order from which a direct appeal
may be taken is the order of disposition, entered after the juvenile is
adjudicated delinquent.”) (citation and brackets omitted). We have amended
the caption accordingly.
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conduct and criminal mischief.2 D.S. challenges the sufficiency and weight of
the evidence to sustain a finding (1) that he committed the crimes of which
he was found guilty and (2) that he was in need of treatment, supervision or
rehabilitation. We affirm.
We take the following factual history and procedural background from
the trial court’s May 5, 2021 opinion3 and our independent review of the
record.
I.
On October 5, 2020, the Commonwealth filed a delinquency petition
against D.S. alleging that he and two other youths, A.H. and G.B., committed
burglary, theft and related charges at the Bible Baptist Church in Snyder
County. At the time of the theft at the church, he was on probation in another
Snyder County matter for his admitted theft of a firearm. At the dispositional
hearing, the Commonwealth presented the testimony of co-conspirators A.H.
and G.B. and Probation Officer Adrianne Robbins (P.O. Robbins). D.S. testified
on his own behalf.
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2 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 903, 3502(a)(4), 3503(a)(1)(ii), 3503(a)(1)(i), 3921(a),
3925(a), 907(a), 3307(a)(1), 5503(a)(4), 3304(a)(5) and 3921(a).
3 D.S. failed to attach to his brief a copy of the trial court’s opinion or his Rule
1925(b) statement in violation of Rule 2111. See Pa.R.A.P. 2111(a)(10),
(a)(11), (b).
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A.
Fifteen-year-old A.H. testified that late on the night of May 11, 2020, he
and G.B. walked up the road from A.H.’s mother’s house and met D.S., who
lived nearby, outside the subject church. A.H. was friends with D.S. through
G.B. The three discussed how best to get into the church, through a door or
window. A.H. first broke a window on a door, but they decided the back
window would be best for gaining entry, so A.H. broke the window by throwing
a rock through it. Once inside, the three searched for money, rummaging
through cabinets in the kitchen and offices. Upstairs, there was an office and
baptizing, service and instrument rooms. They found a locked money bag in
the upstairs office and A.H. used a knife to cut it open. Inside was cash and
checks. The three of them split the $500.004 they found before leaving the
church, with D.S. splitting off from A.H. and G.B., who headed back to A.H.’s
mother’s house. (N.T. Hearing, 10/26/20, at 7-15, 17-18).
Sixteen-year-old G.B. testified similarly to A.H., with a few
inconsistencies. He stated that late on the night of May 11, 2020, A.H. was
spending the night at his house when the two went out for a walk. A.H. went
to get D.S. and the three boys met at the church. They all entered the church
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4 Although A.H. testified that he was unsure of the exact amount of money
they found, the Commonwealth gave an offer of proof that the church’s Pastor
would testify that $500.00 was taken that night. (See N.T. Hearing,
10/26/20, at 38).
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after A.H. threw a rock through a back window. While G.B. watched, D.S. and
A.H. went through drawers in a kitchen area and an upstairs instrument room.
In a second-floor office, the boys discovered a Northumberland National
money bag, which A.H. opened using a knife, revealing small envelopes with
checks and cash inside them. A.H. and D.S. split the money they found
between the two of them because G.B. did not want any of it. Upon leaving
the church, A.H. and G.B. went one way and D.S. went another. (See id. at
26, 29-34).
D.S. lived at his mother’s house in the same town as the church. He
denied being at the subject church on May 11, 2020, because he was staying
at the home of his cousin, Joshua Allen, that night. He testified that his aunt,
Tara Jennings, was also present. Although Ms. Jennings was noticed as an
alibi witness, she did not attend the trial because D.S. failed to subpoena her.
(See id. at 41, 43, 45-46, 51).
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court found there was sufficient
evidence to prove that D.S. committed all crimes with which he was charged.
It recognized that the testimony of A.H. and G.B. was inconsistent to a certain
extent. However, it found G.B.’s testimony questionable because he appeared
to be minimizing his involvement. It found A.H.’s testimony credible, in part
because he admitted to throwing the rock and cutting open the money bag.
