in the interest of: d.v.~ appellant, a juvenile · d said child is committed to the department of...
TRANSCRIPT
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF FLORIDA, THIRD DISTRICT
IN THE INTEREST OF: D.V.~
Appellant, A Juvenile
-Versus-
THE STATE OF FLORIDA Appellee.
APPELLATm CASE NUMBER 3D16-159~ RECORD ON APPEAL IN CASE NUMBER 16-392 J014 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA, IN-AND FOR DADE COUNTY, JUVENILE-FAMILY DIVISION
THE HONORABLE JUDGE ORLANDO PRESCOTT, JUVENILE-FAMILY DIVISION OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR DADE COUNTY
ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER HON. PAM BONDI ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTORNEYS -FOR APPELLEE 444 BRICKELL-AVENUE SUITE 650 MIAMI, FL 33131
DATE OF FILING
FEBRUARY 13, 2016
FEBRUARY 16, 2011
FEBRUARY 13, 2016
FEBRUARY 17, 2016
MARCH 08, 2016
MARCH 08, 2016
MAY 10, 2016
MAY 24, 2016
MAY 24,. 2016
MAY 24, 2016
MAY 24, 2016
MAY 27, 2016
JUNE 01, 2016
INDEX TO ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT
KIND OF INSTRUMENT
CASE HISTORY -SHEETS
PETITION FOR DELINQUENCY
CUSTODY STATUS/HOME DETENTION ORDER
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF APPOINTMENT AND NOTICE OF DISCOVERY-
ADJUDICATORY ORDER TRIAL
EXHIBIT LIST
ORDER
ORDER OF INSOLVENCY AND
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
PROBATION ORDER
FINAL JUDGMENT ASSESSING ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS
MEM0RANDUM OF COSTS
NOTICE OF APPEAL
DESIGNATION TO COURT REPORTER
PAGES
1-2
3
4
5-6
7
8
9
10
11
12-13
14
15
16-17
DATE OF FILING
JULY 25, 2013
JULY _25, 2013
JULY 25, 2016
JUY 25, 2016
INDEX TO HEARING TRANSCRIPTS KIND OF INSTRUMENT
TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS (MARCH- 0~, 2016)
TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS (APRIL 14, 2016)
TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS (MAY 05, 2016)
TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS (MAY 24, 2016)
CERTIFICATE OF THE COURTS
PAGES
1-95
1-101;
1-108
1-116
VICKERS
IN THE CIRCUIT OF THE ELEVEN.UDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMl ... E COUNTY, FLORIDA
JUVENILE DIVISION
fo1'-/
CASE HISTORY
. f.:
CASE NUMBER
J,~ -39:& CLOCK IN
IN THE INTEREST OF: A 0c,t<~~5; JJe.vo/\I 11- 2/-:Zooo
DATE TYPE OF HEARING Detention
~-n-1~
J
APR 1 2016 ~-
ACTION Public Defender provisionally appointed; Court finds probable cause:
~ Yes - fe f o ~ Cou,.J-r I ONL'f Ml FA/ l'os"1 j M1",.Jo1L
0 No No fC Ft>A. (ou1'f 2 P3 G11.D lllFf /31>/ F'i.--e.aitl
Respondent Ordered to:
Custody Release Secure Detention
@.'!<JG'
001
• IN THE CIRCUIT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
CASE NUMBER
JUVENILE CASE HISTORY DIVISION
Joie/ ~b-.3qz_
CLOCK IN IN THE INTEREST OF :
Vtl/-Y.i I 7)_,t,Vlrr DATE TYPE OF HEARING ACTION
>--14-lb /)-tJ.pPJ-lhi It tldi - 3 d(t,u .s 5 . .0~ ' I
~·) Jhn ri'M.NaP. A..I\~~ . l.tft/ lbvrf LOJ.f-.!U ~JSLJJl_ J .
CLK/CT 572 REV. 6/03 Clerk's web address: www.miami-dadeclerk.com 002
e SOUNDING DATE: 2/15/2016 at
CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR . l. MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA. JUVENILE DIVISION
IN TH~TEREST OF: CASE NO: 116000392 J014
"' ., .::=;;I • DEVON GREGORY VICKERS
PETITION FOR DELIN@ENEW ::.. ~ ·~: :.;· C._.,:J - ·c~
,. t~·,
A CHILD en
('
TO THE JUDGES OF THE ABOVE ENTITLED COURT -;;:· ,"'
Your Petitioner, KA THERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, State Attorney of the 11th ti'.idicial~:. Circuit of Florida, by and through her undersigned Assistant State Attorney, respectfully represent~nto the Court as follows: ·
THAT: DEVON GREGORY VICKERS , 15 , 11/21/2000
Who resides at 18000 NW 7TH PL MIAMI GARDENS, FL 33169
is a delinquent Child within the intent and meaning of the Laws of the State of Florida, F.S. Chapter, 985, in that,
COUNT 1 : FIREARM/POSN/MINOR
This Child, on or about February 12, 2016, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, being a minor under the age of 18, to wit: 15 years old, did unlawfully possess a firearm, in violation of 790.22(3) Florida Statutes. (Ml)
To the parents and/or legal guardian(s) of said child:
JEANETTE MICKLE
18000 NW 7TH PL MIAMI GARDENS FL 33169
WHEREFORE your petitioner prays that process may issue in due course to bring the above-named child and parents, or legal guardian, of said child before the Court to be dealt with according to law.
ST A TE OF FLORIDA ) COUNTY OF MIAMI-DADE )
Before me, an Officer duly qualified to administer oaths, personally appeared the aforesaid, who is personally known to me and who after being duly sworn, deposes and says tll.e .a gations of the foregoing Petition are filed in good faith and are true according to such person's i formation, knowledge and belief.
SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me this p
Page I of l 003
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NUMBER
JUVENILE
DIVISION Jo11 CUSTODY STATUS I HOME
DETENTION ORDER
IN THE INTEREST OF :
A CHILD jJj CLOCKIN
FI LED FEB 1 3 2016
11~21 .. 00 D.0.8. ____ _ RACE ____ _ GENDER_/YJ __
PRESENT: D Parent(s) D Legal Guardian D DJJ D DCF D GAL D Attorney for Child
The above-name child was taken into custody on _ :J- / :i __ , ___?- D / ~ ___ . Upon a review of the file and being advised, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the above-name child is to be placed in:
Secure Detention care The Custody of parent/ guardian.
D D D Temporary custody is given to _____ whose relationship to the Child is that
of __ . Temporary custody is granted solely for the purpose of D
D
removing child from secure detention. Child shall be released from secure detention on and only on this date. Department of Juvenile Justice secure detention care/pending placement by
D Department of Children and Families or D Department of Juvenile Justice
Home Detention Care (Restrictions & Conditions as specified on contract) Non secure detention care/secure detention upon violation
As a result, the Court imposes the following conditions:
D D D D D D
Curfew___ __on weekdays-----· Mandatory daily school attendance Keep scheduled appointments for evaluations, if any No law violations or use of illicit drugs Stay away from victim(s)/co-respondent(s) {see order} Other
on weekends
In ordering detention, the undersigned finds probable cause that the child has committed a delinquent act and meets statutory
It is FURTHER ORDERED: Unless an adjudicatory hearing h~b!,g ~r,;t:Jbsequent modifi ation qrder }s enter J e detention criteria as found is F S.985 215, Florida Statutes. d 4 J
D Child shall be RELEASED no later than 5.00 p.m. on_ ..::J LP (date) to: taN l 1rt- I D The case set for review by the undersigned on ____ day of at ______ a. . /p.m.
In Courtroom
Pursuant to F.S. 985.039, THE COURT FURTHER ORDERS that the parent/guardian shall pay Department of Juvenile Justice:
D For Secure Detention $5.00 per day. D For Home Detention $1.00 per day. D A Reduced Fee of ______ per day.
0 Fees are Waived.
If the child's case therein is dismissed or if the child is found not guilty of the charges or other matter supporting the detention in this order, the parent/guardian shall not be liable for payment of the fees ordered herein and the fees paid shall be refunded to the payer forthwith.
THE JUVENILE'S PARENT/GUARDIAN SHALL ADVISE THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND DJJ OF ANY CHANGES OF ADDRESS.
DONE AND ORDERED in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on this / 3 of __ <Wi:{~~- .. / ,-~:;::::~'-----"=:;;:::::=
White - File Copy
CLK/CT 064 Rev. 05/11
Green/Canary - DJJ/Detention
Circuit Ju
...__ ____ j~uoGE ROBERT J. LUCK
Pink - PD/Defense Gold- State
Clerk's web address: www.miami-dadeclerk.com 004
• Filing# 37921818 E-Filed 02/17/16 02:01:48 PM
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
IN THE INTEREST OF:
DEVON VICKERS A Child.
I
CASE NO.: 116000392 SECTION: J014 JUDGE: ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF APPOINTMENT AND NOTICE OF DISCOVERY
COMES NOW, Carlos J. Martinez, Public Defender in and for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of
Florida, and hereby accepts the appointment to represent the Respondent in the above-styled cause on the
assumption that the following legal requirement of section 27.52, Florida Statutes, has been or will be met:
1. An Affidavit of Indigent Status is filed with the Clerk of Court.
2. The Clerk complies with the requirements of section 27 .52, Florida Statutes.
3. The Clerk determines that the Respondent is eligible to receive the services of the Public
Defender, the Court determines that the Respondent and his parents or legal guardians are indigent, the
Court determines that the parents or legal guardian of the indigent Respondent are not indigent but refuse
to employ counsel, or the Court determines that the Respondent's family is unable to hire an attorney
without a substantial hardship to them.
4. The Clerk imposes the $50 Public Defender application fee.
5. In the event of a conviction for a delinquent act, violation of probation, or community control,
at least the minimum prescribed attorney's fees and costs shall be imposed as set forth in, and pursuant to,
sections 985.29 and 985.033, Florida Statutes.
6. In addition, the Respondent hereby elects to participate in the discovery process pursuant to
Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.060 by filing with this court and serving on the prosecuting attorney
this Notice of Discovery. The Respondent also demands that the prosecuting attorney disclose and provide
any information or evidence within the state's possession, control, or knowledge which tends to negate the
guilt of the Defendant in the above-styled cause.
005
I CERTIFY that a copy of this Acknowledgment of Appointment and Notice of Discovery has been
hand-delivered to and/or eServed upon the Office of the State Attorney, 155 NW 3rd Street, Suite 8000,
Miami, Florida 33128 on February 17, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Carlos J. Martinez Public Defender Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida 155 NW 3rd Street, Suite 7000 Miami, Florida 33128 305.679.1900 eService email: [email protected]
Isl Alexis Alvarez Assistant Public Defender Florida Bar No.: 120069
006
JUVENILE DIVISION
~DI IN THE INTEREST OF :
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
ADJUDICATORY ORDER
TRIAL
A CHILD v I Q., ~~
DOB: l ( .).{ ;)-OO c) RACE SEX
CASE NUMBER
FJi.KE D J};' 0 8 20t6
HARVEY RUVIN CLERK, CIRCUIT COURT MIAMI-DADE C
This cause came to be heard before this Court for trial, and after having heard from witnesses and counsel, the Court finds as follows:
0 The previously entered plea of denial was changed to one of admission/nolo contendere as to
~=---------------------------of the Petition. p/S~ child committed the act(s) described in Ge1:1Rt(s) _________ 'fJhe Petition.
D Said child plead to/committed the lesser included offense(s) of __________________ as to
Count(s) _________ of the Petition.
0 The state announced the abandonment/nolle prosequi of Count(s) ________ _
0 The Court has reasonable doubt to believe the child committed the act(s) described in Count(s) _______ _
_________ of the Petition.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:
0 Said child is adjudicated to be delinquent.
D Said child is committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice (see attached Commitment Order).
0 Adjudication is withheld.
D Said child is placed on Probation (see Probation Order).
D This cause is dismissed for--------------------
0 A Judgment of Acquittal is entered as to Count(s) _________ of the Petition.
D This cause is transferred for ____________ to the _________ Judicial Circuit in and
for ________ County, Florida, in which the child resides. Respondent
address is:
0 Said child is given a Judicial Warning.
0 Further _____________________________________ _
The c~ld is to be present for Disposition on
'1--tj- . DONE AND ORDERED in Miami-Dade County, Florida this (j
Clerk's web address: www.miami-dadeclerk.com
CLK/CT 78 Rev. 2/10 WHITE-FILE COPY YELLOW-DJJ 007
• • r (}u_ (\ ) CIRCUIT COURT - JUVENILE DIVISION
\ EXHIBIT LIST IN THE INTEREST OF J l ~s I ~\( Q}::) JUDGE __,A?~v1._~--..et;_'_1_l--.-I'_,__ cASE#...J I le -Z>CJ PoucE CASE# '()jr;tJO J..? f 1 CLERK -~-'---s-fb~n"--W""""'""'-'¢1---'-t_kj_ IN~ITTO~WC~ION_~-~~~-----!~~L~~E~D~----------~ DATE OF DISPOSITION __ Zf~--·_( _4_-~/_,.~---- ~
l lJ () MAR 0 8 2\l\6 I I AGENCY --------------- Page of_-'----
DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
COMPLETE THIS SECTION IF EVIDENCE RETURNED IN COURT.
DATE RECEIVER
STATE STATE DEFT'S DEFT'S EXHIBIT EXHIBIT EXHIBIT EXHIBIT
M.F.I. M.F.I.
1-A- I
008
• IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
JUVENILE DIVISION
IN THE INTEREST OF
Error! Reference source not found. DEVON VICKERS, a Child
Case No. 116392
ORDER
-0
~ ~ .. <A
THIS CAUSE coming on to be heard upon a petition filed herein, and all parties entitled to
notice of this hearing having been duly notified thereof, and the Court having received the
testimony and the evidence, and being fully advised in the premises finds that the Department of
Corrections shall transport Devon Vickers, DOB: 11/2112000, RACE: BLACK, SEX: MALE,
JAIL #161489, CELL LOCATION , presently housed in the Turner Gilford Knight
Correctional Facility to: Courtroom 9-4, 155 Northwest 3rd Street, Miami, FL, on 05/24/2016, for a
disposition before the Honorable Prescott at 9 a.m. and to return said child to the Dade County Jail
immediately thereafter.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court shall retain jurisdiction of this cause for the
purpose of making further or other orders for the welfare of any child named herein as may be from
time to time found necessary.
