State of WV v. F., Gary , Infant
Annotate this Case
January 1993 Term
__________
No. 21412
__________
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,
Plaintiff Below, Appellee,
v.
GARY F., INFANT;
DEBBIE F., MOTHER,
Defendants Below,
GARY F.,
Defendant Below, Appellant
_________________________________________________
Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jefferson County
Honorable Thomas W. Steptoe, Jr., Circuit Judge
Civil Action No. 92-J-2
REVERSED AND REMANDED
_________________________________________________
Submitted: January 26, 1993
Filed: June 28, 1993
Larry Bonham
Assistant Attorney General
Charleston, West Virginia
Counsel for Appellee
Carolyn Sue Daniel
Shepherdstown, West Virginia
Counsel for Appellant
CHIEF JUSTICE WORKMAN delivered the Opinion of the Court.
SYLLABUS BY THE COURT
1. The continuing disclosure requirement imposed by Rule 16
of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure applies to
juvenile transfer proceedings in the same manner as it applies to
criminal proceedings.
2. "Our traditional appellate standard for determining
whether the failure to comply with court[-]ordered pretrial
discovery is prejudicial is contained in Syllabus Point 2 of State
v. Grimm, 165 W. Va. 547, 270 S.E.2d 173 (1980), and is applicable
to discovery under Rule 16 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure. It
is summarized: The non-disclosure is prejudicial where the defense
is surprised on a material issue and where the failure to make the
disclosure hampers the preparation and presentation of the
defendant's case." Syl. Pt. 1, State v. Johnson, 179 W. Va. 619,
371 S.E.2d 340 (1988).
3. A juvenile is denied his constitutional right to confront
his accusers when a critical witness, who has not been demonstrated
as unavailable pursuant to the rules of evidence, is permitted to
testify by telephone during a transfer hearing.
4. "'"Before transfer of a juvenile to criminal court, a
juvenile court judge must make a careful, detailed analysis into
the child's mental and physical condition, maturity, emotional
attitude, home or family environment, school experience and other
similar personal factors." W. Va. Code, 49-5-10(d).' Syl. Pt. 4,
State v. C.J.S., 164 W. Va. 473, 263 S.E.2d 899 (1980), overruled
in part on other grounds [in] State v. Petry, 166 W. Va. 153, 273 S.E.2d 346 (1980) and State ex rel. Cook v. Helms, 170 W. Va. 200,
292 S.E.2d 610 (1981)." Syl. Pt. 2, State v. Sonja B., 183 W. Va.
380, 395 S.E.2d 803 (1990).
Workman, Chief Justice:
Appellant Gary F. appeals from an order of the Circuit Court
of Jefferson County entered on June 1, 1992, transferring him from
the court's juvenile jurisdiction to criminal jurisdiction pursuant
to West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(d)(4) (1992)See footnote 1 in connection with
charges of aggravated robbery. Because we conclude that
Appellant's due process rights were violated by allowing a critical
witness to testify by telephone as part of the transfer hearing, we
reverse the decision of the lower court and remand this matter for
further proceedings.
On January 2, 1992, Appellant, then sixteen years old, was
arrested and charged with committing the crimes of aggravated
robbery, burglary, larceny, and battery in Jefferson County, West
Virginia. Following the filing of the State's motion on January
16, 1992, a hearing was held on January 27, 1992, to determine
whether Appellant's case should be transferred to the court's
criminal jurisdiction. The transfer hearing was continued to
permit the psychological evaluation requested by Appellant. Upon
the completion of the psychological report, the circuit court heard
evidence with regard to the issue of transfer on March 24 and 25,
1992. The circuit court transferred Appellant to the court's
criminal jurisdiction by order entered on June 1, 1992, after
finding probable cause to believe that Appellant had committed
aggravated robbery. See W. Va. Code § 49-5-10(d)(4), supra note 1.
Seeking a reversal of the transfer order, Appellant, who is
currently incarcerated at the Eastern Regional Juvenile Detention
Center, initiated this appeal pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(f).See footnote 2
Appellant seeks to reverse the transfer order on four grounds:
(1) the State's failure to disclose a witness; (2) the telephonic
testimony of a State witness; (3) the holding of the transfer
hearing after the statutorily-prescribed seven-day period; and (4)
the trial court's failure to make specific findings regarding
Appellant's maturity, emotional attitude, and home environment.