It concluded that the evidence established that the three boys conspired to
enter the church together with the intent to commit a crime and, in fact, did
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so, stealing $500.00 and breaking windows, resulting in financial damages to
the church. (See id. at 53-55).
After the court found that D.S. committed the crimes with which he was
charged, including burglary as a felony of the second degree, the
Commonwealth presented the testimony of P.O. Robbins to establish that D.S.
was in need of treatment, supervision or rehabilitation pursuant to Section
6341(b) of the Juvenile Act.5
B.
P.O. Robbins testified that she had been supervising D.S. since
November 20, 2019, when he was convicted of theft. Although he began that
probationary period on ankle monitoring, it had been removed due to his
participation in services provided by Justice Works. On July 4, 2020, he had
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5 Section 6341(b) of the Juvenile Act provides:
If the court finds on proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the
child committed the acts by reason of which he is alleged to be
delinquent it shall enter such finding on the record and shall
specify the particular offenses, including the grading and counts
thereof which the child is found to have committed. The court
shall then proceed immediately or at a postponed hearing … to
hear evidence as to whether the child is in need of treatment,
supervision or rehabilitation, as established by a preponderance
of the evidence, and to make and file its findings thereon. … In
the absence of evidence to the contrary, evidence of the
commission of acts which constitute a felony shall be sufficient to
sustain a finding that the child is in need of treatment, supervision
or rehabilitation. …
42 Pa.C.S. § 6341(b).
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a curfew violation, but had been compliant other than his arrest for the May
11, 2020 burglary. When he was arrested for that offense, he was put back
on ankle monitoring and remained on it at the time of the hearing. When
asked if D.S. needed additional treatment, P.O. Robbins responded that D.S.
was on ankle monitoring and she could impose house arrest conditions, but
no additional treatment. Two weeks prior to the hearing, she had referred
D.S. for an independent living program to help him with employment. She
recommended that probation with electronic monitoring be continued. (See
id. at 59-61).
After hearing argument from counsel, the court found that:
Based on the fact that [D.S.] was on supervision when this
offense occurred, that his prior adjudication was for a crimen falsi
offense, and give[n] the nature of this offense that there was a
forcible entry and into a house of worship, the Court finds that
[D.S.] is in need of treatment, supervision and rehabilitation.
(N.T. Dispositional Hearing, 10/26/20, at 64). The court placed D.S. on
probation and ordered continued electronic monitoring.
C.
On November 12, 2020, the court granted D.S.’s motion to reconsider,
vacating its October 26, 2020 adjudication and opening the record so that Ms.
Jennings could provide alibi testimony. A second adjudicatory hearing was
held on January 8, 2021. Ms. Jennings testified that although D.S. was at her
home for a substantial period, she could not say whether he was at her
residence on the date of the incident. If someone left her house at night, she
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would have known because she had trouble sleeping. At the conclusion of Ms.
Jennings’ testimony, the court asked questions to clarify exactly when D.S.
was at her home in the month of May, which revealed that Ms. Jennings was
unable to provide certainty for any particular date, including May 11, 2020.
(See N.T. Hearing, 1/08/21, at 4-5, 7, 11-14).
After hearing argument from counsel, the court stated that it believed
Ms. Jennings was as honest as possible where she was being asked to recall
details from eight or nine months prior, but that, because she was not able to
provide certainty, it did not provide an alibi to refute the court’s prior findings.
(See id. at 16-17). The court again adjudicated D.S. delinquent and a
dispositional hearing was scheduled for January 27, 2021.
D.
At the January 27, 2021 dispositional hearing, based on discussion with
counsel, consideration of P.O. Robbins’ October 26, 2020 testimony and
review of a July 2020 Youth Level of Services (YLS) report, the court formally
adjudicated D.S. delinquent and ordered that he be placed on probation with
electronic monitoring at the Probation Department’s discretion, plus costs and
restitution. (See N.T. Hearing, 1/27/21, at 8).
On February 5, 2021, the court denied his post-adjudicatory motion and
D.S. timely appealed. He and the court have complied with Rule 1925. See
Pa.R.A.P. 1925.
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II.