DONE AND ORDERED at Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, this the / {l
day of_~A1~a~7+-----' 2£1 (, ..
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE ~:::::...-=-JUVENILE DIVISION (
0055 - Document I IMB Error! Reference source not found.IError! Reference source not found. 009
IN THE INTEREST OF:
DEVON VICKERS, A Child.
• FILED
MAY 2 4 2016 HARVEY RUVIN
Ct ~ ;:;,_<; C RCU!T COURT ~AMl-OAflE, CO. Fl.A.
IN THE CIRCUIT CO. OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT 'LORIDA IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
JUVENILE DIVISION
CASE NUMBER: SECTION: JUDGE:
116000392 J014 ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
ORDER OF INSOLVENCY AND APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
THE COURT having been fully advised in the premises finds the Respondent indigent, it is therefore,
ORDERED and ADJUDGED, that the Respondent is insolvent for the purpose of Appeal and therefore,
the Public Defender of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida is hereby appointed to represent the Respondent
in the appellate proceedings.
DONE and ORDERED in Miami-Dade County, Florida, this Zif day of --~~---
20 IP
Orlando A. Prescott Juvenile Judge
010
• • IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
IN AND FOR DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
JUVENILE "Jc I '-1
IN THE INTEREST OF:
PROBATION ORDER
DOB:
II - 1-/ -z_ooo
<;ASE NUMBER J/b-~2-
ACHILD
MAY Z 4 2016 HARVEY RUVIN
CLERK CIRCUIT CO.Y~ :JIA, MIAMl-OADE, CO. t~ Y"
This court having heard from all relevant parties concerning appropriate disposition, it is hereby Ordered:
That adjudication of delinquency is withheld. That the child is adjudicated delinquent.
Further Ordered:
0 Credit time served 0 Non Reporting Probation 0 Suspended Entry of Sentence (S.E.S.) 0 Judicial Admonition 0 Delinquent Over 19 Years Old 0 Supervision Interstate Compact 0 Deceased 0 Dismissed 0 Other ~-----.......,d.--tt-y-~--~-U/-r_<L_d-.-a...__,h.--,.._f-i-.-o 11--------
All parties are advised that an appeal is authorized by law within 30 days from the date of this order.
DONE AND ORDERED AT MIAMI, FLORIDA, THIS 2Lf DAY OF May 2ojJL. '
{}J{/JM4~ CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
ORLANDO PRESCOI f CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE
011
0 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDIC UIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
0 IN THE COUNTY COURT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA. 575 DIVISION D CRIMINAL o DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FINAL JUDGMENT ASSESSING ATTORNEY'S FEES
o JUVENILE AND COSTS
o TRAFFIC/MISDEMEANOR
PLAINTIFF VS. DEFENDANT
STATE OF FLORIDA
D. v. CASE NUMBER:
THIS CASE, having come to be heard on _~_-_ZJ_Y,_-_/_1, __ to determine and assess costs and/or fees for a court-appointed
Public Defender, Special Assistant Public Defender, or Conflict
Attorney pursuant to Section 938.29, Florida Statutes, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:
•
CLOCK IN
FI l ED fviAY 2 4 2016
HARVEYR~ CMLERK C1Rcurr COURT IAM~E.CO.
1. The above-referenced case involved the following cause of action: (check one)
D Traffic D Misdemeanor D Non-Life Felony D Life Felony D Capital Felony '{]'Juvenile Delinquency
2. (a) The Defendant/Recipient in the above-referenced case entered a plea of --~A_d_M_1_:s_s_1_·{)_fl _____ _
at the A J..j · stage of the case
OR
(b) A non-jury/jury trial was held and a verdict of guilty was entered against the Defendant
/ 3. Probation/Community Control was ___ was not ___ imposed.
4. The State of Florida, shall have and recover, of and from:
Defendant/Recipient
Name vSE'c!;!"\.f<'tte... lU ,,,e,kJe Date of Birth v /- 3..- (,,t.
Addressi7l bO UU/· ~/iV'4 fJt11 /j~;/ Mother/Guardian (Required if Defendant is a minor)
Name _________________ _ Date of Birth -------------
Address-----------------
Yellow - Defendant or Parent(s) Pink-State Attorney Gold - Defense Attorney White - Court File
CLK/CT 40 REV. 03/15 PAGE 1OF2 Clerk's web address: www.miami-dadeclerk.com 012
DIVISION
o CRIMINAL ~ DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ~ JUVENILE
o TRAFFIC/MISDEMEANOR
NAL JUDGMENT ASSESSING ATTORNEY'S FEES
AND COSTS
Father/Guardian (required if Defendant is a minor)
CASE NUMBER: ;J { {p _ 3
q z_
Name _________________ ~ Date of Birth-------------
Address----------------
the sum of:
Attorney's Fees
Allowable Costs
TOTAL
FOR WHICH LET EXECUTION ISSUE
$ 5 o.v $----~----$
t;;/J.00 ---------
:,-<).Vt) 5. Pursuant to Section 938.29, Florida Statutes, a lien in the total amount of $ in favor of the
State of Florida, is hereby ordered and imposed against the assets, both real and personal, which person(s)
named in paragraph 4 now own or hereafter acquire.
6. The Clerk of this Court shall record a certified copy of this Judgment in the public records for Miami-Dade County,
Florida, subject to section 55.10, Florida Statutes.
7. Payment of this Judgment may be in lump sum or installment payments, with this Court's permission, by cashier's
check or money order, in person or by mail, to:
D Clerk Circuit and County Courts Criminal Division Information Unit FELONY 1351 N.W. 12 Street, Suite 9000 Miami, Florida 33125
D Clerk Circuit and County Courts Traffic Division Information Unit MISDEMEANOR 1351 N.W. 12 Street, Suite 8100 Miami, Florida 33125
D Clerk Circuit and County Courts Domestic Violence Information Unit 175 N.W. 1 Avenue, Room 142 Miami, Florida 33128
~ Clerk Circuit and County Courts Juvenile Division Information Unit 155 N.W. 3 Street, Suite 3300 Miami, Florida 33128
D Clerk Circuit and County Courts Traffic Division Information Unit 1351 N.W. 12 Street, Suite 124 Miami, Florida 33125
Payment must be accompanied by name of Defendant/Recipient and case number.
8. Upon payment in full of this lien, or upon settlement, compromise, or other disposition of this debt and lien, the Clerk
of Courts of Miami-Dade County, Florida, shall send to the above-named person(s) by mail a Satisfaction of Lien.
DONE,'\ND ORDERED in Miami-Dade County, Florida, this 2-'f day of _____ M __ tt_y ______ _ 20_/_~_.
White - Court File
CLK/CT 40 REV. 03/15
JUDGE
/) n /l ~-.'""'
~~4eJ
Yellow - Defendant or Parent(s) Pink-State Attorney Gold - Defense Attorney
PAGE 2 OF 2 Clerk's web address: www.miami-dadeclerk.com 013
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
TOTAL MISDEMEANOR
• Add'I. Court Cost •Temporary Criminal Surcharge •Fine • Surcharge (5% affine) • Teen Courts • Crimes Prevention Program (Ord
GRAND TOTAL
939.185(1 )(a) 939.185(1)(b) 775.083 938.04 938.09(0rd.98-185) 775.083(2)a
Payment can be made with cash, o ey order, credit card or shier's check, make payable to the Clerk of Courts. Please indicate your name, above c number, and writ " mes/Costs" on your payment. You are responsible for keeping the receipt for your records. Payrnio<Af.-,Af'l1"fT"l!!•
Miami Dade Children's Courthouse, Clerk of Courts, 155 NW Third Street, Room 3300, Miami, Fl 33128
Respondent Signature ~. D" VlKl Vi"ed:-er Date r s- ~ Qll/-' d£?l..t'
Address of Respondent()l:-/ J b C:O 71· 112• , )' /4 A J/e Zip Code X, 3 3 JC:, '1 Done and Ordered in Miami-Dade County, Florida thi , 2J ifZ__.
* DISCHARGE: C· CONVERTED TO COMMUNITY SERVICE J. JUDGMENT/LIEN P- PLEA (STATE NEGOTIATED) S-SUSPENDED T-TIME SERVED W-WAIVED
White - Court File
CLK/CT 142 Rev. 03/15
ignature
Canary - Respondent Pink- Office
Clerk's web address: www.miami-dadeclerk.com 014
Filing # 42055029 E-Filed 05/2.ll 6 10:06: 16 AM • IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA
IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: J16-392
JUDGE: ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
D.V., a juvenile Respondent/ Appellant,
vs
THE STATE OF FLORIDA Petitioner/ Appellee.
I NOTICE OF APPEAL
NOTICE IS HEREBY GNEN that D.V., the Respondent/Appellant, appeals to the District
Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District, the order of this court rendered May 24, 2016.
The nature of the order is an order withholding adjudication of delinquency and placing
respondent on probation.
Undersigned counsel hereby designates, pursuant to Rule 2.516, the following e-mail
addresses for the purpose of service of all documents required to be served pursuant to Rule 2.516
in this proceeding: [email protected] (Primary E-Mail Address);
[email protected] (Secondary E-Mail Address).
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the Notice of Appeal was delivered by
emailed to the Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Division, 444 Brickell Avenue, Suite 650,
Miami, Florida 33131 at [email protected], and to the Office of the State
Attorney, Juvenile Division, [email protected], on May 27, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Carlos J. Martinez Public Defender Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida 1320 NW 14th Street Miami, Florida 33125 305.545.1958
Sfiannon Jfemmendinger Shannon Hemmendinger Assistant Public Defender Florida Bar No.: 97947 [email protected]
015
Filing:!~ 1605 E-Filed 06/0.16 04:57:59 PM • IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA
IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FLORIDA
CASE NO.: 116-392
JUDGE: ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT D.V., a juvenile
Respondent/ Appellant,
vs
THE STATE OF FLORIDA Petitioner/ Appellee.
I
STATEMENT OF JUDICIAL ACTS TO BE REVIEWED AND DESIGNATION TO THE APPROVED COURT REPORTER OR APPROVED TRANSCRIPTIONIST
The Respondent/Appellant, D.V., a juvenile, files the following statementof judicial acts to
be reviewed:
1. The denial by the trial court of the Respondent's pre-trial motions.
2. The trial court's erroneous rulings on evidentiary matters.
3. The denial by the trial court of the Respondent's motion for adjudication of non-
delinquency at the close of the state's and the Respondent's case.
4. The denial by the trial court of the Respondent's motion to vacate.
5. The restitution which the trial court imposed upon the Respondent.
6. The disposition order entered by the trial court.
The Respondent files the following designation to the approved court reporter or approved
transcriptionist, Absolute Video, Inc., at [email protected] for preparation of the following
transcripts:
03/08/2016 ALL PROCEEDINGS
04/14/2016 ALL PROCEEDINGS
05/05/2016 ALL PROCEEDINGS
05/24/2016 ALL PROCEEDINGS
I, Counsel for Appellant, certify that satisfactory financial arrangements have been made
with the approved court reporter or approved transcriptionist for preparation of the transcripts.
016
• • Pursuant to Rule 9.200(b)(2) and Florida Supreme Court Administrative Order
AOSC07-28, you are required to deliver to us along with the original and two copies of the
paper transcripts three electronic copies of all transcripts in Microsoft Word on a CD-Rom.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the Statement of Judicial Acts and
Designation was emailed to the approved court reporter or approved transcriptionist, Absolute
Video, Inc., at [email protected], the Office of the State Attorney, Juvenile Division, 155 NW
3rd Street, 8th Floor, Suite 8000, Miami, Florida 33128, [email protected] and to
the Office of the Attorney General, Criminal Division, 444 Brickell A venue, Suite 650, Miami,
Florida 33131 at [email protected] on June 1, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Carlos J. Martinez Public Defender Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida 1320 NW 14th Street Miami, Florida 33125 305.545.1958
Shannon :J-femmentfinger Shannon Hemmendinger Assistant Public Defender Florida Bar No.: 97947 [email protected]
017
CERTIFICATE OF THE CLERK OF THE COURT
I, HARVEY RUVIN, Clerk of the Circuit Court of the Eleventh
Judicial Circuit of Florida, in and for Dade County, do hereby
certify that the foregoing pages, numbered !_to 17 inclusive of
D.V.
Numbered:J16-392 Family Division-Juvenile Section, and a true
and correct recital and copy of all .such instruments and
proceedings in said cause as appear from the records and files
of my office which appear necessary to be included in the
transcript of reco_rd-on-appeal in compliance with the directions
furnished me.
Pages Numbered: 1-95,1-101,1-108,1-116. Inclusive, embrace the
transcribed notes of the Court Reporter, as made at the hearing
of said cause and certified to me by her/him.
IN WITNESS WHERE OF, I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of the said Circuit Court at Miami, Dade
County, Florida, this 8TH of AUGUST ~~~~~~~~~-
, A.D., 2016.
HARVEY RUVIN, Clerk
BY:
•
•
STATE OF FLORIDA Petitioner,
vs.
D.V. Defendant .
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
JUVENILE COURT DIVISION
CASE NO.: Jl6-392 SECTION: JUDGE: JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
The above-entitled cause came on for hearing pursuant to
the Notice before the Honorable Orlando Prescott, Judge of the
above-styled court, Children's Courthouse Center, 155 Northwest
3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 .
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APPEARANCES JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE CHILDREN'S COURTHOUSE CENTER 155 NORTHWEST 3RD AVENUE MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128
On behalf of the State: KATHERINE FERNANDEZ-RUNDLE, STATE ATTORNEY BY: Cheryl Claire Armagnac, Attorney
Tierrel Michelle Mathis, Attorney 155 Northwest 3~ Street Suite 8 Miami, FL 33128
On Behalf of the Defendant: CARLOS J. MARTINEZ, PUBLIC DEFENDER BY: Alexis Alvarez, Assistant Public Defender
Danielle Columbus, Certified Legal Intern 1500 Northwest 12th Avenue Floor 9 Miami, FL 33136
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WITNESS:
DETECTIVE BUCHANAN (By Ms. Armagnac) (By Ms. Alvarez)
DETECTIVE TORRES (By Ms. Armagnac) (By Ms. Alvarez)
State's Exhibit lA Exhibit 1
Defense's
NONE
c 0 N T E N T s
DIRECT CROSS
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E X H I B I T S
IDENTIFIED
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P R 0 C E E D I N G S
(9:24 a.m.)
