In Re S.J., Unpublished Decision (9-25-2003)
In Re S.J., Unpublished Decision (9-25-2003)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} On November 20, 2002 the appellant, State of Ohio, filed a notice of appeal to this court regarding the Juvenile Court's decision in a mandatory bind-over hearing held October 16, 17 and 18, 2001.
{¶ 3} The State originally alleged that the appellee, the child who is the subject of the complaint, was a delinquent child because she purposely caused the death of another, an act which would constitute the crime of murder under R.C.
{¶ 4} After hearing, the trial judge found that the State failed to show probable cause that the appellee committed murder under either applicable statute. The court did find, however, that there was probable cause that the appellee committed voluntary manslaughter, R.C.
{¶ 5} At the amenability hearing, held November 20, 2001, the prosecution withdrew its motion for discretionary bind-over and requested a continuance. The court denied that request based on the amount of time the child had been in the custody of the Juvenile Detention Center. The court proceeded with adjudication and the child admitted to the charges, as amended. The court then moved on to the dispositional hearing. The child was adjudicated delinquent and remanded to the custody of the Ohio Department of Youth Services for not less than three years.
{¶ 6} In this case, the prosecution was unprepared to proceed with the amenability hearing on November 20, 2002. Instead, on that day, the child made known to the court her desire to admit to the amended charge of voluntary manslaughter. The Juvenile Court is vested with broad discretion in the adjudication of delinquency proceedings, including the granting or denial of a motion for continuance. State v. Burke (1995),
{¶ 7} More importantly, the double jeopardy clause of the U.S. Constitution applies to delinquency cases. Illinois v. Vitale (1980),
{¶ 8} Therefore, we find that the appellant's Motion for Leave to Appeal was improvidently granted by this court and the appellee's Motion to Dismiss Appeal is well taken.
Appeal Dismissed.
DIANE KARPINSKI, J., AND JOHN T. PATTON*, J., CONCUR.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.