D.S. raises four issues for our review: (1) Whether the evidence was
insufficient to sustain his adjudication of delinquency on all crimes charged;
(2) whether the adjudication of delinquency was against the weight of the
evidence for all crimes charged; (3) whether the trial court improperly shifted
the burden regarding the alibi witness to him; and (4) whether the trial court
erred in finding he was in need of treatment, supervision or rehabilitation to
support a finding of delinquency.6 (See D.S.’s Brief, at 4). Although raised
as four separate issues, in effect, D.S. argues that the court erred in finding
the Commonwealth established the two factors required to prove delinquency:
that he committed the charged crimes and that he requires treatment,
supervision or rehabilitation.7
An adjudication of delinquency requires the juvenile court to find
that the juvenile: (1) has committed a delinquent act and (2) is
in need of treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation. A
determination that a child has committed a delinquent act does
not, on its own, warrant an adjudication of delinquency. After
determining that a juvenile has committed a delinquent act, the
court shall then hear evidence “as to whether the child is in need
of treatment, supervision or rehabilitation, as established by a
preponderance of the evidence, and make and file its findings
thereon.” 42 Pa.C.S. § 6341(b). Finally, “in the absence of
evidence to the contrary, evidence of the commission of acts
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6 We have reordered the issues for ease of disposition.
7 “The Juvenile Act grants juvenile courts broad discretion when determining
an appropriate disposition[.] We will disturb a juvenile court’s disposition only
upon a showing of a manifest abuse of discretion.” Interest of C.B., 241
A.3d 677, 681 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020) (citation omitted).
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which constitute a felony shall be sufficient to sustain a finding
that the child is in need of treatment, supervision or
rehabilitation.” Id. (footnote omitted).
C.B., supra at 682 (case citations, brackets and one footnote omitted;
emphasis in original).
A.
In a one-page “argument,” D.S. claims that the evidence was insufficient
to support his adjudication as to any of the eleven crimes with which he was
charged.8 (See D.S.’s Brief, at 14-15). The Commonwealth posits that D.S.’s
sufficiency argument is waived because D.S. failed to adequately develop this
claim in his brief. (See Commonwealth’s Brief, at 7). The argument section
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8 Our standard of review of the sufficiency of the evidence to support a juvenile
adjudication is the same as that for an adult proceeding.
[W]e must review the entire record and view the evidence in the
light most favorable to the Commonwealth. In determining
whether the Commonwealth presented sufficient evidence to meet
its burden of proof, the test to be applied is whether, viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth and
drawing all reasonable inferences therefrom, there is sufficient
evidence to find every element of the crime charged. The
Commonwealth may sustain its burden of proving every element
of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt by wholly circumstantial
evidence.
Interest of N.A.D., 205 A.3d 1237, 1239–40 (Pa. Super. 2019) (citation
omitted). “Significantly, we may not substitute our judgment for that of the
fact finder; thus, so long as the evidence adduced, accepted in the light most
favorable to the Commonwealth, demonstrates the respective elements of a
defendant’s crimes beyond a reasonable doubt, the appellant’s convictions will
be upheld.” Commonwealth v. Pettyjohn, 64 A.3d 1072, 1075 (Pa. Super.
2013) (citation omitted).
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does not identify or dispute the specific elements of the numerous crimes D.S.
was convicted of; nor does it argue which of those particular elements were
not met. (See D.S.’s Brief, at 13-15). Other than providing boilerplate law
on the Commonwealth’s burden of proof and our standard of review, the
argument section provides no pertinent law, discussion thereof, citation to the
record or synopsis of the evidence. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a)-(d); see also
Commonwealth v. Plante, 914 A.2d 916, 924 (Pa. Super. 2006) (“We have
repeatedly held that failure to develop an argument with citation to, and
analysis of, relevant authority waives the issue on review.”);
Commonwealth. v. Dupre, 866 A.2d 1089, 1096 (Pa. Super. 2005) (“Failure
to conform briefs to the requirements of the Rules of Appellate Procedure may
result in the quashing or dismissing of an appeal where the defects in the brief
are substantial.”) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); Pa.R.A.P.
2101. Hence, this claim is waived.9 Moreover, to the extent we can discern
D.S.’s argument, it would not merit relief.