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, Mr. D.V. is present
before the Court. He is accompanied by both of his
parents.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, at this time the
Defense is ready for trial.
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State is ready for trial as
well pending a hallway of Defense witness who is not
here.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Set for adjudicatory
hearing today. The charge is one count of
possession of firearm by a minor. The Defense is
ready to proceed?
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: You have listed a Defense
witness?
MS. ALVAREZ: I have listed a Defense witness,
Your Honor. I don't see the Defense witness
present. I have made phone calls. I will continue
to call.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: There is nothing in the file
about the Defense witness. The State was aware of
it?
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MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, it was filed.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: The witness is not here. All
right. Are the parties ready to proceed?
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State is ready. We have our
officers.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: You be kind enough to have a
seat. When I finish calling the calendar, we will
do the trial this morning. Okay. Thank you.
(Off the record.)
(10:58 a.m.)
(Whereupon, the proceedings were continued.)
MS. ALVAREZ: And Your Honor, Mr. D.V. is here .
We are ready for trial.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Parties announce their
appearances.
MS. ARMAGNAC: Claire Armagnac for the State.
MS. ALVAREZ: Tierrel Mathis on behalf of the
State.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, Alexis Alvarez on
behalf of Mr. D.V.
MS. COLUMBUS: Danielle Columbus, CLI with the
Public Defender on behalf of Mr. D.V.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Are there any pretrial motions
to be heard?
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor. I have an oral
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pretrial motion. I am sorry. I don't know if the
State had one.
MS. ARMAGNAC: No pretrial motions from the
State.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I do have an oral
pretrial motion. I apologize for not having one
written. But as of hallways, I determined that
there are some things that this Court does not need
to hear in regard to the trial. So we would move to
suppress in limine testimony in regards to two
things.
First, the firearm that was allegedly found
in the vehicle which had four or three occupants was
found to be stolen. It came back on a stolen report
that it was stolen.
Your Honor, I don't think that this
provides anything probative to this case. We are
here on a possession of a firearm by a minor.
Whether or not the firearm is stolen or not stolen
is not relevant.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: State?
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State wasn't planning to
elicit any testimony as to whether a firearm was
stolen. I will warn my officers again not to
mention it.
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JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Go ahead.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, the second issue I
have in regard to my client. In regard to Mr. D.V.,
I would ask this Court to suppress any testimony
suggesting that he may be part of a gang or any
related gang related activity.
I ask the Court this because, Your Honor, I
asked in hallways if he was suspected to be part of
gang activity. The officer said no. However, they
were part of the gang unit and they were patrolling.
However, they were not responding to any gang
related activity .
However, I want to be clear with this request
to the Court I do intend to elicit that other
possible other passengers may have been involved in
gang activities because I learned in hallways that
somebody was a known gang member.
However, as far as my client ever being
involved with any gang activity, I want to make that
clear that the officer said that she does not know
him to be involved, and I to just want to preclude
any information that may come out suggesting that he
was involved.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: How would information come out
suggesting that he was involved if you said that you
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have spoken to them and they said they have no
information. But you want to preclude the statement
mentioning anything about gangs, but you want to
talk about gangs with the others. I just want to
make sure that I understand.
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor. I can withdraw
the request, and I can clean it up with the
testimony if that's the case. Yes, that is what I
am requesting.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: You are withdrawing it, or you
are letting it stand?
MS. ALVAREZ: I am withdrawing it .
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. So the only motion in
limine that we have right now is that any
information concerning the stolen nature of the gun
not be elicited. And I am granting that. The State
has no objection to that. Okay.
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor.
MS. ARMAGNAC: May I step out and inform my
officers of the Court's ruling?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Please do.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, at this time I am
going to request that we invoke the rule, please.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Have the officers come in so
they can be informed of the rule sequestration,
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please.
MS. ARMAGNAC: Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: If you can be kind enough to
raise your right hand to be sworn.
(Whereupon, the all parties were duly sworn.)
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And your name, ma'am?
DETECTIVE BUCHANAN: Detective Buchanan.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And do you affirm?
DETECTIVE BUCHANAN: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And you, sir?
DETECTIVE TORRES: Yes, sir.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And your name?
DETECTIVE TORRES: Detective Torres.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. From this point forward
the rule of sequestration has been invoked. That
means that you cannot discuss the facts of the case
among yourselves or to allow anyone to discuss them
with you.
During the course of the trial, you will be
seated outside of the courtroom until it is your
time to testify. After you have testified, please
do not discuss with anyone the questions posed to
you, the answers given by you. You can speak about
everything else. Okay. The weather, baseball,
whatever, but not about the facts of the case.
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Okay?
DETECTIVE TORRES: Yes, sir.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: I thank you very much. You are
can step out until you are called. And did you
speak to them about the motion of limine.
MS. ARMAGNAC: I did, Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Very well. Thank you very
much. Okay. Opening statements.
MS. ARMAGNAC: May the State proceed?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Please.
MS. ARMAGNAC: Your Honor, we are here today in
the case against the respondent, D.V. Mr. D.V. is
charged with being a minor in the possession of a
firearm.
In order to prove this charge the State must
prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. D.V. was in
fact under the age of 18 on the date of the incident
which was February 17, 2016. We must also prove
that that he either actually or constructively
possessed a weapon that could be classified as a
firearm.
The State anticipates that through the
testimony of Officer Buchanan and Torres the Court
will hear that this respondent was riding in a
vehicle. He was one of the back seat passengers.
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As the police conducted a traffic stop, they
observed a firearm known as a Glock 17, loaded,
sitting very close to the respondent on the top of
the back seat of the vehicle well within the
respondent's reach.
The gun was not physically on the respondent's
person; however, the State can prove this charge by
showing that the respondent constructively possessed
this firearm. In order to prove constructive
possession, the State must prove that the respondent
knew that the firearm was within his presence. That
he had or shared dominion and control over the
firearm and that he knew of the firearm's illicit
nature.
The State anticipates that the testimony will
convince the Court that it was obvious to the
respondent that this was in fact a firearm. That it
was sitting right next to him. It was in plain view
of the officers and of the respondent and because of
the markings on the gun including the word Glock
indicating that it is a firearm, this respondent had
constructive possession and that he was under 18 on
the date of the incident.
Accordingly, after hearing the evidence, the
State will come again the before the Court and ask
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that the respondent be found delinquent of this
charge.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I know you have
heard this before, but in this case it's absolutely
true. Clear proximity is not enough. Your Honor,
throughout the testimony today you will find that
the case that the State brought you that is simply
isn't enough.
The State brought you a case for my client
was one out of three passengers in a car sitting in
the back seat of the vehicle where allegedly a
firearm was in the other seat not where my client's
seat is allegedly in plain view.
Now, what the State will not be able to bring,
Your Honor, is a single statement from my client
indicating anything regarding that firearm. You
know what else they won't bring, Your Honor?
Fingerprints. They won't bring you fingerprints
because they didn't even test the gun for that.
Additionally, Your Honor, what the State won't
bring you is a single drop of my client's DNA on
that gun. You will learn that the lab request was
sent to be tested, but that it never came back. And
more interestingly, Your Honor, you will learn that
my client voluntarily gave a DNA submission when
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requested by the officers.
Now, let me tell you what happened what really
happened on this day, Your Honor. What happened on
this day is my client was sitting in a car with his
friends. One of the friends, the person sitting in
the seat where the gun was found, exited the vehicle
and came around to the passenger side, began
speaking to someone who was in the front passenger
seat.
We have 1, 2 and 3 people in the car. Now
this testimony will come directly to you from
Detective Buchanan. Buchanan will tell you that
they drove pass the street. They saw the car that
my client was sitting in parked in the roadway, and
there was an individual on the outside on the
passenger side speaking to that passenger.
Now, what the Detective Buchanan will also tell
you, Your Honor, is they pulled around. They came
down the block. And by they, I am referring to the
two officers. And they pulled up about a foot or so
from the back of the car where my client is sitting.
Remember my client is a back seat passenger in this
vehicle.
What Detective Buchanan will tell you is that
she activated her lights, turned on her siren.
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Detective Torres will tell you it was a quick siren.
It was a whoop something just to get the attention
and put their presence out there. What Detective
Buchanan is going to tell you, Your Honor, is that
that man, that juvenile, that was standing on the
outside of the car speaking to the passenger in the
front seat, scurried into the house fast.
Now, Your Honor, let me tell you some other
things that you learn about this case. Detective
Torres and Detective Buchanan are going to get on
the stand today, and they are going to try to tell
you my client was in a car that was blocking a
roadway which is why they decided to stop to check
out the vehicle.
However, what the detectives will tell you that
this car full of juveniles was parked in in front of
the house, the same house that that individual
scurried into upon sight of the police.
What the detectives will tell you is they could
have driven past the car. They decided not to
because for tactical purposes they decided to
approach from the rear. But what that says, Your
Honor, the testimony will show that in fact all they
did was approach a vehicle with juveniles sitting in
it that was parked outside of a home.
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One officer will tell you that there was an
area for them to park, a shoulder. The other
officer will tell you that there wasn't. The point
is, Your Honor, to set up the scene so you
understand that these were juveniles sitting in a
car.
Now, what these officers are going to tell you
is they pulled up around the back. They pulled
their car one to two feet away from the car that my
client was seated in, activated their lights,
activated their sirens, got out of the car.
Detective Buchanan is going up to the driver's side .
Detective Torres going up to the passenger side,
Your Honor.
And Detective Buchanan as she approaches the
vehicle, sees in the windows a firearm on the seat.
And, again, upon their approach that person ran
away.
Now, she automatically yells alerts, firearm,
gun. Well, I am going to tell you, Your Honor, the
testimony will show that there is not a shred of
evidence to prove that that wasn't the first time
that my client was also alerted to a gun.
Now, Detective Buchanan alerts to the gun .
Detective Torres takes everyone into custody. They
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1 charge my client out all of the individuals in this
2 car they charge my client because they claim it was
3 in his ready reach.
4 However, Your Honor, not a shred of evidence
5 will come before you today indicating that my client
6 even attempted to move. At any point both officers
7 will tell you they never saw any fidgeting or
8 movement of anyone in the car.
9 There won't be a single piece of evidence to
10 show you that my client although was the only
11 individual in the back seat, Your Honor. Yes, but
12 that he had any ability to possess this firearm .
13 Your Honor, near proximity is not enough. This
14 is one of the most egregious cases of near
15 proximity, Your Honor. And we ask you to find not
16 delinquent in this case.
17 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Call your first witness.
18 MS. ARMAGNAC: The State calls Detective
19 Buchanan.
20 Whereupon,
21 DETECTIVE BUCHANAN
22 having previously been duly sworn, was called as a
23 witness herein and was examined and testified as follows:
24 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Would you be kind enough to
25 step around here, please?
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1 MS. ARMAGNAC: The State has e-filed discovery
2 with the Court and with the Defense.
3 JUDGE PRESCOTT: There is nothing in here.
4 MS. ARMAGNAC: Would the Court like a copy of
5 the discovery?
6 JUDGE PRESCOTT: That's okay. Thank you.
7 DIRECT EXAMINATION
8 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
9 Q. Good morning, Officer. Can you please
10 introduce yourself to the Court?
11 A. Detective Buchanan.
12 Q . Detective Buchanan where are you employed?
13 A. City of Miami Gardens.
14 Q. Were you employed by the City of Miami Gardens
15 on February 12, 2016?
16 A. Yes.
17 Q. Were you working on that incident?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. Excuse me on that date. Did you conduct a
20 traffic stop at the location of 18000 Northwest 7th
21 Place, Miami Gardens, Florida?
22 A.
23 Q.
24 A .
25 Q.
Yes.
Approximately at 14:36 in military time?
Correct.
Is that in Miami-Dade County?
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1 A. Yes.
2 Q. Did you come into contact with someone who
3 later became known to you as D.V.?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. Do you see that person in the courtroom today?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. Can you please identify him by an article of
8 clothing?
9 A. He is wearing a gray shirt.
10 MS. ARMAGNAC: Let the record reflect that the
11 witness has identified the respondent, D.V.
12 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Go ahead, Counsel .
13 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
14 Q. How was it that you came into contact with Mr.
15 D.V.?
16 A. Myself and Detective Torres were driving along
17 the road area. We had lot of shootings there recently.
18 So as we were driving westbound on 18Qth Street, I looked
19 to my right and I see a white Audi facing southbound
20 occupied and a male speaking on the passenger side.
21 Q. What did you do when you saw that white Audi?
22 A. We kept on going to the next street to come
23 behind the vehicle.
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Q . After you came from behind the vehicle, what
did you do?
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1 A. I activated my emergency lights, advised them
2 on the radio of a traffic stop, approached on the
3 passenger rear or on the driver's side. Detective Torres
4 approached on the passenger.
5 Q. Let's back up a little bit. So you said that
6 you are approaching from the rear of the vehicle. While
7 you were still in your police car, did you have a clear
8 view of the rear of the vehicle?
9 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, leading.
10 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
11 THE WITNESS: Yes.
12 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection also as to vague clear
13 view.
14 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
15 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
16 Q.
17 were?
18 A.
19 Q.
20 A.
21 Q.
22 sitting?
23 A.
24 Q .
25 A.
Were you able to tell how many occupants there
Yes.
How many were there?
Three.
And were you able to tell where they were each
Yes.
And where were they sitting?
Driver, front passenger, and rear passenger.
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1 Q. Was the rear passenger -- which seat was he
2 seated in?
3 A. In back of the front passenger.
4 Q. Who was that rear passenger?
5 A. The defendant, Mr. D.V.
6 Q. As you approached the car, what did you
7 observe?
8 A. I observed a gun in the rear of the driver's
9 seat. I immediately notified Detective Torres, 55, in
10 the vehicle, there was gun.
11 Q. Where were you standing as you observed the gun
12 in the vehicle?
13 A. In the rear driver's door.
14 Q. How far from the rear driver door were you when
15 you observed the gun?
16 A. I was right next to it.
17 Q. Were you able it to observe the windows of the
18 car?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. Were they opened or closed?
21 A. Down.
22 Q. After you saw the gun and alerted 55, meaning
23 gun, what did you do?
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A • I grabbed it, and Detective Torres opened the
rear passenger to grab Mr. D.V. And I took it back to
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1 my vehicle to make the gun safe.
2 Q. How were you able to grab it? Did you reach in
3 through the door?