Addressing these assignments of error in order, we first examine
the alleged error regarding the State's non-disclosure of a
witness.
Appellant complains that the State ignored its duty to
supplement its initial witness list pursuant to Rule 16(c) of the
West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure.See footnote 3 In responding to the
various discovery requests of Appellant, the State provided a list
of witnesses and corresponding statements from those witnesses to
Appellant on January 24, 1992. The State subsequently obtained a
statement from co-defendant Joseph Riggs (hereinafter sometimes
referred to as "Joey" or "Mr. Riggs") on January 28, 1992, but did
not supplement its prior discovery responses to identify Mr. Riggs
as a witness or to produce his statement. The State does not
dispute that it failed to supplement its witness list to include
the name of Joseph Riggs. The State does dispute, however, that it
failed to timely provide Appellant with a copy of Mr. Riggs'
statement based on its tender of the statement to Appellant at the
beginning of the transfer hearing on March 24, 1992.
The State's response to Appellant's contentions is two-fold: (1) The Rules of Criminal Procedure are inapplicable; and (2) Mr. Riggs' testimony had no prejudicial effect on Appellant's case. As to the applicability of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure to juvenile proceedings, Rule 54 of those rules states that: "Except as expressly provided within these rules, they do not apply to proceedings under West Virginia Code, Chapter 49, Article 5, Section 1, et seq.--juvenile delinquency--so far as they are inconsistent with that statute." W. Va. R. Crim. P. 54(b)(3).
The State reasons that such an inconsistency is presented by the
language of Rule 16(a)(1)(E) of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal
Procedure which requires that "the state shall furnish to the
defendant a written list of names and addresses of all state
witnesses whom the attorney for the state intends to call in the
presentation of the case in chief. . . ." W. Va. R. Crim. P.
16(a)(1)(E) (emphasis supplied). According to the State, the "case
in chief" language contained in Rule 16(a)(1)(E) necessarily limits
the rule's applicability to an actual criminal trial as contrasted
to a juvenile transfer hearing. Finding no logical reason to so
limit the application of Rule 16(a)(1)(E) of the West Virginia
Rules of Criminal Procedure, we reject the State's argument that
Rule 16(a)(1)(E) presents the type of inconsistency referenced by
Rule 54(b)(3). See W. Va. R. Crim. P. 54(b)(3). Accordingly, we
find that the continuing disclosure requirement imposed by Rule 16
of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure applies to
juvenile transfer proceedings in the same manner as it applies to
criminal proceedings. See W. Va. R. Crim. P. 16(c), supra note 3.
The State argues that its late disclosure of Mr. Riggs as a
witness does not amount to reversible error because it had no
prejudicial effect on Appellant's case. This Court first announced
the standard for determining when non-compliance with a discovery
request constitutes reversible error in syllabus point two of State
v. Grimm, 165 W. Va. 547, 270 S.E.2d 173 (1980):
When a trial court grants a pre-trial
discovery motion requiring the prosecution to
disclose evidence in its possession, non-disclosure by the prosecution is fatal to its
case where such non-disclosure is prejudicial.
The non-disclosure is prejudicial where the
defense is surprised on a material issue and
where the failure to make the disclosure
hampers the preparation and presentation of
the defendant's case.
Id. at 547, 270 S.E.2d at 174.See footnote 4 We elaborated on this standard in
State v. Miller, 178 W. Va. 618, 363 S.E.2d 504 (1987), by
explaining that "[t]he threshold inquiry is to 'take into account
the reasons why disclosure was not made, the extent of the
prejudice, if any, to the opposing party, the feasibility of
rectifying that prejudice by a continuance [or recess if the trial
has begun], and any other relevant circumstances.'" Id. at 625,
363 S.E.2d at 511 (quoting 2 Charles A. Wright, Federal Practice
and Procedure § 260 (1982) and footnote omitted). In State v.
Johnson, 179 W. Va. 619, 371 S.E.2d 340 (1988), this Court modified
syllabus point two of Grimm, by combining it with syllabus point 4
of Miller:
Our traditional appellate standard for
determining whether the failure to comply with
court[-]ordered pretrial discovery is
prejudicial is contained in Syllabus Point 2
of State v. Grimm, 165 W. Va. 547, 270 S.E.2d 173 (1980), and is applicable to discovery
under Rule 16 of the Rules of Criminal
Procedure. It is summarized: The non-disclosure is prejudicial where the defense is
surprised on the material issue and where the
failure to make the disclosure hampers the
preparation and presentation of the
defendant's case.
