in the Matter of J. A. ( 2004 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-04-00091-CV
In the Matter of J. A.
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. J-23,857, HONORABLE ALLISON BENESCH, JUDGE PRESIDING
MEMORANDUM OPINION
The district court found beyond a reasonable doubt that J. A. committed criminal
trespass and adjudicated him delinquent. The court placed him on probation in the custody of his
mother for six months.
J. A. stipulated at trial that he intentionally and knowingly entered the premises of
a high school with notice that such entry was forbidden and without the permission of the principal,
who is the owner of the school for this purpose. By his sole issue on appeal, J. A. contends that the
district court lacked jurisdiction over him because he should have been tried under a more specific
statute with a less severe punishment range. Compare Tex. Educ. Code Ann. § 37.107 (West 1996)
(trespass on school grounds, Class C misdemeanor), with Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 30.05 (West 2004-
05) (trespass, Class B misdemeanor). He argues that because the lesser offense is a Class C
misdemeanor and is not within the definition of delinquent conduct, the district court lacked
jurisdiction. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 51.03(a) (West Supp. 2004-05); see also Tex. Const. art.
V, § 19 (justice court has original jurisdiction over offenses punishable by fine only).
This Court has recently concluded in a similar juvenile case that these statutes are not
in pari materia, that the State could charge the juvenile under either statute, and that the district court
had jurisdiction over the allegation of criminal trespass against the juvenile. See In the Matter of
J.M.R., No. 03-03-00749-CV, slip op. at 8, 2004 WL 2357887, at *4 (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 21,
2004, no pet. h.). This appeal is controlled by that decision.
We affirm the judgment of the district court.
__________________________________________
Bea Ann Smith, Justice
Before Chief Justice Law, Justices B. A. Smith and Pemberton
Affirmed
Filed: November 12, 2004
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