4 A. In the door.
5 Q. Was the door unlocked?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. As you retrieved the gun and took it back to
8 police car, were you able to observe the gun?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. Were you able to look at it?
11 A. Yes.
12 MS. ARMAGNAC: Let the record reflect I am
13 showing Defense counsel what is marked for
14 identification as State's Exhibit lA?
15 Whereupon (State) 's Exhibit Number lA was
16 marked for identification.)
17 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
18 Q. And, also, I am showing the witness what has
19 been marked for identification as State's lA. Do you
20 recognize this item?
21 Let the record reflect that the witness is
22 opening the protective evidence around the item. Now,
23 that you have cut through the evidence tape, do you
24 recognize the item contained within that box?
25 A. Yes.
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1 Q. What is it?
2 A. a Glock 17.
3 Q. Are there any identifying marks on the Glock
4 17?
A.
Q.
7 serial number on the gun that you impounded on the scene?
8 A. Yes.
9 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor,
10 relevance.
11 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
12 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
13 Q. Do you recall what the serial number was of the
14 gun that you impounded on the scene?
15 A. No.
16 Q. Would reviewing the A-form refresh your
17 recollection as to the serial number of the gun that you
18 impounded from the scene?
19 A. Yes.
20 Q. I am showing the officer the A-form. Please
21 review the A-form and look up at me when your
22 recollection has been refreshed as to the serial number
23 of the gun that you impounded on the scene. What was the
24 serial number of the gun that you impounded?
25 A. RC (inaudible).
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1 Q. Does State Exhibit lA which you have in front
2 of you appears to be the same item that you impounded
3 from the scene?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. How do you know?
6 A. Because it has the same serial number.
7 Q. Does that appear to be in the same or
8 substantially same condition as it was when you impounded
9 it from the scene?
10 A. Yes.
11 MS. ARMAGNAC: At this time the State seeks to
12 move evidence what was previously marked for
13 identification as State's Exhibit lA.
14 MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, no objection.
15 JUDGE PRESCOTT: State's Exhibit lA will be
16 admitted into evidence as State's Exhibit 1.
17 (Whereupon, (State)' s Exhibit Number 1 was
18 marked for identification and received into
19 evidence.)
20 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
21 Q. I am now showing you again what is State's
22 Exhibit 1. Can you please describe the size shape and
23 color of the objects?
24 A •
25 Q.
It's black, Glock 17.
How do you know it's a Glock 17?
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1 A. Because we have similar weapons, and it says
2 what size it is on the gun.
3 Q. When you say we have similar weapons, what do
4 you mean?
5 A. We have a Glock also, a 22, and this one is a
6 17.
7 Q. And is this Glock a make of gun?
8 A. Yes.
9 Q. Approximately how heavy is State's Exhibit l?
10 A. (inaudible)
11 Q. Are you familiar with firearms as part your
12 training as a law enforcement officer?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. Is that anything about State's Exhibit 1 that
15 indicates to you that it is a fake or replica of a
16 firearm?
17 A.
18 Q.
19 firearm?
20 A.
21 Q.
22 it loaded?
23 A.
24 Q .
25 A.
No.
Based on your observation of it, is it a real
Yes.
When you observed the firearm on the scene, was
Yes.
Did it appear to be operable?
Yes.
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1 MS. ARMAGNAC: Permission to publish State's
2 Exhibit 1 to the Court.
3 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Yes.
4 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
5 Q. Did you have any contact with Mr. D.V. after
6 you secured the firearm?
7 A. No. After at the station but not at the scene.
8 Q. Did you speak with him at the station?
9 A. Detective Torres. I stood (inaudible) .
10 Q. Did the respondent provide any information as
11 to his age?
12 A . Yes.
13 Q. How old did he say he was at the date of the
14 incident?
15 A. 15.
16 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, there
17 hasn't been any proffer or foundation laid as to how
18 this statement did come out and if the State is trying
19 to introduce it --
20 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Just give me legal basis.
21 MS. ALVAREZ: I would say improper foundation,
22 Your Honor.
23 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Overruled.
24 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
25 Q. So he indicated he was 15 on the date of the
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1 incident?
2 MS. ALVAREZ: And, Your Honor, we would object
3 to hearsay as well.
4 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
5 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
6 Q. Did you do anything to verify his age?
7 A. Yes, we ran him on the computer.
8 Q. Did the computer confirm that 15 years of age?
9 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, hearsay.
10 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Sustained.
11 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
12 Q . Let's talk more about when you observed the
13 respondent and the firearm in the back seat of the Audi.
14 How far was the respondent from the firearm?
15 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor,
16 speculation.
17 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
18 THE WITNESS: He was within arm's reach, and I
19 would say like two or three feet.
20 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
21 Q. As you approached the car, did you observe any
22 movements from the front seat passengers?
23
24
25
A. No.
Q . Did you observe the back seat passenger, Mr.
D.V., making any movements as you approached the car?
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1 A. No.
2 Q. From what you could view of the firearm from
3 outside of the car through the open window, was it
4 immediately apparent to you that it was a firearm?
5 A. Yes.
6 Q. Was there anything covering it?
7 A. No.
8 Q. Did the front seat passengers make any
9 statements while you are on scene?
10 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, relevance.
11 Withdrawn.
12 JUDGE PRESCOTT: You don't want me to rule on
13 it.
14 MS. ALVAREZ: The witness has answered. It's
15 fine.
16 JUDGE PRESCOTT: There was no answer that I
17 heard. Can you just tell me? Withdrawn?
18 MS. ALVAREZ: Yes.
19 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
20 Q. The firearm in this case you indicated that
21 says 17 on it as well as the serial number, does it have
22 any other words or markings?
23 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, relevance, Your Honor,
24 overruled .
25 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
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1 Q. You can see it again if you would like?
2 A. The make and model and the size.
3 Q. And by make and model what do you mean?
4 A. Who made it and the model of the gun? It also
5 has an imprint.
6 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor. I am going
7 to move to strike that.
8 JUDGE PRESCOTT: As to who put it, sustained.
9 MS. ALVAREZ: Yes.
10 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
11 Q. The markings as to who made the when you saw it
12 did that indicate to you who did make the gun?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. Who made the gun?
15 A. Glock.
16 MS. ARMAGNAC: No further questions from the
17 State at this time.
18 CROSS EXAMINATION
19 BY MS. ALVAREZ:
20 Q. Detective Buchanan, so you had encountered my
21 client when you were doing basic patrol, correct?
22 A.
23 Q.
24 right?
25 A.
Correct.
You weren't responding to anything specific;
No.
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1 Q. And you said that you were driving westbound;
2 right?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. And you saw my client -- you saw a vehicle with
5 three passengers in it to the right side, right?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. And on the outside of the vehicle, you saw an
8 individual speaking to the front right passenger of that
9 vehicle?
10 A. Correct.
11 Q. And my client Mr. D.V. was in the rear
12 passenger seat; correct?
13 A. Correct.
14 Q. Inside of that car you saw three juveniles?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. A total of four people by the car if you
17 include the individual who is on the outside speaking to
18 the front passenger? As you drove by and you saw them
19 and you are going westbound and you see them on the right
20 hand side, you don't see any movement, correct?
21 A. Not that I can see.
22 Q. Specifically you don't see my client reach for
23 anything, right?
24 A .
25 Q.
No.
Move down or bend down or anything like that?
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1 A. No.
2 Q. So you say that the car that you saw was in the
3 roadway; correct?
4 A. Correct.
5 Q. And that roadway was a residential area; was it
6 not?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. And the residential roadway where the car was
9 parked was in front of a home; correct?
10 A. Correct.
11 Q. And the roadway where the car was had two
12 lanes, correct, one going north one going south?
13 A. Right.
14 Q. The car you saw was facing southbound, correct?
15 A. Correct.
16 Q. That road has no dividers as far as the
17 northbound lane and the southbound lane?
18 A. Correct.
19 Q. No. And you said it was enough for two cars to
20 get by?
21 A. Yes.
22 Q. You didn't see any cars passing by; right?
23 A. No.
24 Q . So there was no way for you to indicate if
25 traffic was being obstructed; right?
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1 A. At the time I was there no.
2 Q. And, in fact, you decided -- you and Detective
3 Torres decided to go around and turn down the next block
4 rather than driving up to the side of the car; right?
5 A. Right.
6 Q. And that wasn't because you were unable to pull
7 up to the side of the car; right?
8 A. Right.
9 Q. It was training and experience to come up
10 around the rear?
11 A. Right.
12 Q . So other cars would have been able to get pass
13 the vehicle?
14 A. Right.
15 Q. Okay. So let's talk about that approach that
16 you made you. You go around. You turn down the block.
17 You come and you park your car right behind the car that
18 my client was sitting in the back passenger seat;
19 correct?
20 A. Right.
21 Q. And I don't remember your testimony exactly,
22 but you were close to the car that you pulled up to. A
23 couple of feet right behind the car or one or two car
24 lengths, I believe you said?
25 A. No, I didn't.
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1 Q. But you were parked close to the vehicle. Now,
2 upon stopping your vehicle, you activated your lights,
3 correct?
4 A. Correct.
5 Q. And then you also activated your sirens,
6 correct?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. Upon activating your lights and sirens, isn't
9 it true that the individual who was on the outside
10 passenger side of the car speaking to the front passenger
11 occupant, scurried into the house, correct? Ran in there
12 and didn't want to have anything to do with you guys;
13 correct?
14 A. Correct.
15 MS. ARMAGNAC: Objection, calls for
16 speculation.
17 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
18 BY MS. ALVAREZ:
19 Q. Now, let's talk a little about that individual.
20 You have had contact with that individual before?
21 A. His parents.
22 Q. His parents. And you have had to respond to
23 his house for gang related shootings?
24 A .
25 Q.
Correct.
And isn't it true that he never came back out
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1 of that house while you guys were still on scene?
2 A. He just stood at the door.
3 Q. Not coming outside?
4 A. No.
5 Q. And you guys weren't able to speak to him, were
6 you?
7 A. No.
8 Q. So let me back up. So when that person
9 scurries into the house, you guys get out of your car and
10 you are walking up; correct?
11 A. Right.
12 Q . And the windows, all of the car windows were
13 completely down?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. And you didn't see any movement. Were you able
16 to visualize my client as he walked up?
17 A.
18 Q.
19 that time?
20 A.
21 Q.
22 seat?
23 A.
24 Q .
25 A.
I could see him as the rear passenger.
Okay. Did you see him make any movements at
No.
He didn't reach for the driver passenger side
No.
He didn't lean over?
No.
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1 Q. He didn't duck?
2 A. No.
3 Q. He just sat there?
4 A. Yes.
5 Q. And you alerted Detective Torres to what you
6 saw on the seat, correct?
7 A. Yes.
8 Q. What was the color of the item that you saw on
9 the seat?
10 A. Black.
11 Q. And that was it, right?
12 A. Yes .
13 Q. Arrested everyone in the car?
14 A. No, we transported everybody back to the
15 station.
16 Q. Okay. And you arrested my client because he
17 was the one in the back passenger seat; correct?
18 A. Detective Torres arrested him.
19 Q. Now, let's go back to the point. You were
20 present when Detective Torres attempted to speak my
21 client; correct?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. And my client did not provide any statements to
24 the police, did he?
25 A. No.
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1 Q. He voluntarily upon detective's request
2 provided DNA; right?
3 A. Yes.
4 Q. And that DNA was to be tested with the gun to
5 see if he had any dominion or control or any possession
6 of that gun?
7 A. Correct.
8 Q. Do you know whether the gun was tested for
9 fingerprints?
10 A. Everything should have been done. It's not
11 back yet.
12 Q . Do you know whether or not it was tested for
13 fingerprint or it was dusted for fingerprint?
14 A. I don't know if it was tested already or if it
15 is in the process, but that is our policy. It has to go
16 to Miami-Dade labs.
17 Q. And at the process where you were apprehending
18 the individuals who were in the car, my client was
19 cooperative?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Detective, excuse me. You never saw that
22 firearm in my client's hands; did you?
23 A.
24 Q .
25 A.
No.
You never saw it on his person?
No.
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1 Q. And you never did see him attempt to grab it?
2 A. No.
3 MS. ALVAREZ: No further questions.
4 MS. ARMAGNAC: No redirect from the State.
5 Officer, you are free to go.
6 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Defense, any objection for the
7 officer being released from the subpoena?
8 MS. ALVAREZ: No, Your Honor.
9 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Thank you very much.
10 (Whereupon, the witness exited the courtroom.
11 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Next witness.
12 MS. ARMAGNAC: Yes, Your Honor. At this time
13 the State calls Detective Torres.
14 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Sir, if you would be kind
15 enough to come forward and walk around this way and
16 have a seat to my right. Thank you.
17 Whereupon,
18 DETECTIVE BUCHANAN
19 having first been duly sworn, was called as a witness
20 herein and was examined and testified as follows:
21 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Are you okay?
22 THE WITNESS: Yes.
23 DIRECT EXAMINATION
24 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
25 Q. Hi Detective, can you please introduce yourself
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1 to the Court?
2 A. Yes, ma'am. My name is Detective Torres. I am
3 employed by the Miami Gardens Police Department currently
4 assigned to the Gang Enforcement Unit.
5 Q. Were you working for the Miami Gardens Police
6 Department on February 12, 2016 at approximately 14:36 in
7 military time?
8 A. That is correct.
9 Q. Did you participate in a traffic stop at 18000
10 Northwest 7th Place, Miami Gardens, Florida?
11 A. I did.
12 Q . Did you have occasion to come into contact with
13 someone who later became known you on as D.V. on that
14 date and time?
15 A. Yes, the defendant seated at the defense table
16 with the gray polo shirt.
17 Q. How was it that you came into contact with Mr.
18 D.V.?
19 A. On that day, myself and Detective Buchanan who
20 is also assigned to the Gang Unit had been patrolling the
21 area. We were travelling west on 179th Terrace
22 approaching 7th Place. And I looked to my right which
23 would be north.
24
25
MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, calling
for a narrative at this point.
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1 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled. Go ahead.
2 THE WITNESS: I looked to my right on 7th place
3 and observed a white vehicle parked in front of
4 18000 Northwest 7th Place.
5 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
6 Q. Do you remember the make and model of that
7 vehicle?
8 A. At that point, I didn't know what the make and
9 model was. I know it was a four door white Sudan. It
10 was facing southbound. It was facing 179th Terrace.
11 Q. What did you do as you observed this white four
12 door Sudan facing southbound?