179 W. Va. at 625, 371 S.E.2d at 346 and Syl. Pt. 1.
Pursuant to the "threshold inquiry" standard established in
Miller, we first examine why the State failed to disclose Mr. Riggs
as a potential witness. See 178 W. Va. at 625, 363 S.E.2d at 511.
When questioned by the court at the transfer hearing regarding the
non-disclosure, the State responded: "Your Honor, at the time we
answered discovery, the statement was not available to our office.
It had not been taken. And at that time we were unaware that Mr.
Riggs would be a witness." Because the trial court did not pursue
this area any further, we have no record on the issue of when the
State decided to call Joey Riggs as a witness. Unless the State
did decide literally at the last moment to call Joey Riggs, it had
an ongoing obligation to supplement its prior witness list.
Because the record was not more fully developed on this issue, any
further analysis by this Court would be based on mere speculation.
Continuing the analysis suggested in Miller, we next examine
the extent of prejudice to Appellant, the feasibility of rectifying
that prejudice, and any other relevant circumstances. Id.
Appellant argues that "allow[ing] [Mr. Riggs] to testify was highly
prejudicial to . . . [him] in that he was not able to adequately
prepare to examine the witness and to meet his testimony." As to
the damage caused by Mr. Riggs' testimony, Appellant states that
Joey Riggs "was the only one to place the Defendant [Appellant] as
a participant in the crime." The State conversely maintains that
"there was testimony of other witnesses placing Appellant at the
scene of the crime." Our review of the record reveals that while
there may have been other witnesses who arguably placed Appellant
at the scene of the crime, Joey Riggs was the only State witness to
both place him at the scene of the crime and provide evidence that
Appellant was in fact a participant in the robbery. Given that
Joey Riggs was a co-defendant combined with the inculpatory nature
of his statement, Mr. Riggs was clearly a critical witness for the
State's case. Accordingly, we conclude that Mr. Riggs' testimony
was necessarily prejudicial to Appellant's case as his testimony
was the only proffered testimony that specifically connected
Appellant to the alleged crimes.
In examining the feasibility of rectifying the prejudice
caused by the non-disclosure of Joey Riggs, it is appropriate to
consider Appellant's failure to request a recess or continuance to
prepare for cross examination of Mr. Riggs. As we noted in Miller,
"[t]he failure to ask for a recess or a continuance to attempt to
meet the late disclosed evidence or request sanctions, such as
excluding or striking the evidence, are . . . factors courts have
considered in determining whether the error would warrant granting
a new trial." 178 W. Va. at 626, 363 S.E.2d at 512 n.20. This
Court considered the State's failure to disclose a witness in
Johnson and remarked:
[S]ome consideration must be given to the
failure of defense counsel to timely object to
the State's calling the witness or to request
a recess or a continuance either before or
after her testimony in order to prepare for
cross-examination or to attempt to secure
rebuttal evidence. Courts in other
jurisdictions have concluded that a trial
court ordinarily does not abuse its discretion
in denying a motion for mistrial based upon a
failure to disclose a witness's name, where
there is no initial objection to the witness's
testimony, no motion to preclude the testimony
nor a request for a recess or continuance to
prepare to meet the matters covered in the
witness's testimony.
179 W. Va. at 626, 371 S.E.2d at 347.
Appellant did not object to the calling of Mr. Riggs as a
witness at the point in the transfer hearing when his name was
initially mentioned and the court first made inquiries regarding
his whereabouts. He did object, however, immediately prior to the
actual calling of Joey Riggs as a witness. The State stresses that
five witnesses testified following the court's suggestion that Mr.
