S.A. v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any Oct 20 2020, 9:09 am
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Elizabeth A. Bellin Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Elkhart, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Ellen H. Meilaender
Supervising Deputy Attorney
General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
S.A., October 20, 2020
Appellant-Defendant, Court of Appeals Case No.
20A-JV-283
v. Appeal from the Elkhart Circuit
Court Juvenile Division
State of Indiana, The Honorable Michael A.
Appellee-Plaintiff. Christofeno, Judge
The Honorable Deborah Domine,
Magistrate
Trial Court Cause No.
20C01-1802-JD-33
Altice, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] S.A. suffers from serious aggression issues that in large part stem from past
trauma, as well as an apparent lack of adequate support from his mother
(Mother). He was adjudicated a delinquent child for the first time in May 2018,
after having just turned thirteen. Since the instant adjudication, he has
accumulated several additional delinquency adjudications while on probation
and in a variety of placements. After being ejected from his second residential
placement in December 2019 and then being involved in a serious fight at the
juvenile detention center, the juvenile court modified S.A.’s placement and
awarded guardianship to the Indiana Department of Correction (DOC). On
appeal, S.A. contends that the juvenile court abused its discretion by placing
him with the DOC.
[2] We affirm.
Facts & Procedural History
[3] On May 28, 2018, at his initial hearing, S.A. admitted to being a delinquent
child for having committed acts that would constitute the criminal offense of
intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor, if committed by an adult. Specifically,
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S.A. admitted that, on October 10, 2017, he threatened a peer at school that he
had three knives in his bag and was not afraid to use them. 1
[4] A representative from his then-current school testified that S.A. had been
enrolled for five weeks and in that time had displayed “intense physical and
verbal aggression, a lot of intimidation towards staff and students.” Transcript
at 11. He had already been suspended at least three times from the school “for
some serious physical fighting.” Id. Most recently, S.A. had held two pencils
between his knuckles and held them to a student’s neck, and he had threatened
to stab another student.
[5] Mother testified that she knew her son needed help and had for some time. She
requested intensive, inpatient treatment for him due to his ongoing behavior,
which she feared might escalate and eventually result in his death or
incarceration. S.A. had a history of past treatment and placements, which are
not detailed in the record.
[6] At the dispositional hearing on June 20, 2018, the juvenile court adopted the
recommendations of the probation department. Specifically, the court ordered
individual and family therapy, six months of supervised probation, parent
services for Mother, and immediate placement in Bashor Emergency Shelter
Care (Bashor Shelter) for twenty days. The twenty-day hold at Bashor Shelter
1
At this hearing, S.A. also admitted under another cause number that he committed acts on October 12,
2017, against Mother, that would constitute domestic battery if committed by an adult.
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was intended to stabilize S.A. and start treatment before sending him back
home with Mother.
[7] On July 9, 2018, S.A. was released to Mother’s care with supportive family
therapy. Mother expressed reservations about his return home but agreed to
give it a try at the urging of the court and others.
[8] At a hearing on September 17, 2018, the juvenile court determined that S.A.
had violated probation by being suspended from school three times and by
being disruptive at home. The court ordered S.A. to attend Keys Academy on
days that he was suspended from school and, in addition to therapy, receive
case management services through Keys Counseling. Mother continued to
request residential treatment for S.A., but the court noted S.A. was thirteen
years old and services had only just begun and needed to be given a chance.
[9] On October 23, 2018, the juvenile court held a hearing regarding additional
violations of probation. Carmen Macon, S.A.’s probation officer throughout
this case, testified that the day after the last hearing, S.A. was involved in a fight
and suspended from school for five days. Thereafter, police were called to the
family’s home. He was taken by police, on September 19, 2018, to a psychiatric
hospital after he made suicidal threats and refused to go inside his home. He
was placed on medication and released to Bashor Shelter a week later, where he
remained at the time of the hearing. The trial court adopted Macon’s
recommendations, which included formal probation, a continued stay at Bashor
Shelter, medical management, appointment of a CASA, and a parenting
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assessment for Mother. In addition to foster placement, the trial court directed
Macon to explore possible kinship placements. The court also warned Mother
that she needed to stop being an obstacle to S.A.’s treatment.