13 A. What drew my attention to the vehicle was it
14 was parked on the portion of the roadway which is
15 designated for vehicles that would be travelling
16 southbound on the roadway.
17 And it was anywhere from -- it appeared to be
18 anywhere from 3 or 4 feet away from the edge of the
19 roadway. At that point, we went around. We drove around
20 the block. I believe that would be 8th Avenue. We went
21 around the block and came back. The vehicle was still
22 parked in the same location.
23 Q. If you know approximately how much time passed
24 between when you first observed the vehicle and when you
25 drove around to pull up behind the vehicle?
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1 A. Not very long, a minute two minutes.
2 Q. Did you pull up behind the vehicle?
3 A. Detective Buchanan was driving the vehicle; she
4 did.
5 Q. Were you riding in Detective Buchanan's
6 vehicle?
7 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, leading.
8 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
9 THE WITNESS: That is correct. I was seated in
10 the front passenger's seat.
11 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
12 Q . After Detective Buchanan pulled up behind the
13 vehicle, what did you do?
14 A. She activated emergency police lights and
15 sirens. We both exited the vehicle, approached the
16 vehicle. Detective Buchanan approached on the driver's
17 side of that vehicle from the rear, and I approached on
18 the passenger side.
19 Q. As you were approaching from the passenger
20 side, were you able to observe where Detective Buchanan
21 was standing?
22 A. She was standing -- we were both parallel to
23 each other as with we approached the vehicle. She was
24 just seconds from me and at that time I was able to
25 determine that the vehicle was an Audi, a white Audi.
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1 Q. Were you able to observe how many occupants
2 were in the white Audi?
3 A. Yes, I was able to determine there were three
4 occupants in the vehicle. One being the driver in
5 driver's seat, front right passenger, and rear passenger
6 being the defendant, later found to be the defendant.
7 Q. As you and Detective Buchanan were approaching
8 the vehicle what happened?
9 A. As Detective Buchanan arrived at the rear left
10 passenger side of the vehicle she yelled out gun.
11 Alerted me there was a presence of a gun. At that time I
12 drew my firearm of what she had observed .
13 Q. After drawing your firearm, what did you do?
14 A. I cleared -- visually scanned the interior the
15 vehicle. And I could see that in fact it was a gun
16 laying in plain view right beside the defendant. The
17 defendant's left leg was approximately 6 or 12 inches
18 from his left thigh.
19 MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, objection to the
20 statement plain view and that calls for a legal
21 conclusion.
22 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled.
23 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
24
25
Q . You said that the gun was 6 to 12 inches from
the respondent's thigh. Was it on the seat or was it on
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1 the floor?
2 A. It was laying on the seat.
3 Q. Was anything covering the gun?
4 A. No, ma' am.
5 Q. Based on what you observed of this item, did it
6 appear to be a real firearm?
7 A. Yes. And the reason being is I have been
8 working for Miami Gardens for the last eight going on
9 nine years. And I have only dealt with Glocks issued
10 Glocks so I am familiar with the appearance of a Glock.
11 Q. Was the firearm sitting next in the respondent
12 a Glock?
13 A. That is correct.
14 Q. And you recognized it as such because of your
15 training and experience?
16 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor asked and
17 answered.
18 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Leading.
19 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
20 Q. Sorry. Did you recognize it to be a firearm?
21 A. I recognized it.
22 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, asked
23 and answered.
24 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled .
25 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
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1 Q. Did you recognize it to be a firearm?
2 A. I recognized it to be a firearm. That is
3 correct.
4 Q. How did you recognize it as such?
5 A. Well, it resembled the firearms that were
6 issued to Miami Gardens. I have had a number of gun
7 arrests which involved the seizure of Glock's, and I can
8 tell it was a firearm with a trigger mechanism and
9 semiautomatic by its shape and its barrel and it's slide.
10 Q. Based on your observations of the firearm which
11 was found sitting next to the respondent, was it a real
12 firearm?
13 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor,
14 speculation. Can we sidebar real fast?
15 JUDGE PRESCOTT: I have the objection.
16 Overruled.
17 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
18 Q. Based on what you observed, was it a real
19 firearm?
20 A. Yes, there were no indications on the firearm
21 from what I can see that it was a toy gun with the orange
22 barrel at the front. I didn't visually examine the
23 handgun
24 MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, at this point we
25 would be renewing again our objection.
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1 JUDGE PRESCOTT: And it will be sustained at
2 this time.
3 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
4 Q. Did you have any contact with -- did you arrest
5 the respondent on scene?
6 A. Yes.
7 Q. Did you have any contact with him after the
8 arrest?
9 A. Yes.
10 Q. Did you ask him what his date of birth was?
11 A. Yes.
12 MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, as to
13 foundation. We don't know when these statements were
14 made whether he was in a custodial interrogation.
15 THE WITNESS:
16 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Overruled.
17 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
18 Q. While you are having contact with him after his
19 arrest, did you ask him what his date of birth was?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. Do you remember his date of birth?
22 A. I would have to look at the A-form.
23 Q. Would reviewing the A-form refresh your
24 recollection as to his date of birth?
25 A. Yes. I know the year was 2000. I am not sure
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1 about the month.
2 MS. ARMAGNAC: Showing Defense Counsel the
3 arrest affidavit.
4 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Per your objection, Counsel,
5 even if he was in custodial interrogation for
6 background, information such as this is admitted.
7 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
8 Q. Okay. Is your recollection refreshed as to his
9 date of birth?
10 A. Yes, 11/01/2000.
11 Q. Because the respondent was born on 11/1/2000
12 was he under the age of 18 on February 12, 2016?
13 A. That is correct.
14 Q. Let's go back to why you approached the white
15 Audi. Did you have a clear view of all three occupants
16 as you approached the vehicle?
17 A. Yes.
18 Q. Did you observe them making any movements as
19 you approached the vehicle?
20 A. No, I did not observe any further movements.
21 MS. ARMAGNAC: No further questions for this
22 witness at this time.
23 MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, may I please approach
24 the State on sidebar before I begin my cross
25 examination.
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JUDGE PRESCOTT: Come on.
(Whereupon, the following sidebar occurred.)
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, in regards to the
admissions regarding his age. It was for the
purposes of putting together background information.
At this point I would like to argue to have those
admissions struck because they are hearsay at that
point it's not an admission. If you are accepting
it under just background information, it's a hearsay
issue.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Hearsay of your client?
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor, because I would
say that of my client it would be an admission of my
client and this is not considered
JUDGE PRESCOTT: So when you go back you just
make your objection and proffer the admission of the
statement and I will rule.
(Whereupon, the sidebar was concluded.)
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I would object
and ask the Court to strike any testimony from the
witness -- both witnesses regarding my client's age.
As the Court indicated those statements were made in
order to fill out background information, Your
Honor .
And it would be an improper admission because
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1 at that point the Defense's position is that it
2 would not be considered an admission by party
3 opponent implicating him of this crime.
4 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Overruled. You can do
5 your cross-examination.
6 MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor.
7 CROSS EXAMINATION
8 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
9 Q. Detective Torres?
10 A. Good morning.
11 Q. Good morning. You came into contact with my
12 client at a time that you were patrolling a given area;
13 correct?
14 A. That is correct.
15 Q. You weren't on specific -- responding to a
16 specific call, right?
17 A. That is correct.
18 Q. You were driving around the area and you saw
19 the
20 car in the roadway; right?
21 A. Yes, ma'am.
22 Q. Okay. Now, you drove by the car and the car
23 that my client was inside of was to your right, correct?
24 A .
25 Q.
That is correct.
And you were sitting in the right passenger
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1 seat of Detective Buchanan's police vehicle right?
2 A. Yes, ma'am.
3 Q. And that's an unmarked vehicle, correct?
4 A. Yes?
5 Q. Now, as you were driving westbound, you looked
6 to your right and you see a car as you called the travel
7 portion of the road?
8 A. That is correct.
9 Q. Let's talk about this roadway a little bit.
10 This is a residential neighborhood; correct?
11 A. Yes, ma'am.
12 Q . And the car that you saw my client in the back
13 seat of was parked in front of a home; right?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. Now, on that roadway in that residential area
16 it has two lanes, right?
17 A. Yes north and sound bound.
18 Q. And there is no divider in the middle, correct?
19 A. No.
20 Q. And there is no designated break area or
21 shoulder area for cars to park, correct?
22 A. No designated area. That is correct.
23 Q. So now you didn't see any cars driving on that
24 roadway, correct?
25 A. Not at that time of the observation.
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1 Q. And the suspicion that you had was that you saw
2 a car parked in the roadway, right?
3 A. Right.
4 Q. When you were driving by and you saw the car to
5 your right hand side, you didn't see anyone fidgeting;
6 right?
7 A. No, I couldn't. But I was a distance away.
8 Q. But you didn't notice anybody moving.
9 Specifically you didn't notice my client making any
10 movements at that time?
11 A. That is correct.
12 Q . Now, you would have pulled up on the side of
13 the car had -- you were able to pull up on the side of
14 the car, but you chose to go around the block and pull up
15 behind, correct?
16 A. Yes, based on our training.
17 Q. Absolutely. But if you wanted to you would be
18 able to pull up on the side?
19 A. If there were astringent circumstances probably
20 yes.
21 Q. Okay. So you and Detective Buchanan, Buchanan
22 driving, pulls around the side and pulls up?
23 A.
24 block .
25 Q.
Not on around the side. We go around the
I apologize. That is what I meant. Around the
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• 1 block and then you pull up behind the car that you first
2 observed when driving westbound?
3 A. That is correct.
4 Q. And Detective Buchanan activates her lights;
5 correct?
6 A. Right and sirens.
7 Q. And her sirens, correct?
8 A. Just most momentarily of our presence.
9 Q. Okay. So she hits the siren momentarily that's
10 like a whoop or something like that?
11 A. Yes, ma'am.
12 Q . You get out of your vehicles; right?
• 13 A. Yes, ma'am.
14 Q. And you are approaching the passenger's side,
15 and Detective Buchanan is approaching the driver's side;
16 correct?
17 A. Yes, ma'am.
18 Q. And the windows in the car are not completely
19 down, but they are more than halfway down?
20 A. More than halfway down that I recall.
21 Q. And Detective Buchanan alerts you to something
22 in the back seat; right?
23 A. Yes, a gun. Yells out gun.
24 Q. She yells out gun; right?
• 25 A. Yes, ma'am.
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1 Q. Not 55?
2 A. I heard gun. She may have said 55, but I heard
3 gun.
4 Q. You heard gun.
5 A. She could have said both, but I don't recall.
6 Q. So it was that alert that actually alerted to
7 you gun, correct?
8 A. That is correct. It could be a second or two.
9 She has got one threat which is the driver on her side.
10 I have two on my side. I don't know. I am focusing on
11 the rear passenger and the front right passenger.
12 Q . Okay.
13 A. When she yells about gun and then I think about
14 the gun.
15 Q. You are focusing on the rear passenger and the
16 front passenger, but you don't see the gun until
17 Detective Buchanan yells her words, correct?
18 A. That is correct, ma'am.
19 Q. Now, after Detective Buchanan makes that alert,
20 you look into the car and you see something on the seat;
21 right?
22 A. A handgun.
23 Q. And you say that handgun was about 6 to 12
24 inches from my client's leg?
25 A. Approximately.
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1 Q. And it was black; correct?
2 A. That is correct.
3 Q. And you can see my client, right, at this point
4 when you are approaching and Detective Buchanan yells
5 gun. You can see him; right?
6 A. That is right.
7 Q. My client doesn't make any gestures towards the
8 gun; does he?
9 A. No, ma'am.
10 Q. Doesn't make any gestures to try to escape or
11 avoid?
12 A • No, ma'am.
13 Q. He doesn't duck down?
14 A. No, ma'am.
15 Q. He didn't wave his arms?
16 A. No.
17 Q. He doesn't make any threats?
18 A. No.
19 Q. And that is about it; right?
20 A. Yes.
21 Q. You arrested my client right after that; right?
22 A. Yes.
23 Q. Now, you took my client back to the station and
24 try to speak to him about what happened?
25 A. Yes, ma'am.
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1 Q. And he didn't make any statements to you; did
2 he?
3 A. No, he didn't.
4 Q. He was cooperative, correct?
5 A. Yes, ma'am.
6 Q. You actually asked him if you can have a DNA
7 swab?
8 A. That is correct.
9 Q. For the purposes of trying to match his gun to
10 his dominion and control?
11 A. That is correct.
12 Q . And he provided you that sample; right?
13 A. Yes, ma'am.
14 Q. The gun that you collected that day you never
15 had it dusted or tested for prints?
16 A. No, I didn't. We did request cr~me scene, our
17 scene, but they were tied up on a call. They couldn't
18 respond so at that point I just submitted it for NIBEN
19 and DNA testing.
20 Q. So that gun was never tested for prints because
21 CSI just couldn't make it over there?
22 A. That is correct.
23 Q. Let's talk a little bit about the gun that you
24 found. The firearm you say that nothing indicated to you
25 that it was a toy gun, right?
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1 A. That is correct.
2 Q. And you believe that because it didn't have
3 anything glaring like the orange written on the bottom of
4 the toy gun?
5 A. That is correct. And I was familiar with
6 Glocks.
7 Q. Are you familiar with fake Glocks?
8 A. The training ones are usually blue.
9 Q. What about fake Glock's that are just on the
10 street? Are you familiar with them?
11 A. I haven't encountered that.
12 Q. Now, you said did have it gun sent in for
13 NI BEN?
14 A. NIBEN to check for tool impression marks.
15 Q. And the purpose of sending that to NIBEN is to
16 ensure that it's a working firearm, right.
17 A. That is correct.
18 Q. Because you never shot the gun, correct?
19 A. That is correct.
20 Q. And you wouldn't shoot the gun because that is
21 not protocol?
22 A. That is correct.
23 Q. So you don't know whether or not this is
24 operable firearm?
25 MS. ARMAGNAC: Objection, relevance.
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1 Operability is not an element of this crime.
2 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Defense.
3 MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I believe it's
4 relevant as to the investigation that was done in
5 regards to this case.
6 JUDGE PRESCOTT: Sustained.
7 BY MS. ARMAGNAC:
8 Q. Last two questions, detective. I know the
9 State went over this with you. But in that car there
10 were three occupants; right?