Riggs be permitted to testify by telephone before Appellant voiced
any objection to Mr. Riggs testifying. The Court finds more
significance in the fact that at no point during the hearing did
Appellant seek a recess or a continuance to prepare for cross-examination or rebuttal of Joey Riggs. This failure to act is
important for two reasons. First, it demonstrates an omission to
attempt to remedy the alleged prejudice and second, it raises a
question as to whether Appellant was in fact surprised by the
statement of Joey Riggs. The logical tact employed in the instance
of genuine surprise is to immediately request a recess or
continuance. Because that was not done by Appellant, the
implication is that no surprise had in fact occurred.See footnote 5
The State argues additionally that Appellant should have known
that Joey Riggs would testify since he was a co-defendant who was
already incarcerated for his part in the crime. This Court has on
at least two prior occasions considered the fact that defense
counsel "was aware, or reasonably should have been aware" that a
particular witness would be called on the State's behalf. Johnson,
179 W. Va. at 625, 371 S.E.2d at 346; accord State v. Thompson, 176
W. Va. 300, 305, 342 S.E.2d 268, 273 (1986). Given the absence of
a developed record on this point, however, we can only suggest that
Appellant's counsel probably should have considered the possibility
of Mr. Riggs appearing as the State's witness.
When considering the issue of prejudice in connection with the
relevant attendant circumstances, specifically Appellant's failure
to request a recess or continuance, we conclude that the late
disclosure of Mr. Riggs as a witness was not prejudicial to
Appellant's case. Accordingly, we find no reversible error with
regard to the State's failure to disclose Joey Riggs as a witness
under the facts of this case.
Appellant argues that it was reversible error to permit Mr.
Riggs to testify by telephone during the transfer hearing. The
State responds to this argument by contending that Appellant failed
to object to the telephonic nature of Mr. Riggs' testimony. The
record is admittedly devoid of any objection by Appellant at the
stage of the hearing when the court initially stated that it "would
be satisfied to take his [Mr. Riggs] testimony over the telephone
if it can be arranged." Prior to the actual contacting of Mr.
Riggs via telephone, the court heard and noted the exception of Mr.
Riggs' counsel to the issue of taking Joey Riggs' testimony by
telephone. Mr. Riggs' counsel stated as part of his objection,
that due to the "below average intelligence level" of Joey Riggs,
"my concern is knowing what can possibly happen in cross-examination, without Joey having the benefit of the statement in
front of him, and without the benefit of myself being able to
communicate with him in a confidential basis, I don't think I can
do that on the telephone." The trial court then noted, "it appears
that there is no Fifth Amendment issue" "considering . . . the
posture of his [Mr. Riggs'] case." Immediately thereafter,
Appellant's counsel stated: "I would object to him being called
also. I filed a motion for discovery, I believe the 24 of January,
and I believe this statement was taken after that, but I wasn't
given this statement until today. And he's not listed on the
state's witness list."
Although Appellant did not object specifically to the
telephonic nature of Mr. Riggs' testimony, the record discloses
that he did object to permitting Joey Riggs to testify. Mr. Riggs'
own counsel clearly objected to permitting the testimony to occur
by telephone. Because objections were placed on the record
regarding both the telephonic nature of the testimony and
permitting Mr. Riggs to testify at all, this is not the case where
waiver is automatically imposed for failure to preserve the
objection. Cf. Syl. Pt. 3, State v. Dudley, 178 W. Va. 122, 358 S.E.2d 206 (1987). Mr. Riggs' counsel was certainly the proper
party to raise the initial objection to the telephone testimony
given his appropriate concerns regarding effective representation.
Appellant's counsel should have joined in on the objection once
made. However, because the Sixth Amendment right of an accused to
confront his accusersSee footnote 6 is a fundamental right,See footnote 7 there is a
presumption against a waiver of this right. See Sisk v.
Commonwealth, 3 Va. App. 459, 462, 350 S.E.2d 676, 678 (1986)
(citing Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464 (1938)); Quintana v.
Commonwealth, 224 Va. 127, 144, 295 S.E.2d 643, 651 (1982), cert.
denied, 460 U.S. 1029 (1983). Accordingly, we do not find that
Appellant waived his right to object to the telephonic nature of
Mr. Riggs' testimony.
The State denies that the constitutional right to confront
witnesses is afforded to a juvenile during a transfer hearing.
This Court, in considering the issue of whether a juvenile is
entitled to a jury trial at a transfer hearing, explained that
the transfer statute, W. Va. Code, 49-5-10
(1978), and W. Va. Code, 49-5-1 (1978), which
contains general provisions regarding hearing
rights, as well as State v. McArdle, 156 W.
