Woodberry v. State
Woodberry v. State
Opinion
This is an appeal by fifteen-year-old Anthony Woodberry from the order of the Juvenile Court of Montgomery County adjudging him delinquent on two charges of breaking and entering a vehicle and one related charge of theft of property in the third degree.
Now, Woodberry argues that the consolidation of the four petitions was improper under Rule 15.4 (b), A.R.Cr.P.Temp., because the consolidation was not ordered no later than seven days prior to trial as required by Rule 15.4 (b). See Ex parteGlanton,
In Ex parte Vaughn,
Ex parte Vaughn, supra."Rule 1 of the Alabama Rules of Juvenile Procedure provides:
"`These rules govern the procedure for all matters in the juvenile court. If no procedure is specifically provided in these rules or by statute, the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure shall be applicable to the extent not inconsistent herewith [Because juvenile jurisdiction may be exercised by district courts as well as circuit courts, the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure referred to in (the juvenile rule) contemplates (the civil rules) as modified for applicability in the district courts where juvenile jurisdiction is exercised at the district court level. Committee Comments to Rule 1, Ala.R.Juv.P.].'
"The issue with which we are concerned is not dealt with specifically in the juvenile rules or by statute [Rule 25, Ala.R.Juv.P., in pertinent part, provides as follows: `If the allegations of the petition are denied, the court shall direct that testimony of witnesses be taken. The conduct of the hearing shall be consistent with legal and due process requirements and shall proceed generally in a manner similar to the trial of a civil action before the court sitting without a jury, except that the child may not be compelled to be a witness. . . .' (Emphasis added.)]. We therefore turn to the Rules of Civil Procedure. Because hearings in the juvenile court are conducted by the court without a jury (see § 12-15-65 (a), Code 1975), Rule 52 [findings by the court] is applicable."
See also Hicks v. Cornelius,
The consolidation of juvenile defendants or cases for trial is not dealt with specifically in the juvenile rules or by statute. Therefore, consolidation in juvenile court is governed by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 42 (a), A.R.C.P., provides:
"When actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all the matters in issue in the actions; it may order all the actions consolidated; and it may make such orders concerning proceedings therein as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay."
"[A] trial court has broad discretion as to whether it will allow consolidation." Bateh v. Brown,
Here, all four offenses occurred on the same afternoon between 1:00 and 6:00 in the Eastdale Mall parking lot. Even had Woodberry been tried separately on each petition, evidence of the charges involved in all four petitions would have been admissible in his trial on any one petition to show a single plan, design, scheme, or system and to show criminal intent. C. Gamble, McElroy's Alabama Evidence § 70.01 (5) (3rd ed. 1977). Consequently, Woodberry was *Page 589
not unduly and unfairly prejudiced by the consolidation.Averette v. State,
In Burttram v. State,
"At common law, the testimony of an accomplice, although entirely without corroboration, will, if otherwise sufficient, support a verdict and judgment of conviction. . . . Such is also the rule in the federal courts." Alexander v. State,
We are unwilling to impose the requirement of corroboration in a delinquency adjudication in view of the fact that such additional proof is neither required by statute nor by rule of the Supreme Court.
The Sheriff of Coosa County identified Woodberry as "looking like" the man he saw getting out of the Audi and get into an orange Vega. His testimony that he "thought" he could make a correct identification went to the weight but not the admissibility of his testimony. Little v. State,
In a statement to the police, Woodberry admitted being present in the Vega and acknowledged witnessing the break-ins which he alleged were committed by two of his three companions. His statement corroborated some of the details of the accomplice's testimony. Because we find that the corroboration requirement does not apply to delinquency adjudications, we need not determine whether the testimony of the accomplice was sufficiently corroborated.
Our review convinces us that Woodberry's adjudication of delinquency is supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt based on competent, material, and relevant evidence as required by § 12-15-65 (d). The credibility of witnesses and the truthfulness of testimony is for the trier of fact. Willcutt v.State,
Woodberry's adjudication of delinquency is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
All Judges concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Anthony Woodberry v. State.
- Cited By
- 33 cases
- Status
- Published