11 A. Yes, ma'am.
12 Q . There was the driver?
13 A. Yes.
14 Q. A passenger in the front?
15 A. Yes.
16 Q. And my client who was a passenger behind the
17 passenger side so the rear passenger seat?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q. Okay. You don't know whether or not there was
20 anyone at any point sitting in that other passenger seat,
21 do you?
22 A.
23
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No.
MS. ARMAGNAC: No further questions.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Any redirect?
MS. ARMAGNAC: No redirect for this officer.
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JUDGE PRESCOTT: Any objection to him being
released from the subpoena.
MS. ALVAREZ: No, Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Thank you very much, sir. You
may step down.
THE WITNESS: Yes, Your Honor.
(Whereupon, the witness exited the courtroom.)
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State has no other
witnesses. At this time we rest.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Thank you.
MS. ALVAREZ: And, Your Honor, the Defense
moves for judgment Judgement of Dismissal, Your
Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Are you prepared?
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I began openings
statements telling you that mere proximity isn't
enough. This case that has come before you has so
many situations like that statement that plagues
this case where the only just verdict would be a
dismissal, Your Honor.
Near proximity isn't enough. Joint occupancy -
- we have so many legal issues here, Your Honor.
Even taken in the light with the facts most
favorable to the State, Your Honor, the State has
not put forth a prima facie case of possession of a
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firearm by a minor.
Now, Your Honor, the State must prove to you my
client was under the age 18 and in the possession of
firearm. What the State must prove to you whether
he was in actual possession or constructive
possession.
For actual possession of a firearm, Your Honor
the State needs to prove that the firearm was in my
client's hand which they have not, in a container in
my client's hand, which they did not and within my
client's ready reach and under his control, Your
Honor .
So if the State is attempting to proceed on a
case of ready reach they have another hurdle, Your
Honor, and that hurdle is dominion and control.
Now, Your Honor, for argument's sake while
pondering this case something that I wanted to bring
to this Court is whether the State can actually go
ever forward on a case of constructive possession of
a firearm when they are talking about possession of
a firearm by a minor.
What makes a firearm illegal when it's
possessed by a minor, is that it's in his actual
possession, that a child possesses a firearm. So
theoretically, Your Honor, I don't have case law for
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this. But it's a thought that I have been
processing as I have been going forward in this
case.
Think about a juvenile, even this juvenile and
this case who is in a car with someone else who has
a gun in the glove box. There is no way that you
find that juvenile in possession of that gun because
he was simply in the car with it.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Absolutely. Correct.
MS. ALVAREZ: Now, Your Honor, the State has
not proven their case to you even in more likely
than that context. What the State has provided with
you is a vehicle with three occupants. What the
State also brought you is a witness that said there
was a forth individual outside of that car and that
fourth individual ran inside of the house upon
lights and sirens. Now, Your Honor, the detectives
told you the car was unmarked when that car first
came up. That person had no idea it was police.
And that person ran because that was his gun, Your
Honor.
Now, I bring this up to say to Your Honor that
one cannot possess what is not his. One cannot
possess what belongs to another. And this brings us
back to dominion and control.
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JUDGE PRESCOTT: Isn't possession and ownership
two different things?
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, in my going through
the definition and going through researching I have
found case law that distinguishes between ownership
and possession, yes. But finds that if there is
ownership, there can't be possession by another.
And actually I will provide you with this case, Your
Honor.
It is a case of a house. I will admit that
that has does have some facts that are distinct in
the fact that it is a home. However, it does stand
for the proposition that when somebody is let's say
a visitor in a home, a passenger in a car. And
there was something within that vehicle that belongs
to the owner of that car or we have reason to think
belongs to the owner of that home. A mere visitor a
mere passenger cannot be said to possess, if I may.
Maybe the case will be a little more clear than what
I am saying, Your Honor.
So, Your Honor in this case it's the case of
Taylor vs. State 319 So 2d 114. It comes out of the
Second DCA, Your Honor. And I have provided this to
the Court specifically to say that a visitor with no
apparent ability to treat a premises as their own,
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can't be found to be in possession of what is in
that premises, Your Honor.
Now, this case like I said it's factual
distinct in that it involves a home and not a car.
The officer looks through the window of the house
and sees males smoking what appeared to be a
marijuana cigarette. There are marijuana particles
on the cushions. There was a smell of marijuana
everywhere. The defendant in this case did not own
the premises. Similar as my client who did not own
or any have any tie to the vehicle he was sitting
in .
Here the only evidence that the State could
provide about dominion and control, Your Honor, was
the ability to reduce it to her personal dominion or
was her proximity to it. That is what it is. Your
Honor, the only evidence brought to show that she in
this case could reduce the marijuana to her dominion
and control was her near proximity. And Your Honor,
that is what we have here.
We have officers that stood up before you and
said he never even made a movement to it. Never
even alluded to it. Not a single statement, not
DNA, not fingerprints .
The only thing that the State has for you, Your
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Honor, is the fact that he was in the back seat of
the car. Now, going back to what we talked about
earlier. If the State -- if they want to go to a
ready reach, Your Honor, they must also prove
dominion and control.
And the fact that near proximity is the only
evidence of dominion and control that they can
provide is prima facie insufficient, the elements
are not met.
I am not going to spend much time arguing on
the knowledge, Your Honor. I understand that the
item was in plain view and that plain view gives a
presumption to the State. The only thing I am going
to say about that element, Your Honor, is there
needs to be more than mere proximity on the item in
plain view to imagine without a doubt that this
respondent actually saw what was sitting on that
seat. The State didn't tell you what color the car
seats were. We don't know whether or not those car
seats were black just like the color of that gun.
So I would say that the presumption is in the
State's favor since it was plain view.
However, I will provide to you that the
evidence that was given to you questions that .
Questions whether or not that in knowledge plain
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view from my client. This turns down to, Your
Honor, to dominion and control. The case law is
incredible clear, Your Honor, throughout all of the
districts that joint occupancy raises the
presumption that there is no exclusive possession of
this gun.
I submit to Your Honor all of the facts that
the officers gave to you not a single fact they
provided to you gives you any probative reason to
believe that respondent, that my client, had
exclusive possession. No statements, no DNA,
nothing. In fact what they give you is the
possibility of very real possibility of a person who
was sitting in that seat, got dropped off, went
around the side to talk to his friend, and scurried
back into his house and he wasn't going to come back
to own up to that gun, Your Honor. He wasn't going
to come back. He wasn't going to come back for my
client.
Your Honor, the next case that I would like to
provide you with is Hill vs. State. It comes out of
the first DCA. 736 So. 2d 133.
If I may. And, Your Honor I will provide you
this case again to say that if the State is going to
use mere proximity to determine dominion and control
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they must prove that their case is inconsistent with
every reasonable hypothesis of innocence, Your
Honor.
In this case what we have here is the appellant
who was accompanied by a front seat driver in a car.
Officers found cocaine in a bag just barely
underneath the floor, the front seat of the driver,
Your Honor. It was partially concealed underneath
the seat, partially, so the facts are aligned here
where we have plain view partially concealed
possible visibly.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: There is no partially about
this.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I would argue there
is partial if we can't determine whether or not the
seats of the car were white or a color that made it
visible.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: So you saying that the State's
Exhibit 1 if the seats were black that it would be
MS. ALVAREZ: I am saying this Court doesn't
know. And, Your Honor, I cite this case to you
because again mere proximity is insufficient to
prove dominion and control and it needs to be
inconsistent with the hypothesis of innocence.
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And I draw your attention to the fourth
paragraph from the top that begins while Appellant
sitting in passenger seat might have seen the bag if
he looked for it or reached under the seat for it.
This does not support a finding that the appellant
had a knowledge of his its presence or any time
controlled it.
No fingerprints on the bag. There were no
fingerprints on the cocaine. And the State in that
case actually noted that the contraband was near the
appellant's feet and that he should have seen it.
However, the Court there says, Your Honor,
circumstances other than mere location of the
substance from which the jury may infer knowledge
there needs to be more than simple more proximity,
Your Honor. And, Your Honor, for the sake of just
providing you with my last case. This case sums
everything that I have told you will right now.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: I prefer if you give me the
cases so I can read them;
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I provide you this
case from the Second DCA which is NH vs. State 111
So. 3d 950.
And I provide this to you, Your Honor, and I
provide this to you especially on the second
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photograph second full photograph from the top. As
a discussed, whether the State proceeds under actual
ready reach possession theory or under constructive
theory it must prove that the contraband was under
the accused control. The requisite control cannot
be proved merely by proximity.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And what were the facts in this
one. They saw something in his hand but they were
unable to tell what it was. And when they located
him, they were three people standing around. And
where was the gun found?
MS. ALVAREZ: In the area where they were
standing. Do you find that be full factually
completely distinct?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Go ahead.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I would argue that
the facts that are very similar. If Your Honor,
find the facts to be distinct I would be happy to
line them up. Essentially what you have is three
you have is through juveniles there. You have three
juveniles there. You have three juveniles sitting
in a specific location there. You have three
juveniles sitting in a specific location here in the
car .
You have there yes officers unable to will
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identify what it was. Here, you have officers who
didn't even know there was a gun. They were just
coming up to just check on the car. So I think that
enough similar to have the same reasonable
inferences of this Court, Your Honor.
Then what happens in that case is one of the
juveniles tosses the gun. They actually saw
someone. Make a furtive movement. That's not
something that we have in this case, Your Honor.
What this case stands for, Your Honor, is that
for dominion and control there must be something
more than mere proximity, Your Honor. Nothing was
provided to you other than D.V.'s proximity to that
firearm that was sitting in the car. And, Your
Honor, that is insufficient to survive a motion for
Judgement of Dismissal.
As such we ask you to please to enter a not
delinquent, Your Honor. And, Your Honor, we renew
all defense motions and objections.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: The rulings remain.
MS. ARMAGNAC: May The State respond, Your
Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Yes, please.
MS. ARMAGNAC: Turning first to Defense
counsel's representation that the person who was at
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window of the car speaking to the front passenger
was the owner of the gun.
The State would like to point out that the
Court heard no such evidence. The officers didn't
testify that they ever saw the person talking at the
window holding a gun. They didn't know this gun to
specifically belong to him. So the State would
request that the Court just remember the evidence
that was heard, and there was no indicating that
this gun belonged to the person who is talking at
the window or to any specific person other than the
respondent at the time that he was in constructive
possession of it.
Case law pertaining to constructive possession
as it relates to felons in possession of firearms
indicates that in order to prove constructive
possession the State must prove that the respondent
knew that the firearm was within his presence. He
had or shared dominion and control of the over
firearm, and he knew of the firearm's illicit
nature.
The Defense argues that in order to prove
constructive possession in this case the State must
have something more than mere proximity some sort of
independent evidence. That is only in a situation
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when it's clear that the other people in the area
also have constructive possession of the contraband.
MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor, I believe
that is a mischaracterization of the law.
MS. ARMAGNAC: I pulled case law on the issue.
I only printed one copy of each. I can argue the
case law if the Court would like it.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Go ahead. I know the law.
MS. ARMAGNAC: So in this case you didn't
hear any evidence as to how close the front seat
passengers were to the gun. The officers didn't
testify that the front passengers tried to reach
into the back seat. The front seat passengers
didn't make any admissions like indicating that the
gun actually belonged to them. There is nothing
even indicating that the front seat passengers knew
that this gun was in the back seat. The officers
didn't testify that they turned around that these
front seat people turned and saw the gun. There is
nothing establishing that the front seat people had
any dominion or control over the gun.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, I am going to object
to burden shifting.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: I am sorry .
MS. ALVAREZ: we are going to object to burden
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shifting as it's not our responsibility to
JUDGE PRESCOTT: That is correct. You do not
have any burden to present anything.
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State is just pointing out
there was no testimony indicating that these
front seat passengers were even aware of the
presence of the gun. If the State were trying to
prove that the front seat passengers were in
constructive possession we would probably fail.
MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Overruled. Go ahead.
MS. ARMAGNAC: There is nothing showing that
these front seat passengers were aware of the
firearm, aware of his illicit nature or they this
any dominion or control over it. The only person
who would have been aware of the firearm's illicit
nature, who had any dominion or control over the
firearm, and who is aware that the firearm was in
his presence, was this respondent here, D.V.
As to whether the respondent knew of the
firearm's illicit nature which is one of the
elements of constructive possession, the Court heard
testimony indicating this was very clear to those
officers that this was in fact a firearm. It was
marked with the words Glock 17 which Detective
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Buchanan testified signifies that it is the make and
model of the firearm.
The detective was able to see the markings on
the gun. The respondent was sitting right next to
the gun. So presumably he was able to see those
markings as well. The officer testified that this
was very easily a firearm.
The State argues that because the respondent
was so close to the firearm it was sitting right
next to him on the seat. He had ample opportunity
to observe this as well and to become aware of the
firearm's illicit nature .
As to dominion and control over the firearm,
both officers testified that this firearm appeared
to be within the respondent's arm reach, arm's reach
of the respondent and that he was the only person
seating in the back seat. As to whether or not the
respondent knew that the firearm was within his
presence, again, Your Honor, it was sitting right
next to him on the seat. It was daytime. Both
officers were able to see it outside of the car.
The State's position is that the respondent was
also able to see the firearm from inside of the car
sitting right next to it .
Responding to some of the case law that the
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Defense provided. They provided Taylor vs. State
319 So. 2d 114. The defendant in Taylor vs. State
is described as being a mere visitor to the premises
with no apparent authority just to treat the drugs
as her own. That's not what we have here. The
respondent is not a mere visitor. He was a back
seat passenger in the car.
Additionally, in the Taylor case, the drugs are
described to be on the floor next to the sofa where
the defendant was sitting here. Those drugs were
not sitting directly next to the respondent on the
sofa. They were in fact on the floor may have been
partially concealed by the sofa. So in Taylor it's
more believable that the defendant in Taylor didn't
know that the drugs were there because of their
location. That's not what we have here. The gun
wasn't on the gun. It wasn't partially next to the
sofa. It was sitting directly next to it this
respondent.
Similar facts in Hill vs. State, 736 So. 2d
133. The drugs in the Hill case were partially
concealed. And, again, the officers in our case
testified there was nothing covering the gun and
that it was in plain view .
And so for those reasons Taylor and Hill are
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distinguishable from this case and should not
control. Additionally, Hill and Taylor are drug
cases. The charge crime is completely different.
The State argues that the legislative intent would
be different as well. The laws about minors in
possession of firms have a completely different
intent than laws about people possessing drugs. The
legislative intent is that minors and guns should
never be near each other because it's a danger to
the community.
