Opinion
No. 2 CA-JV 2016-0140
10-26-2016
COUNSEL Steven R. Sonenberg, Pima County Public Defender By Susan C. L. Kelly, Assistant Public Defender, Tucson Counsel for Minor
THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY APPLICABLE RULES.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
See Ariz. R. Sup. Ct. 111(c)(1); Ariz. R. Civ. App. P. 28(a)(1), (f); Ariz. R. P. Juv. Ct. 103(G). Appeal from the superior Court in Pima County
No. JV14615503
The Honorable K.C. Stanford, Judge
AFFIRMED
COUNSEL Steven R. Sonenberg, Pima County Public Defender
By Susan C. L. Kelly, Assistant Public Defender, Tucson
Counsel for Minor
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Chief Judge Eckerstrom authored the decision of the Court, in which Presiding Judge Vásquez and Judge Miller concurred. ECKERSTROM, Chief Judge:
¶1 Appellant Z.M. admitted to possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts each of third-degree burglary and organized retail theft, and violating the conditions of his probation by leaving his court-ordered placement without permission. The juvenile court adjudicated Z.M. delinquent, found him to be in violation of his probation, and ordered him committed to the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) for a period not to exceed his eighteenth birthday. Counsel has filed a brief pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), State v. Leon, 104 Ariz. 297, 451 P.2d 878 (1969), and State v. Clark, 196 Ariz. 530, 2 P.3d 89 (App. 1999). See In re Maricopa Cty. Juv. Action No. JV-117258, 163 Ariz. 484, 486-87, 788 P.2d 1235, 1237-38 (App. 1989) (juveniles adjudicated delinquent have constitutional right to Anders appeal). Counsel states that, based on her review, there "is not a meritorious issue which can be argued in a formal appellate brief," and asks us to search the record for fundamental error.
Z.M. will turn eighteen in November 2016.
To the extent counsel raises as a potentially "arguable issue" whether the juvenile court abused its discretion by revoking Z.M.'s probation and committing him to ADJC, the record does not support such a claim and counsel further concedes it is not "meritorious." --------
¶2 The record supports the juvenile court's findings that Z.M.'s admissions were knowing, voluntary, and intelligent and that he provided an adequate factual basis to support them. See A.R.S. §§ 13-1506(A)(1), 13-1819(A)(2), 13-3415(A), (F)(2)(l)(i). Specifically, Z.M. admitted that in February 2016 he left his court-ordered placement without permission, in violation of his probation, and at various times in April 2016 he possessed a pipe, and committed burglary of and removed merchandise from a retail establishment without paying for the merchandise. And the record establishes the court appropriately exercised its discretion in ordering Z.M. committed to ADJC. See A.R.S. § 8-341(A)(1)(e); In re John G., 191 Ariz. 205, ¶ 8, 953 P.2d 1258, 1260 (App. 1998) ("We will not disturb a juvenile court's disposition order absent an abuse of discretion.").
¶3 Accordingly, we affirm the juvenile court's adjudication, revocation of probation, and disposition.