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9 Although not raised by the Commonwealth, we note that “[i]n order to
preserve a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal, an
appellant’s [Rule] 1925(b) statement must state with specificity the element
or elements upon which the appellant alleges that the evidence was
insufficient.” Commonwealth v. Rivera, 238 A.3d 482, 496 (Pa. Super.
2020). Failure of an appellant to do so results in waiver of the issue. See id.Here, D.S.’s Rule 1925(b) statement merely concludes that the evidence was
insufficient to support the crimes with which he was adjudicated delinquent.
(See D.S.’s Rule 1925(b) Statement, at 2). This fails to identify which element
or elements the Commonwealth failed to prove of the eleven crimes with which
he was convicted, and his sufficiency argument is waived on this basis as well.
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The sum total of D.S.’s one-page sufficiency argument is that the
evidence was insufficient: (1) to establish conspiracy, because it did not prove
there was an agreement to enter the church and commit a crime within; (2)
to support that he committed a theft or received stolen property where it did
not establish he entered the property, there were no items from the church
discovered in his possession, and the only testimony regarding the theft was
conflicting; and (3) to prove that he possessed an instrument to employ it
criminally, vandalized/damaged any church property or created a dangerous
condition. (See D.S.’s Brief, at 14-15).
Criminal conspiracy requires proof of “(1) an intent to commit or aid in
an unlawful act, (2) an agreement with a co-conspirator and (3) an overt act
in furtherance of the conspiracy.” Commonwealth v. Thomas, 65 A.3d 939,
943 (Pa. Super. 2013) (citing 18 Pa.C.S. § 903(a). “Because it is difficult to
prove an explicit or formal agreement to commit an unlawful act, such an act
may be proved inferentially by circumstantial evidence, i.e., the relations,
conduct or circumstances of the parties or overt acts on the part of the co-
conspirators.” Commonwealth v. Thomas, 65 A.3d 939, 943 (Pa. Super.
2013) (citation omitted).
As relevant here, a person commits burglary if he enters an unoccupied
building that is not adapted for overnight accommodations with the intent to
commit a crime therein. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502(a)(4). “A person is guilty of
theft if he unlawfully takes, or exercises unlawful control over, movable
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property of another with intent to deprive him thereof.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921(a).
This Court has similarly defined the elements of receiving stolen property as:
“(1) intentionally acquiring possession of the movable property of another;
(2) with knowledge or belief that it was probably stolen; and (3) the intent to
deprive permanently.” Commonwealth v. Robinson, 128 A.3d 261, 265
(Pa. Super. 2015) (citation omitted); 18 Pa.C.S. § 3925(a). “A person
commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he possesses any instrument of
crime with intent to employ it criminally.’ 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(a).10
In this case, all of the crimes for which D.S. was adjudicated required
proof of the same basic set of facts: D.S. conspired with A.H. and G.B. to
break into the church to steal money by breaking a window and they did so.
D.S.’s claim that there was no evidence produced to prove the above crimes
is belied by the record. At the October 26, 2020 adjudicatory hearing, A.H.
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10 The additional crimes for which D.S. was adjudicated delinquent all arose
out of the same allegation that he and his co-conspirators broke the church
window to gain entry and stole money from inside. An individual is guilty of
criminal trespass if he breaks into a building, with knowledge he is not
privileged or licensed to do so. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 3503(a)(1)(ii). “A person
commits the offense of institutional vandalism if he knowingly … vandalizes …
or otherwise damages … any church, synagogue or other facility or place used
for religious worship or other religious purposes[.]” 18 Pa.C.S. § 3307(a)(1).
Finally, he commits disorderly conduct and criminal mischief where he “with
intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly
creating a risk thereof, he … creates a hazardous or physically offensive
condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor” and
“intentionally damages real or personal property of another.” 18 Pa.C.S.
§§ 3304(a)(5), 5503(a)(4).
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testified that he and his friends and co-conspirators, D.S. and G.B., broke into
the church late on the night of May 11, 2020. Before gaining entry, the three
discussed how best to do so, whether via a door or window. After A.H. threw
a rock through a window in the door, the three decided another window would
be best, and A.H. then threw a rock through that window to gain entry. Once
inside, all three of them searched for money, rummaging through cabinets in
the kitchen and offices. They found a locked money bag in an upstairs office
and A.H. used a knife to cut it open. Thereafter, D.S. and his co-conspirators
split the money they found between them and left the church with it. The
juvenile court found that A.H.’s testimony was credible, a finding that we will
not disturb. See Commonwealth v. Scott, 146 A.3d 775, 778 (Pa. Super.