MS. ARMAGNAC: Objection, Your Honor, as to
mischaracterization because I don't believe it's a
legislative intent to have people around drugs
either.
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State is arguing that the
two laws are distinguishable.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: All right. Proceed. Go ahead.
MS. ARMAGNAC: And as to any NH vs. State 111 So
3d 950 as to the Court pointed out the facts of NH
are quite different from the facts in this case as
well.
When the officers saw the respondent and each
holding an item they were not sure immediately
whether it was contraband. And then when they
located what they believed to be the same item NH
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and several other people were surrounding it.
That's not the issue that we have here in our case.
The gun remained stationary for the entire time, but
the officers observed it.
It remained sitting on the seat next to this
respondent and he was only one that had constructive
possession of it per the evidence in this case.
There is nothing indicating that front seat people
had constructive possession. The evidence indicates
that this respondent was the only one.
And when this respondent is the one with
constructive possession, knowledge of the elicit
nature and of the presence of the item, can be
inferred from the evidence that is presented. If it
were a case where multiple people had constructive
possession the State would have to prove something
additional. But that is not the situation here.
This respondent is the only one with constructive
possession. So circumstantially knowledge of the
item, knowledge of the items illicit nature, can be
inferred circumstantially from the evidence that was
presented.
MS. ALVAREZ: And, Your Honor, on that last
thing I am going to object. It's completely against
any legal research that I found as far as
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constructive possession.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Thank you. Objection
overruled.
MS. ALVAREZ: If I may clarify to the Court.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Go ahead.
MS. ALVAREZ: Of the cases that I have found
that deal with that say -- especially under a case
for constructive possession when we are dealing
circumstantial evidence that there must be
independent proof.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: There must be something other
than the proximity that must be established by the
State.
MS. ALVAREZ: Especially going under
constructive Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: The Court is familiar with the
law.
MS. ALVAREZ: Thank you, Your Honor.
MS. ARMAGNAC: The State's reading of those
cases is that the excerpt only allows applies when
there are multiple people who are in constructive
possession. And that is not what we have here.
That's not what the evidence shows.
Accordingly, the State believes that we have an
at least an established a prima facie case and we
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request that the motion of Judgement of Dismissal be
denied.
MS. ALVAREZ: the only response Your Honor is
that the fact that it's joint occupancy vehicle
according to the case law raises a presumption of
constructive possession.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: It's your argument that it is
occupied by three other people. It's the State
argument that the two other people that were in the
front of the car. He was only one in the back of
the car, and there was no testimony concerning any
further movement by anybody else. I understand
their argument and I understand yours. And I said I
understand the law.
MS. ALVAREZ: Just for clarification.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: I got you. Okay. The
Court has listened to the argument for the Judgement
of Dismissal. Understanding where we stand right
now, taking the evidence in the light most favorable
to the State and understanding the law as I
understand it to be, the Motion for Judgement of
Dismissal will be denied.
MS. ALVAREZ: Your Honor, at this time may I
please speak with my client?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Yes. Young man, if you come
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back in here showing your underwear like that, you
are going to serve five days.
(Off the record.)
( 12 : 2 9 : 4 5 p. m .. )
(Whereupon, the proceedings were continued.)
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. We are back in the
record with young Mr. D.V. All parties are present.
Mr. D.V. is present. Would you like to wait for
your husband, ma'am?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: He is checking on the
car.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: He is checking on the car. Is
it okay to go ahead?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Counsel, you had an opportunity
to speak to young Mr. D.V.?
MS. ALVAREZ: I did, Your Honor. Mr. D.V. is
going to remain silent and allow me to do the
argument.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Young Mr. D.V., this is
your day of trial. You have the right to proceed to
trial and have the State try to prove you guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt and since the burden is
upon the State to try to prove you guilty, you have
the right to remain silent.
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That means you don't have to say anything.
You don't have to do anything. No one can force you
to testify and your silence would not be used
against you. Do you understand that?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: But although you have the right
to remain silent you also have the right to testify
if you choose to. You make a determination as to
whether or not you want to testify after conferring
with your lawyer.
Your lawyer will give you their legal opinion
as to whether or not you should testify and give you
the pros and cons about testifying. But you your
lawyer cannot make the decision the decision for you
as whether or not you testify. That decision is
yours. Do you understand?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Have you had an opportunity to
speak to your lawyer to determine whether or not you
are going to testify?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Has your lawyer given you your
their advice.
THE DEFENDANT: Yes .
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Have you made up your mind?
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THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Tell me what you wish to do,
young man.
THE DEFENDANT: Remain silent.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Very well. Is that your
decision?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. Counsel, anything else
that you would like to present?
MS. ALVAREZ: No, Your Honor, other than
closing arguments unless Your Honor is willing to
have a second Judgement of Dismissal .
JUDGE PRESCOTT: There is no second JOD.
MS. ALVAREZ: Then, no, Your Honor we would
just like to move to closing.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: You have the bread and then you
have closing. So you can proceed.
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor. Your Honor, Mr.
.V. is innocent. The only thing that Mr. D.V. did
that day is drive in a car to his friend's house.
Mr. D.V. is innocent. Your Honor, the State has not
proven their case beyond and to the exclusion of
each and every reasonable doubt, Your Honor.
Throughout this closing I am going to give not
just one piece of reasonable doubt but multiple
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pieces of reasonable doubt. And the first thing
that I would like to address actually, the words
that the State put in their own mouth, in their
Judgement of Dismissal, the State indicated to you -
- attempted to indicate that because there were no
statements from the driver or the front passenger --
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Let me stop you for a second.
During the Judgement of Dismissal, you made an
objection as to burden shifting.
The Court did not see it as burden shifting.
More specifically, the Court took the argument made
by the State as to what the State was and was not
able to present during their case in chief. I did
not see it as a burden shifting. What I saw it was
whether or not they were able to carry their water.
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor. Then, on that
account, Your Honor, and what I was going to explain
was what the State presented to you is an extensive
lack of evidence.
What they brought to you is two other
individuals I am just going to say the two other
individuals in the car who they did not bring
anything forth saying excluding to every reasonable
doubt that that firearm belonged to either of them .
Additionally, Your Honor, the lack of evidence
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that was presented to you by the detectives, the
detectives tell you they saw someone scurry into a
house as soon as they turn on their lights and
sirens. The detective tells you that that person is
known to them.
That detective tells you they have been to
that house for shootings, gun related. What did
these detectives do? They didn't even speak him.
The detective told you we didn't try. He was
inside. We didn't go in. We didn't go to them.
That is a lack of evidence, Your Honor.
The fact that there is no evidence from either
of the driver or the front passenger, no statements,
no DNA swab, what that tells you is no investigation
was done, Your Honor, what that tells you is that
everyone jumped to the conclusion that my client
possessed that firearm. And it's not true and my
client is innocent, Your Honor.
Now, I may come back to the lack of evidence
because there is a lot of lack of evidence in here.
But I think that the evidence that has been
provided to, Your Honor is inc~edibly probative of
my client's innocence.
Your Honor, the State -- and, again, to
regurgitate the own words of the State. He was
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charged with this crime because he was so close to
it. That is it. Your Honor, near proximity is
insufficient. The evidence that was presented to
you, Your Honor, is that there was a firearm on the
seat allegedly in plain view on the seat next to my
client.
Now, what does a normal person do when a police
siren go on and lights go on and they know there is
a gun right there and they know may maybe under the
age. What do they do? They make furtive moments.
They hide, they move. They try to conceal the gun.
These officers came up to you and very plainly said
to you no movements whatsoever. None.
I suggest to you, Your Honor, I understand that
the State has the presumption of plain view.
However, this fact, the fact that no furtive
movements especially upon hearing a siren, suggests
that my client didn't see what was on that seat.
Again, actually I am going to turn back to the
lack of evidence because what did these officers
say. They said no statements were made by my
client. They said my client voluntarily submitted a
DNA swab. Where is that DNA swab, Your Honor?
Where is it? It's not here because my client is
innocent.
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These officers didn't give you any evidence as
far as DNA swabbing of anyone else. These officers
didn't give you any evidence as far as anyone else
because they didn't care, Your Honor. All they
wanted to do is jump to a conclusion, write up a
case, put the kid that was in the back seat, charge
him with the gun, and call it a day, Your Honor.
Your Honor, the State I imagine when they get
up to respond may touch on dominion and control.
But as of right now, not a shred of evidence has
been presented as far as dominion and control.
Dominion and control alone circumstantially cannot
be proven. There must be independent proof, Your
Honor. No movements, no statements, no
fingerprints, nothing. Mere proximity being in the
back seat. Honestly the inconsistencies between the
officers are very minor. One officer says that the
firearm was 2 to 3 feet within the arm span of my
client.
The other officer said the firearm was 6 to 12
inches from my leg. Minor inconsistencies.
However, Your Honor, to point it out it's an
inconsistency as to exactly where it was located
where the firearm was located .
Additionally, we have one officer saying that
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the windows were completely down. The other officer
saying that the windows were partially down. I know
these are minor, Your Honor. However, these details
do matter. It goes to show the lack of
investigation and the lack of police work that went
into this.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Mr. Stewart, dad is putting on
his belt. Tell him to come in anyway. Tell him to
come in so he can hear the argument.
MS. ALVAREZ: And you heard, Your Honor, just
again to draw out this concept of no investigation
and jumping to conclusions. What did Detective
Buchanan tell you? She said yes the gun was dusted
for prints. It was absolutely dusted for prints.
That is policy. If you remember she said that. I
called Detective Torres up here and I asked him were
they tested for prints and he told me that CSI
couldn't make it there to do it. This is my
client's life. I know that we are in juvenile
court, Your Honor, but this is a big deal.
CSI couldn't make it out to fingerprint the gun
but my client sits before you where the State is
supposed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he
had dominion and control. That is unacceptable .
It's unacceptable, Your Honor. It's a lack of
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police work. It's a reasonable doubt, Your Honor.
Your Honor, for the last part of my first
closing. I am going to focus on dominion and
control, Your Honor. The State seems to be moving
under a constructive possession argument, Your
Honor. I want to remind you of theoretical
discussion that we had on JOO regarding this idea of
a firearm on its own is not illegal.
What makes it illegal is its actual to
possession on a minor. Now I have told you that I
don't have case law on that, Your Honor. However,
what I will say is back to that example, back to our
example. There is a gun in a room. A gun in a car
and a minor is there. Mere proximity he gets a
charge of possession by a minor. That's not the way
it works. And that is why the case law is so clear
that the State is required to bring before you
independent proof. Knowledge does not infer
dominion and control. Dominion and control does not
infer knowledge. They are mutually exclusive, Your
Honor.
The State has not touched on dominion and
control other than the location of the firearm and
the location of my client. And, Your Honor, in
closing we have a severe lack of evidence. The
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evidence itself does not present anything to you
beyond a reasonable doubt that my client possessed
that firearm and the inconsistencies in the
evidence.
Your Honor, inconsistencies as far as what I
expressed with the fingerprints the policy and that
not happening.
Evidence, Your Honor, the evidence is mere
proximity. Nothing else has been provided, Your
Honor other than the location of the item and my
client and the lack of evidence, Your Honor. Where
was it is investigation in this case? We cannot
simply allow juveniles to be incarcerated, to be
sentenced by the fact that a firearm is near them,
Your Honor. There are cases that are egregious that
do need that. Not this case. This case just does
not have the facts beyond a reasonable doubt, Your
Honor. And Your Honor, we ask you to enter a not
delinquent in this case.
MS. ARMAGNAC: May the State proceed with a
closing argument?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Please.
MS. ARMAGNAC: During closing argument, the
Defense pointed out that this respondent gave a DNA
swab to the police. However, there is no evidence
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that the police ever told the respondent anything
along the lines of oh, if you give us this DNA we
are going to use it to link it to the gun.
The Defense is attempting to paint the
respondent's giving of the DNA sample as a signal of
his innocence. However, taken along with the other
evidence that we have or the evidence that we don't
have, the State's position is that his decision to
give a DNA swab does not speak to his innocence or
to his guilt for that matter.
The Defense harped on the fact that the
evidence does include fingerprints or DNA. The
State of course will remind the Court that we can
meet our burden through testimony alone. The
State's position is that through the testimony we
have proven constructive possession. The Defense
argued that the statute only contemplates minors who
are in actual possession of the firearms. That only
when they actually possess firearms can they be
found guilty. That is not what the statute says at
all.
The statute does not make any distinction as to
the actual or constructive possession. The State
and the Court are aware from the pleather of case
law pertaining to gun offenses that the State can
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prove possession through constructive possession on
gun offenses.
Nothing in the statute pertaining to minors in
possession of firearms says that a minor has to
actually possess the firearm. The State can prove
it through constructive possession.
Additionally, reading directly from the
statute it 790.22 Subsection 3. A minor under 18
years of age may not possess a firearm other than an
unloaded firearm at his or her home. And it gives
some exceptions.
The word "knowingly" is not included anywhere
in that statutory statute. Now, because we are
going with constructive possession a knowledge
element is added. But this is not the type of
weapons offense -- like, the offense of possessing
an illegal firearm, the State would have to prove
that the person possessing it knew that the firearm
was illegal. That they knew that the barrel of the
shotgun was illegally short. Things along those
lines.
For this, knowingly is not actually an element.
So the State wanted to point that out from the
statute as well. And, again, the evidence showed
that this gun was sitting directly next to the
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respondent within his arm's reach.
Detective Torres testified this gun was
between 6 and 12 inches away from the respondent's
thigh and nothing was covering it. Both officers
testified that as soon as they saw this weapon they
knew that it was Glock. They knew it was firearm.
And that nothing about it indicated to them that
this was replica, a fake. That it was anything
other than a firearm.
And, again because this firearm was in plain
view, it was closest to the respondent, the State,
we have met our burden as to constructive
possession. The testimony indicates that the
respondent knew that the firearm was within his
presence. He had dominion and control over the
firearm, and he knew of the firearm's illicit nature
employ. The firearm's illicit nature and its
presence in the back seat right next to him were
immediately apparent to the officers.
The State's position is that they were
immediately apparent to the respondent as well. As
we argued at the JOD phase, there is nothing
indicating that the front seat passengers had
constructive possession or that they were even aware
of the firearm.
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Additionally, there is no evidence indicating
that the person who is speaking at the window had
anything to do with the firearm.