[10] S.A.’s aggressive behaviors continued to escalate at Bashor Shelter, and he was
brought before the juvenile court again on November 5, 2018. Macon reported
that S.A. had punched and kicked a male staff member while being put in
restraints and, the next day, threw a chair at a female peer and later charged at
a staff member. Concerned for the safety of staff and peers, Macon testified
that S.A. could no longer remain in Bashor Shelter and needed to be transferred
to a secure facility, Bashor Children’s Home in the Faith Unit (Faith Unit).
The trial court found S.A. in violation of his probation and ordered him to be
placed in the Faith Unit.
[11] After a few incidents in December 2018, S.A. did well in the Faith Unit and
made significant progress for several months. Mother was also more actively
participating during this time. At a hearing on May 15, 2019, Macon reported
that S.A. had been approved to step down to the Geyer Cottage, which the
court ordered. Other services, such as therapy, also continued to be ordered.
[12] In July 2019, S.A. began to have incidents requiring the use of restraints. Then,
on August 19, 2019, he ran away with other peers from the Geyer Cottage and
was recovered by local police three days later. S.A. admitted to using
marijuana and having sexual intercourse multiple times with one of the other
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runaways. He tested positive for marijuana upon his return. Thereafter, S.A.
caused three separate fights at the Geyer Cottage.
[13] At a hearing on September 11, 2019, the juvenile court found S.A. in violation
of his probation. The court also held an initial hearing for a new juvenile
delinquency petition involving battery, which S.A. admitted.
[14] The State filed an additional delinquency petition against S.A. on October 10,
2019. This resulted from S.A. running away from Geyer Cottage again and,
upon being apprehended by police, battering two officers and causing them
bodily injury. Bashor would not take S.A. back, so he was sent to the juvenile
detention center.
[15] At a hearing on October 11, Macon noted the extreme difficulty in finding
another placement for S.A. given his erratic and violent behavior and his
tendency to run away. When Macon recommended placement in the DOC, the
court inquired: “My perception of community safety is we … should help a
child get better, not worse, because community safety with a child is long term,
long term vision. How are we going to help this child by placing him in the
Indiana Department of Corrections?” Id. at 137. The court continued: “And is
it fair to him to be placed in a penal facility when it’s Mom not showing up that
caused him to be in this position?” Id. at 138. Macon tearfully responded:
I believe it may make him worse to be honest. I mean, he has no
support, I’m sorry, and I worked with him for over a year and
this is one of the hardest cases…. [H]e has no support, so, to send
him to DOC is the only decision. I don’t think Mom’s going to
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participate in anything. I’m scared. I just don’t think he has the
support right now.
Id. CASA, in turn, acknowledged the serious charges S.A. had accrued since
his initial adjudication, but CASA could not recommend the DOC at the time,
noting that S.A. might come out worse and that the DOC would prevent
barriers to S.A. and Mother’s reunification. Ultimately, the court ordered S.A.
to stay in the juvenile detention center, with continued individual and family
therapy, while Macon made additional attempts to find another residential
placement for him.
[16] On October 29, 2019, S.A. was placed at Rite of Passage (ROP), a residential
treatment facility for youth. Mother did not participate in S.A.’s treatment, and
she did not visit him during this placement. On December 2, 2019, S.A. was
removed from ROP and placed in the juvenile detention center after spitting at
and assaulting ROP staff members. The following week, S.A. admitted to new
juvenile delinquency allegations based on battery by bodily waste and was then
returned to ROP on a zero-tolerance policy, which he quickly violated. On
December 12, 2019, ROP requested S.A.’s removal from the program.
