In re Ronald C.
Opinion of the Court
— Order unanimously reversed, on the law and facts, and petition dismissed, without costs. Memorandum: This is an appeal from an order of Family Court adjudicating the respondent a juvenile delinquent based upon a finding that he committed acts which, if done by an adult, would constitute the crime of criminal mischief in the fourth degree (Penal Law, § 145.00, subd 1) and possession of burglar’s tools (Penal Law, § 140.35). Respondent, 13 years of age, along with three other youths, was observed playing a Pac-Man video game in a pizzeria. The owner of the store subsequently discovered that the change door of the video machine was broken. When respondent was questioned about whether he caused the damage to the machine, he and his friends ran down the street and were thereafter arrested by a juvenile-aid police officer. The officer arrested the four boys and transported them to the police station. While respondent was being detained and interrogated, an officer discovered two screwdrivers and a bag of vegetable matter on the floor of the patrol car in which the boys were transported to the police station. An officer came into the room where respondent was being held and dropped the items on a desk directly in front of the respondent. Respondent said “the screwdrivers are mine, but the other isn’t.” The statement was admitted into evidence at respondent’s fact-finding hearing over objection by his counsel that it was the product of an unlawful detention not based on probable cause, and secured while respondent was being interrogated in the absence of his parents and without having been advised of his Miranda rights.
The statement should not have been admitted. Juveniles are entitled to the same due process of law as adults (see Matter of Gregory W., 19 NY2d 55, 61). The police may not seize a suspect, transport him to a police station and detain him for custodial
Moreover, a review of the record shows that the proof at trial was insufficient to support either the charge of possession of burglar’s tools or criminal mischief. (Appeal from order of Erie County Family Court, Sedita, J. —juvenile delinquency.) Present — Dillon, P. J., Boomer, Green, O’Donnell and Schnepp, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.