Va. 409, 194 S.E.2d 174 (1973), provide
substantial due process rights that must be
accorded a juvenile at a transfer hearing,
including: (1) an advance written notice of
the grounds relied upon for transfer; (2) an
opportunity to be heard in person and to
present witnesses and evidence; (3) the right
to confront and cross-examine adverse
witnesses; (4) a neutral hearing officer; (5)
the right to have counsel present including
court-appointed counsel if indigent; (6) a
record of the evidence of the hearing; (7)
findings of fact and conclusions of law upon
which the transfer decision is based; and (8)
a right of direct appeal to this Court.
In re E.H., 166 W. Va. 615, 623-24, 276 S.E.2d 557, 563 (1981)
(emphasis supplied). This Court clearly established in the E.H.
case that the right to confront adverse witnesses is among those
due process rights afforded at a juvenile transfer hearing. Id.
The United States Supreme Court announced in Maryland v.
Craig, 497 U.S. 836 (1990), that "[a] defendant's right to confront
accusatory witnesses may be satisfied absent a physical, face-to-face confrontation at trial only where denial of such confrontation
is necessary to further an important public policy and only where
the reliability of the testimony is otherwise assured." Id. at
850. In this case, the only explanation offered for Joey Riggs'
absence from the transfer hearing was his incarceration at a
juvenile detention facility. Although the State characterized Mr.
Riggs as "unavailable," this representation was not accurate. The
witness was available; he simply was not produced at the hearing.
Since Joey Riggs was not unavailable within the evidentiary meaning
of this term and because there was no pressing public policy
advocating his physical non-appearance at the hearing, Appellant
was clearly denied his right to confront his accuser. See W. Va.
R. Evid. 804; Craig, 497 U.S. at 850.
A serious problem presented by the telephonic testimony of Mr.
Riggs is the fact that the court was denied the opportunity to
observe Mr. Riggs' demeanor in responding to the inquiries asked of
him. One court, in addressing the secondary objective of
confrontation,See footnote 8 noted that "[t]he judge and jury are enabled to
obtain the elusive and incommunicable evidence of a witness's
deportment while testifying, and a certain subjective moral effect
is produced on the witness." Smith v. State, 200 Ark. 1152, 1158,
143 S.W.2d 190, 192 (1940). The court in Smith explained that this
beneficial moral effect "does not arise from the confrontation of
the opponent and the witness." Id. Rather, [i]t is the witness's
presence before the tribunal that secures this secondary advantage
. . . ." Id., 143 S.W.2d at 192-93.
The only cases cited by the State to support its position that
the Sixth Amendment right to confrontation does not attach at a
transfer hearing both concern the admission of reports and
statements constituting hearsay rather than telephonic testimony.
See State ex rel. B.T., 145 N.J. Super. 268, 367 A.2d 887 (1976)
(police statements obtained without Miranda warnings were
admissible at transfer hearing); In re R.G.S., 575 S.W.2d 113 (Tex.
Civ. App. 1978) (juvenile court may consider hearsay diagnostic
study reports at a transfer hearing), cert. denied sub nom. Swink
v. Texas, 445 U.S. 956 (1980). The R.G.S. case turned on the fact
that hearsay evidence is properly admissible at a transfer hearing.
See 575 S.W.2d at 116-18. This Court has similarly recognized that
the rules of evidence pertaining to hearsay are not strictly
applied at transfer hearings based on the non-adjudicatory nature
of those proceedings. See In re E.H., 166 W. Va. at 627, 276 S.E.2d at 565 ("failure to give strict adherence to the rules of
evidence. . . will not be grounds for reversible error at a
transfer hearing").
Given this Court's holding in In re E.H., we obviously
disagree with the conclusion of the B.T. court that the Sixth
Amendment right to confrontation does not apply at a transfer
hearing. See 145 N.J. Super. at 273, 367 A.2d at 889. The B.T.
court specifically premised its conclusion on the belief that
affording due process to a juvenile at a transfer hearing required
only "a fair hearing where he is represented by counsel and has an
opportunity to be heard and present evidence." Id., 367 A.2d at
889-90. This Court reaches a different conclusion regarding what
amounts to due process at a juvenile transfer hearing. See In re
E.H., 166 W. Va. at 623-24, 276 S.E.2d at 563 (identifying eight
"substantial due process rights that must be accorded a juvenile at
a transfer hearing").