[17] At a hearing on December 19, 2019, the juvenile court found S.A. in violation
of probation and ordered him placed in the juvenile detention center while the
probation department developed further recommendations. 2 S.A.’s therapist
2
Mother did not appear at this hearing, and the court issued a body attachment for her. On January 7,
2020, the court found her in contempt for failing to participate in S.A.’s treatment at ROP. The court noted
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from ROP opined that due to his serious behavioral issues and therapeutic
needs, S.A. required placement in a more secure facility such as the DOC.
[18] On January 6, 2020, while still detained in the juvenile detention center, S.A.
“threw the first punch” in a fight with another juvenile. Id. at 188. The ensuing
fight endangered other juveniles and staff and, according to the director of the
center, “it was the worst she’[d] seen in 30 years[.]” Id. at 191.
[19] A hearing followed on January 8, 2020, to address S.A.’s placement. Based on
S.A.’s long history in this case of failed placements and his “extremely
worrisome” physical aggression, Macon recommended placement with the
DOC to allow him to continue treatment in a secure setting. Id. at 188. Macon
detailed the programs that would be available to treat S.A. through the DOC.
CASA did not object to S.A. being made a ward of the DOC. Further, when
the court asked S.A. if there was any reason he should not be placed in the
DOC, S.A. responded, “To be honest, no.” Id. at 193. Similarly, S.A.’s
counsel stated, “This has been really tough, but [S.A.] himself said probably
that’s where he needs to be at this point. Nothing more.” Id. at 194.
[20] Upon making S.A. a ward of the DOC, the juvenile court explained to S.A. at
the hearing:
There is no doubt that you have a lot of needs. There are a lot of
reasons that you are in the situation that you are in that need to
that Mother had traumatized S.A. over and over and “the window of opportunity [for her to help S.A.] seems
to have closed.” Id. at 183.
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be addressed, but in order to address those reasons effectively and
keep the community safe, there has to be buy in on your part.
Extensive services have been offered in the community. You’ve
been placed in two separate residential placements and both
times the placement has asked that you be removed because of
violence. There was allegedly a violent incident in JDC. That
violence demands that you be in a more restrictive placement in
order to keep you safe and others safe from you. The only more
restrictive option is the [DOC].
Id. at 194-95. S.A. now appeals.
Discussion & Decision
[21] In addressing S.A.’s claim that the juvenile court abused its discretion in
granting wardship of him to the DOC, we observe that the choice of the specific
disposition of a juvenile adjudicated a delinquent child will only be reversed if
the juvenile court abuses its discretion. M.C. v. State, 134 N.E.3d 453, 458 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2019), trans. denied.
The juvenile court’s discretion is subject to the statutory
considerations of the welfare of the child, the safety of the
community, and the policy of favoring the least harsh
disposition. An abuse of discretion occurs when the juvenile
court’s action is clearly erroneous and against the logic and effect
of the facts and circumstances before the court or the reasonable,
probable, and actual inferences that can be drawn therefrom.
The juvenile court is accorded wide latitude and great flexibility
in its dealings with juveniles.
Id. (citations omitted).
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[22] Ind. Code § 31-37-18-6 provides:
If consistent with the safety of the community and the best
interest of the child, the juvenile court shall enter a dispositional
decree that:
(1) is:
(A) in the least restrictive (most family like) and most
appropriate setting available; and
(B) close to the parents’ home, consistent with the best
interest and special needs of the child;
(2) least interferes with family autonomy;
(3) is least disruptive of family life;
(4) imposes the least restraint on the freedom of the child and the
child’s parent, guardian, or custodian; and
(5) provides a reasonable opportunity for participation by the
child’s parent, guardian, or custodian.
“Although the statute requires the juvenile court to select the least restrictive
placement, it allows for a more restrictive placement under certain
circumstances.” M.C., 134 N.E.3d at 459. That is, the placement option
selected must be consistent with the safety of the community and the best
interest of the child. Id.; R.H. v. State, 937 N.E.2d 386, 386-87 (Ind. Ct. App.