2016) (“We will not disturb the factfinder’s credibility findings, which are
supported by the evidence of record.”).
Further, although the court found that G.B.’s testimony lacked credibility
where he appeared to be minimizing his involvement in the crime, our review
confirms that his testimony corroborated A.H.’s on the salient facts. He placed
D.S. at the scene and stated that the three of them accessed the church
through the broken window and stole money.
Accordingly, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the
Commonwealth as verdict winner and contrary to D.S.’s claim, the record did
contain sufficient evidence to support his adjudication. Moreover, his specific
allegations, that there were neither items from the church nor an instrument
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of crime discovered in his possession and that the only testimony regarding
the theft was conflicting,11 are likewise unavailing. A rock can be an
instrument of crime if it was adapted for a criminal use and “possessed under
circumstances not manifestly appropriate for lawful use.” 18 Pa.C.S. § 907(b).
While D.S. did not actually possess the rock and throw it himself, he is culpable
for the criminal actions of A.H. throwing the rock to break the window in
furtherance of the conspiracy. See Commonwealth v. Wayne, 720 A.2d
456, 463 (Pa. 1998), cert. denied, 528 U.S. 834 (1999) (“All co-conspirators
are responsible for actions undertaken in furtherance of the conspiracy
regardless of their individual knowledge of such actions and regardless of
which member of the conspiracy undertook the action.”).
Furthermore, the fact that he was not found in possession of the stolen
money is not persuasive where the Commonwealth can establish its case by
purely circumstantial evidence. See N.A.D., supra at 1239–40. The
testimony that he took a portion of the stolen money and left the church with
it was sufficient circumstantial evidence of possession under the totality of the
circumstances. See id.; Pettyjohn, supra at 1075. The sufficiency of the
evidence challenge lacks merit.
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11 We will address the conflicting nature of the testimony in D.S.’s weight of
the evidence claim because variances in testimony go to the weight and not
the sufficiency of the evidence. See Commonwealth v. Trinidad, 96 A.3d
1031, 1038 (Pa. Super. 2014).
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B.
D.S. maintains that his adjudication of delinquency was against the
weight of the evidence because the testimony was conflicting and inconsistent,
the Commonwealth did not establish there was an agreement to enter the
property,12 and D.S. had an alibi witness for the time that the incident
occurred. (See D.S.’s Brief, at 11-13).13
Relief on a weight of the evidence claim is reserved for
extraordinary circumstances, when the [] verdict is so contrary to
the evidence as to shock one’s sense of justice and the award of
a new trial is imperative so that right may be given another
opportunity to prevail.
Commonwealth v. Sanchez, 36 A.3d 24, 27 (Pa. 2011) (citations and
quotation marks omitted). “It is within the province of the fact-finder to
determine the weight to be accorded to each witness’s testimony and to
believe all, part, or none of the evidence.” Commonwealth v. Williams,
176 A.3d 298, 306 (Pa. Super. 2017). “A new trial should not be granted
because of a mere conflict in the testimony or because [the reviewing court]
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12 As observed in Section IIA, the Commonwealth proved the existence of a
conspiracy by circumstantial evidence, which it was authorized to do.
13 “[A]ppellate review [of a weight of the evidence claim] is limited to whether
the trial judge’s discretion was properly exercised, and relief will only be
granted where the facts and inferences of record disclose a palpable abuse of
discretion. … Indeed, it is oft-stated that the trial court’s denial of a motion
for a new trial based on a weight of the evidence claim is the least assailable
of its rulings.” Commonwealth v. Ratushny, 17 A.3d 1269, 1272 (Pa.
Super. 2011) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).
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on the same facts would have arrived at a different conclusion.”
Commonwealth v. Widmer, 744 A.2d 745, 752 (Pa. 2000) (citation
omitted).