This Court has not previously addressed whether telephonic
testimony violates a defendant's Sixth Amendment right to confront
his accusers. Numerous other tribunals have considered the
specific issue of telephonic testimony and its effect on a
defendant's due process rights. In Topping v. People, 793 P.2d 1168 (Col. 1990), the court ruled that the defendant's Sixth
Amendment right to confront witnesses was violated by permitting an
emergency room physician to testify at trial by telephone since the
witness was not unavailable but would have been merely
inconvenienced if made to appear. Id. at 1172. Similarly, in
Gonsoir v. People, 793 P.2d 1165 (Col. 1990), the defendant's Sixth
Amendment right to confront witnesses was held to have been
violated by permitting the prosecution's toxicologist, a critical
witness, to testify at trial by telephone where the witness'
unavailability had not been established. Id. at 1167-68.
Emphasizing that "[t]he right to cross-examine witnesses under oath
. . . is fundamental to due process," the court ruled in Archem,
Inc. v. Simo, 549 N.E.2d 1054 (Ind. App. 1990), cert. dismissed,
111 S. Ct. 944 (1991), that effective cross-examination was
thwarted by admitting a videotaped deposition at trial subject to
the telephonic cross-examination of a party who was not able to
attend the deposition.See footnote 9 549 N.E.2d at 1059-60; see also Aqua
Marine Products, Inc. v. Pathe Computer Control Sys. Corp., 229
N.J. Super. 264, 551 A.2d 195 (1988) (improper admission of
telephonic testimony where no showing of special circumstances, no
basis for evaluating witness' demeanor, and no reason why
continuance could not have been granted); Town of Geneva v. Tills,
129 Wis.2d 167, 384 N.W.2d 701 (1986) (holding that while telephone
testimony may be permitted in circumstances in which the right to
a fair trial will not be jeopardized, telephonic testimony was
improperly admitted because of its adverse effect on cross-examination rights).
Given the "'critically important'" nature of the transfer
hearing,See footnote 10 we hold that a juvenile is denied his constitutional
right to confront his accusers when a critical witness, who has not
been demonstrated as unavailable pursuant to the rules of evidence,
is permitted to testify by telephone during a transfer hearing.
Kent v. United States, 383 U.S. 541, 556 (1966).
As his third assignment of error, Appellant maintains that the
transfer hearing was wrongly held after the seven-day period
prescribed by statute had passed. Although West Virginia Code §
49-5-10(a) provides that a transfer hearing "shall be held within
seven days of the filing of the motion," the statute further
states, "unless it is continued for good cause." W. Va. Code § 49-5-10(a). In this case, the motion was filed on January 16, 1992,
and set for hearing on January 27, 1992. When Appellant raised
this ground at the beginning of the transfer hearing, the trial
court retroactively granted a continuance sua sponte after
explaining on the record that the hearing was scheduled outside of
the statutorily-prescribed seven-day period because of the court's
busy docket. The fact that the State did not formally request a
continuance is not significant, as we explained in State ex rel.
Cooke v. Helms, 170 W. Va. 200, 292 S.E.2d 610 (1981). "[T]hough
the word 'continuance' was not expressly used, the court's
subsequent docketing of the transfer hearing for 31 October
demonstrates that the court in effect granted a continuance." Id.
at 201, 292 S.E.2d at 611 n.1. On this assignment, we find no
reversible error.
Appellant's final assignment of error is that the court
ignored favorable social testimony concerning the Appellant's
maturity, emotional attitude, and home environment. This Court
recognized in syllabus point 2 of State v. Sonja B., 183 W. Va.
380, 395 S.E.2d 803 (1990),
"'Before transfer of a juvenile to criminal
court, a juvenile court judge must make a
careful, detailed analysis into the child's
mental and physical condition, maturity,
emotional attitude, home or family
environment, school experience and other
similar personal factors.' W. Va. Code, 49-5-10(d)." Syl. Pt. 4, State v. C.J.S., 164 W.
Va. 473, 263 S.E.2d 899 (1980), overruled in
part on other grounds [in] State v. Petry, 166
W. Va. 153, 273 S.E.2d 346 (1980) and State ex
rel. Cook v. Helms, 170 W. Va. 200, 292 S.E.2d 610 (1981).