2010) (“Although juvenile courts have a variety of placement options …, [the
statute] imposes one important restriction, namely, that a juvenile court select
the least restrictive placement that is ‘consistent with the safety of the
community and the best interest of the child.’”). “Thus, the statute recognizes
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that in certain situations the best interest of the child is better served by a more
restrictive placement because ‘commitment to a public institution is in the best
interest of the juvenile and society.’” M.C., 134 N.E.3d at 459 (quoting D.S. v.
State, 829 N.E.2d 1081, 1085 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005)).
[23] Here, S.A. argues that his rehabilitation – which is always the goal in juvenile
delinquency cases 3 – was cut short when the juvenile court decided to send him
to the DOC. Additionally, he claims that the juvenile court failed to consider
alternative, less-restrictive placements and ignored testimony that placement in
the DOC would not be in his best interests. Finally, S.A. points to Mother’s
role in his behavior issues.
[24] This is a terribly sad case, as recognized throughout the hearings stretching back
to May 2018 when S.A. was barely thirteen years old. S.A. has suffered trauma
and has lacked Mother’s support, which he so desperately needs. The juvenile
court, counsel, CASA, probation, and service providers have made great efforts
to help remedy his behaviors and encourage (even compel) Mother’s
involvement in his rehabilitation. The hard fact, however, is that Mother may
continue to fail S.A., but he must find a way to push on and overcome his anger
and behavioral issues.
3
“The nature of the juvenile process is rehabilitation and aid to the juvenile to direct his behavior so that he
will not later become a criminal.” Jordan v. State, 512 N.E.2d 407, 408 (Ind. 1987).
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[25] In the quest for treatment and rehabilitation, the State has provided S.A. with a
plethora of services and placements short of the DOC. Initially, after a brief
stay at Bashor Shelter in May 2018, he was placed at home with Mother and
received individual and family therapy while on probation. His violent and
disruptive behaviors at school and home eventually resulted in him being
placed back at Bashor Shelter in September 2018 and then into residential
treatment in the Faith Unit due to escalating violence toward staff and peers.
After progress during the first half of 2019, S.A.’s delinquent behavior once
again ramped up, with new adjudications, attacks on staff and peers at the Faith
Unit, running away twice, using drugs and having sexual intercourse with a
peer, and battering police officers. S.A.’s behavior resulted in him being kicked
out of the Faith Unit in October 2019 and placed in the juvenile detention
center. Despite this, the court, probation, and CASA continued to seek a less
restrictive placement for S.A. outside of the DOC.
[26] S.A. received a second chance at residential placement when he was accepted
into ROP, but in just over a month, ROP requested his removal from the
program. Then in January 2020, while waiting in the juvenile detention center
as probation investigated possible placements, S.A. was involved in a massive
fight that put the safety of peers and staff at risk.
[27] At the last hearing on January 8, 2020, Macon testified that due to S.A.’s
“extremely worrisome” physical aggression and his unsuccessful completion of
two residential treatment programs, she recommended that he be placed with
the DOC where he could continue to receive treatment in a secure setting.
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Transcript at 188. Neither CASA nor S.A. objected at this time to such
placement, essentially accepting that that was where he needed to be.
[28] Under the circumstances, we cannot say that the juvenile court abused its
discretion when it determined that S.A.’s ongoing violent behavior necessitated
his placement with the DOC in order to keep S.A. and the community safe. See
M.C., 134 N.E.3d at 459 (affirming commitment to the DOC where “many less
restrictive rehabilitative efforts” failed and juvenile continued to commit
additional offenses, use marijuana, and be suspended from school after
involvement with the juvenile justice system); R.H., 937 N.E.2d at 387 (“R.H.’s
placement with the DOC is justified by the two instant adjudications, his
behavior while in detention and on electronic monitoring, his pattern of
inappropriate sexual conduct, and his family’s inability or refusal to address his
inappropriate sexual conduct[.]”).
[29] Judgment affirmed.
Riley, J. and May, J., concur.
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