D.S.’s arguments that the testimony was inconsistent and that he had
an alibi witness go to credibility and the weight to be afforded their testimony,
which was within the province of the factfinder. See Widmer, supra at 752;
Williams, supra at 306. Here, the court expressly acknowledged the
conflicting nature of the co-conspirators’ testimony. It questioned the
credibility of G.B.’s testimony because he appeared to be attempting to
minimize his own involvement in the conspiracy. It found that A.H. testified
credibly, specifically because he implicated himself when he admitted that he
broke the window by throwing the rock and that he tore the money bag open
with the knife. The court found that D.S.’s alibi witness, although she testified
credibly, was unable to provide with sufficient certainty that D.S. was at her
home at the time of the incident.14 Similarly, although G.B. testified that D.S.
was briefly at a second burglary, which defense counsel claimed was belied by
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14 D.S. claims that the court “improperly shifted the burden regarding an alibi
witness to the juvenile through [its] questioning of the witness.” (D.S.’s Brief,
at 9). While a court has a duty to maintain impartiality, the cases cited by
D.S. involved jury trials where a judge’s questioning of a witness and
perceived bias might affect their decision. (See D.S.’s Brief, at 10). This case
involved no such concerns where it involved a waiver trial. Moreover, our
review of the record reveals that the court, as factfinder, merely was
questioning the proffered alibi in an attempt to fully understand her testimony.
We discern no abuse of discretion.
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a video recording, how this inconsistency affected the weight to be afforded
the testimony as a whole was within the province of the court, which had the
authority to believe all, some or none of the testimony. In reviewing the
record, we conclude that the juvenile court properly exercised its discretion in
denying D.S. a new trial where the verdict is not so contrary to the evidence
to be shocking to the conscience. See Sanchez, supra at 27; Ratushny, 17
A.3d 1269, 1272. This claim fails.
C.
D.S. maintains that even if the evidence was sufficient to support the
court’s finding that he committed the crimes, it erred in finding that he
required treatment, supervision or rehabilitation because he was already
compliant with supervisory probation and participating in independent living
services for a previous adjudication when he committed the crimes herein and
at the time of his adjudicatory and dispositional hearings. (See D.S.’s Brief,
at 8-9). This claim does not merit relief.15
D.S.’s burglary adjudication was graded as a felony of the second
degree, which alone was sufficient to sustain a finding that he was in need of
treatment, supervision or rehabilitation, and he failed to meet his burden to
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15 D.S. provides no legal authority in support of his argument that a court
cannot find a juvenile in need of treatment, supervision or rehabilitation after
the Commonwealth proves he committed certain crimes, merely because he
is serving a term of probation for a prior adjudication. See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a),
(b).
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provide sufficient evidence to the contrary to refute the application of this
presumption. See 42 Pa.C.S. § 6341(b). Further, after the juvenile court
determined that the Commonwealth established that D.S. committed the
alleged acts of burglary and related crimes beyond a reasonable doubt, it
received testimony and evidence to determine if he needed supervision,
rehabilitation or treatment.
Specifically, P.O. Robbins testified to her recommendation that he be
sentenced to probation and treatment consistent with what he was receiving
on his prior adjudication for theft of the firearm. Additionally, the YLS report
from July 2020 reflected at that time that D.S. had two or more failures to
comply with the probation imposed in his prior adjudication. (See N.T.
Hearing, 1/27/21, at 3, 5-6). Based on the foregoing, particularly where D.S.
was on supervision when this incident occurred, his prior adjudication involved
a crimen falsi and the fact that there was forcible entry into a house of worship,
the court found that he required further treatment, supervision and
rehabilitation and adjudicated him delinquent.
We conclude that the juvenile court came to a reasoned conclusion
where the evidence of record demonstrated that he committed the alleged
criminal acts and that he required treatment, supervision or rehabilitation.
C.B., supra at 682; 42 Pa.C.S. § 6341(b). Therefore, the court did not
manifestly abuse its discretion in finding that the evidence was sufficient to
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adjudicate D.S. delinquent. See C.B., supra at 681; N.A.D., 205 A.3d 1237;
Pettyjohn, 64 A.3d 1072, 1075. We affirm the dispositional order.
Dispositional order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/09/2021
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