Id. at 381, 395 S.E.2d at 804. Appellant complains that
"[t]estimony concerning these areas was presented to the Court, yet
when the Court made it's [sic] findings of fact, not one of these
areas was mentioned except evidence offered by a psychiatrist."
This case is inapposite to Sonja B., as that case turned on
the trial court's failure to give sufficient consideration to the
factors set out in West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(d).See footnote 11 183 W. Va.
at 384, 395 S.E.2d at 807; accord, State v. Michael S., ___ W. Va.
___, 423 S.E.2d 632 (1992). Our review of the record convinces us
that the circuit court did hear and consider the appropriate social
evidence regarding Appellant.See footnote 12 The findings of the court do not
mention in detail the testimony of each of the witnesses who
offered pertinent social testimony. Because we have never
admonished trial courts to specifically address in their rulings
the testimony of each witness proffering evidence regarding the
factors identified in West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(d), we find no
reversible error on this issue. See supra note 11.
Based on the foregoing reasons, this case is reversed and
remanded to the Circuit Court of Jefferson County for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Reversed and remanded.
Footnote: 1West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(d)(4) permits the court to
"transfer a juvenile proceeding to criminal jurisdiction if there
is probable cause to believe that: A child, sixteen years of age
or over, has committed an offense of violence to the person which
would be a felony if committed by an adult[.]"
Footnote: 2A juvenile has a direct right of appeal to this Court to
challenge a transfer order under West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(f).
Footnote: 3Rule 16(c) of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure
provides that:
Continuing Duty to Disclose. If, prior to or during trial, a party discovers additional evidence or material previously requested or ordered, which is subject to discovery or inspection under this rule, he shall promptly notify the other party or his attorney or the court of the existence of the additional evidence or material. Footnote: 4Although Grimm was written prior to the adoption of the West Virginia Rules of Criminal Procedure, the standard for determining whether failure to comply with court-ordered discovery is fatal remains the same as that which we announced in Grimm. See Syl. Pt. 4, State v. Miller, 178 W. Va. 618, 363 S.E.2d 504 (1987). Subsequent to Miller, this Court modified the wording of the Grimm standard somewhat in syllabus point 1 of State v. Johnson, 179 W. Va. 619, 371 S.E.2d 340 (1988). The modification, however, does not affect the substance of the standard; merely its form. Footnote: 5Appellant states in his reply brief that he was surprised by the January 28, 1992, statement of Joey Riggs since it contrasted sharply with a statement made by Mr. Riggs at the time of his arrest. Apparently, the first statement of Joey Riggs denied any involvement on his or Appellant's part in the alleged crimes. Footnote: 6The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides, in pertinent part, that "the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the witnesses against him. . . ." Footnote: 7See Pointer v. Texas, 380 U.S. 400, 403 (1965). Footnote: 8The primary objective of confrontation is "to secure the opportunity of cross-examination." Smith v. State, 200 Ark. 1152, 1157, 143 S.W.2d 190, 192 (1940). Footnote: 9However, because counsel failed to preserve this error by timely objection, the error was deemed to have been waived. 549 N.E.2d at 1060. Footnote: 10The United States Supreme Court in Kent v. United States, 383 U.S. 541 (1966), stated that: "[i]t is clear beyond dispute that the waiver of jurisdiction is a "'critically important'" action determining vitally important statutory rights of the juvenile."
Id. at 556. The Supreme Court buttressed this conclusion by
stressing that "[i]n these circumstances, [robbery and rape
offenses], considering particularly that decision as to waiver of
jurisdiction and transfer of the matter to the District Court was
potentially as important to petitioner [defendant] as the
difference between five years' confinement and a death sentence
. . . ." Id. at 557.
Footnote: 11West Virginia Code § 49-5-10(d) provides that: "[t]he court
may, upon consideration of the child's mental and physical
condition, maturity, emotional attitude, home or family
environment, school experience and similar personal factors,
transfer a juvenile proceeding to criminal jurisdiction if there is
probable cause to believe that. . . ."
Footnote: 12The transfer order specifically mentions that the court heard
and considered the testimony of Appellant's mother, aunt, and
grandfather, his social worker, and his teacher at the juvenile
detention center.
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