MS. ALVAREZ: Objection, Your Honor burden
shifting as a reasonable hypothesis of innocence.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And their argument is that
there is nothing in the evidence to establish that.
Okay. Overruled. The Court does not see it as
burden shifting. Proceed.
MS ARMAGNAC: And the Defense indicated that the
person who is speaking at the window ran inside of
their house upon seeing police lights because they
did not want anything to do with this situation.
Again, Your Honor, no one could testify as to
the desires of this person who is speaking at the
window. Accordingly, the State would ask the Court
to disregard that argument and to simply focus on
the evidence that was heard.
Having the matter of burden, the State
respectfully requests that this Court find that the
respondent, D.V., delinquent of minor in possession
of a firearm.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: It's rebuttal, Counsel.
MS. ALVAREZ: Yes, Your Honor. The State stood
up in their closing and the first thing they
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discussed was the construction of the statute and
the statute not having any knowing requirement.
I have two things to say to that. One, if the
State is attempting to go through a constructive
possession that is an element of constructive
possession. Whether or not it's in the statute is
not relevant if they are attending to prove
constructive possession because not only just a
component a necessity of constructive possession,
one.
Two, again, just speaking theoretically about
this statute, it's interesting that there is no
knowing component. You have heard that the
legislative intent that is in the opposite, Your
Honor, that constructive possession is not
appropriate as there is no knowledge requirement.
Either way as I have said I don't have case law but
I think this is something to consider. Not only to
consider that policy consideration but also, Your
Honor, the policy consideration that I provided to
you regarding this specific case.
There are heinous and egregious cases, Your
Honor, where people, where juveniles -- and I
understand what is going on in Miami with firearms,
Your Honor. This is not this case, Your Honor.
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This is a case of a boy who was in the back seat of
a multiple passenger car.
Your Honor, no evidence was presented in regard
to that other individual who was on the passenger
side regarding what he was doing or whether or not
he was in the car. The Defense is not required to
bring you that evidence.
What I am required to bring you, Your Honor, is
reasonable doubt. And what I can tell you, Your
Honor, is a reasonable doubt is that that individual
was sitting in that car, got out, was speaking to
the passenger, saw police, ran into his home where
they were parked at.
They were parked at his home, and he ran into
the house and wasn't coming back for my client.
Your Honor, this is just not the case. My client is
innocent. That wasn't his gun. He did not have
dominion and control of that gun. Your Honor, the
case that the State relies on circumstantial.
It's completely circumstantial in its
inferencing. And, Your Honor, mere proximity -- if
it's a circumstantial case and all that the State
has is mere proximity, they are required to bring
you independent proof of elements of knowledge, and
the ability to control.
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They have not provided you that, Your Honor.
All they provided you with was a boy next to a gun.
Your Honor, policy wise that is not the precedent
that this Court wants to make.
Your Honor, in this case, the only just verdict
is a not delinquent for my client D.V. Your Honor,
that was not his gun. He did not possess that gun
and, Your Honor, he deserves to go back home back to
school.
He doesn't deserve to be incarcerated or
anything for this crime because he did not do it.
MS ARMAGNAC: The State objects to the Defense
asking the finder of fact to consider the possible
punishment.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Sustained. Okay. The Court
having had the opportunity to listen to the
testimony of the witnesses and making all
credibility determinations and weighing those
credibility determinations as to the witness.
I have listened to the direct and the
cross-examination. I have listened to the arguments
of counsel who summarized the evidence as they saw
it and made their arguments before this Court.
As the trier the fact, upon that which I have
listened to the testimony is adduced at this court
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at this time, sets forth that the weapon was not
concealed. Thot the weapon was not camouflaged.
That the weapon was in open view in the back seat of
a car next to the respondent in open view within
reach.
Two other individuals in the car both located
in the front, front driver, front passenger. The
testimony adduced is upon the approach of the
officers none of the occupants of the car moved.
There was no further movements, no ducking down, no
reaching, no one moved.
The only person who moved was the person
outside of the vehicle near the front passenger who
upon the arrival of the police left that station and
went to the house. This Court based upon the
testimony finds that since it was the weapon was
-- first, let me back up. I find that it is a
firearm. The evidence showing thirteen bullets.
Since it was not concealed, not camouflaged within
the ready reach of the rear passenger who testified
was the respondent that he had control of that
weapon. Find that he was in actual possession of
that weapon.
The hypothesis of innocence that is being
raised by the Defense is that the person outside of
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the car the weapon belonged to him. Based upon the
testimony that this Court has heard, cannot make
that reach. The reasonable doubt -- the Defense's
argument is for constructive possession it must be
something more. It must be knowledge and the
ability to control.
I find this is actual possession. Because what
the Defense is asking me to do is to put away common
sense. That the weapon that was found either within
a foot or two of the respondent near his thigh in
the back seat not occupied by anybody else that he
did not at any time know was there .
The Court finds that the State has established
beyond a reasonable doubt that it's a weapon. The
child is less than 18 years of age and he was actual
possession of a firearm being under the age of 18.
The Court finds that the State has established the
necessary elements beyond a reasonable doubt. And I
find him delinquent. I am going to set this matter
for disposition.
THE CLERK: April 14th.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. We are going to give
you contact information for a probation officer. I
need you and your parents to go with the probation
officer. They are going to take history from you
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and compile a report. When you come back on April
18th I am going
THE CLERK: 14th, April 14.
JUDGE PRESCOTT April 14th, I am going to utilize
that report and the law to set forth what the
sanctions will be. Do you understand, young man?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Mom and dad, do you have any
questions of me at this time? We are going to give
you the contact information for the probation
officer.
THE DEFENDANT: They gave it to me. Come on up
here, young man, and sign your summons. The morning
calendar stands adjourned.
(Whereupon, 12:45 p.m. the proceedings were
concluded.)
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95
REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE
I, Joe Vargas, hereby certify that the foregoing
transcript consisting of 95 pages, inclusive, is a complete,
true, and accurate transcript of the testimony indicated,
held on, Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Children's Courthouse
Center, 155 Northwest 3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33128, in the
State of Florida vs. D.V. Case No. 1600392, Judge Orlando A.
Prescott.
I further certify that this proceeding was reported
by Absolute Video Inc., and that the foregoing transcript has
been prepared by me or under my direction .
Date: 07 /13/2016
·'~ ,.../r'
,.:::_:~<::_~/·····/ Joe.Vargas Transcriptionist
Absolute Video, Inc. (305) 379-4741
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STATE OF FLORIDA Petitioner,
vs.
D.V. Defendant .
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
JUVENILE COURT DIVISION
CASE NO.: Jl6-392 SECTION: JUDGE: JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
The above-entitled cause came on for hearing pursuant to
the Notice before the Honorable Orlando Prescott, Judge of the
above-styled court, Children's Courthouse Center, 155 Northwest
3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128, Thursday, April 14, 2016 .
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APPEARANCES JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE CHILDREN'S COURTHOUSE CENTER 155 NORTHWEST 3RD AVENUE MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128
On behalf of the State: KATHERINE FERNANDEZ-RUNDLE, STATE ATTORNEY BY: Cheryl Claire Armagnac, Attorney
155 Northwest 3rct Street Suite 8 Miami, FL 33128
On Behalf of the Defendant: CARLOS J. MARTINEZ, PUBLIC DEFENDER BY: Alexis Alvarez, Assistant Public Defender
1500 Northwest 12th Avenue Floor 9 Miami, FL 33136
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WITNESS:
State's None
Defense's
NONE
C 0 N T E N T S
DIRECT CROSS
E X H I B I T S
IDENTIFIED
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P R 0 C E E D I N G S
(8:45 a.m.)
JUDGE PRESCOTT: For the dispo.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: What is the name?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: D.V.
MS. GORDON: Your Honor, Mr. Raque is here on
this case. He wanted to come up if he could to
address you personally.
JUDGE PRESCOTT okay. Tell him to come up.
MS ARMAGNAC: Your Honor, what the State is
requesting -- Mr. Raque's presence maybe a moot
point. The State is requesting that the dispo be
reset for after April 29th.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Why?
MS ARMAGNAC: Given his pending charges. He
goes before a grand jury on April 29th. The
instructions from Chief Best [phonetic] whether we
should request to reset the dispo on this matter
until after April 29th.
If his new case will be proceeding to adult
court, we will probably just close this one out
here, but we are not sure.
JUDGE PRESCOTT okay. When is it going to the
grand jury?
MS ARMAGNAC: April 29th.
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JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. So set it after that
then.
MS. ALVAREZ: And I believe that would have been
Mr. Raque's request.
THE CLERK: May 5th, 9 a.m., re: dispo.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Mom, did you understand?
MS. VICKERS: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: So I am going to reset this
for May 5th. All right. We are going to see
whether or not he is indicted. Thank you.
(Whereupon, at 8:46 a.m. the proceedings were
adjourned.)
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REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE
I, Joe Vargas, hereby certify that the foregoing
transcript consisting of 06 pages, inclusive, is a complete,
true, and accurate transcript of the testimony indicated,
held on, Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Children's Courthouse
Center, 155 Northwest 3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33128, in the
State of Florida vs. D.V. Case No. 1600392, Judge Orlando A.
Prescott.
I further certify that this proceeding was reported
by Absolute Video Inc., and that the foregoing transcript has
been prepared by me or under my direction .
Date: 07/13/2016
Joe Vargas Transcriptionist
Absolute Video, Inc. (305) 379-4741
•
•
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STATE OF FLORIDA Petitioner,
vs.
D.V. Defendant .
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
JUVENILE COURT DIVISION
CASE NO.: J16-392 SECTION: JUDGE: JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
[· .. ) (_, i
The above-entitled cause came on for hearing pursuant to
the Notice before the Honorable Orlando Prescott, Judge of the
above-styled court, Children's Courthouse Center, 155 Northwest
3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128, Thursday, May 5, 2016 .
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APPEARANCES JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE CHILDREN'S COURTHOUSE CENTER 155 NORTHWEST 3RD AVENUE MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128
On behalf of the State: KATHERINE FERNANDEZ-RUNDLE, STATE ATTORNEY BY: Cathy Sagesse, Attorney
1350 NW 12th Ave Miami, FL 33136-2102
On Behalf of the Defendant: CARLOS J. MARTINEZ, PUBLIC DEFENDER BY: Brian Raque, Assistant Public Defender
Miami-Dade Children's Courthouse 155 NW 3rd St Suite 7000 Miami, FL 33128-1738
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WITNESS:
State's None
Defense's
NONE
C 0 N T E N T S
DIRECT CROSS
E X H I B I T S
IDENTIFIED
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P R 0 C E E D I N G S
(10:45 a.m.)
THE CLERK: You want D.V. 16-392, re:
disposition.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. So help out. Where is
D. V.?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Still in custody.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: He is TGK?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: And when did he go to TGK?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: That was last Friday.
You transferred him to juvenile.
THE CLERK: Judge, he was direct file .
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Do you know what that charge
is?
JUDGE PRESCOTT: This is a possession of a
firearm by a minor. We can do adjudication, credit
time served. Then, we can just leave him over
there. We will have to bring him back to do it.
It's just for dispo.
MS. SAGESSE: And I imagine that my
supervisor would let us do that. We just have to
run it by them.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Let me put it on for
tomorrow for report, and then we can do the order to
transport. You don't have to be here tomorrow.
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-------------------------------------.
Bear with me. I am asking the State to find out.
He has some very serious charges down there.
This case is serious, but it impales in
comparison to what he has. So what I am
contemplating I am asking the State to see whether
or not -- I don't need to ask them. I can just
bring -- just put it on calendar.
Give me an order to transport and reset it
for disposition. No, they need time to have him
transported from TGK.
THE CLERK: May 24th, 9 a.m., dispo.
JUDGE PRESCOTT I am going to put it on
calendar, May 24th. I am going to have him
transported from TGK over here, and then close this
case out and then he can go back and he doesn't have
to worry about this case anymore. Okay.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Do you understand, Counsel?
MR. RAQUE: Yes. Judge, and actually that was
going to my suggestion with the State. I have
spoken to the prosecutor who previously handled it
about us taking that route anyway. And I think that
is the best on this case.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Adjudication, three days,
and the case is closed out. Because the charge --
no, we will do it when he gets here. So he will
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have to be transported over. 5/24. So prepare the
order to transport,- if you would please.
MS. SAGESSE: Yes, Judge.
JUDGE PRESCOTT okay. Thank you.
(Whereupon, at 10:48 a.m. the proceedings were
adjourned.)
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REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE
I, Joe Vargas, hereby certify that the foregoing
transcript consisting of 07 pages, inclusive, is a complete,
true, and accurate transcript of the testimony indicated,
held on, Thursday, May 5, 2016, at Children's Courthouse
Center, 155 Northwest 3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33128, in the
State of Florida vs. D.V. Case No. 1600392, Judge Orlando A.
Prescott.
I further certify that this proceeding was reported
by Absolute Video Inc., and that the foregoing transcript has
been prepared by me or under my direction .
Date: 07/13/2016
Joe Vargas Transcriptionist
Absolute Video, Inc. (305) 379-4741
•
•
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STATE OF FLORIDA Petitioner,
vs.
D.V. Defendant.
IN THE COUNTY COURT OF THE ELEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
JUVENILE COURT DIVISION
CASE NO.: J16-392 SECTION: JUDGE: JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT
·_,
The above-entitled cause came on for hearing pursuant to
the Notice before the Honorable Orlando Prescott, Judge of the
above-styled court, Children's Courthouse Center, 155 Northwest
3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida 33128, Tuesday, May 24, 2016 .
Absolute Video, Inc. (305) 379-4741
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APPEARANCES JUDGE ORLANDO A. PRESCOTT CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE CHILDREN'S COURTHOUSE CENTER 155 NORTHWEST 3RD AVENUE MIAMI, FLORIDA 33128
On behalf of the State: KATHERINE FERNANDEZ-RUNDLE, STATE ATTORNEY BY: Cathy Sagesse, Attorney
1350 NW 12th Ave Miami, FL 33136-2102
On Behalf of the Defendant: CARLOS J. MARTINEZ, PUBLIC DEFENDER BY: Brian Raque, Assistant Public Defender
Miami-Dade Children's Courthouse 155 NW 3rd St Suite 7000 Miami, FL 33128-1738
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WITNESS:
State's None
Defense's
NONE
C 0 N T E N T S
DIRECT CROSS
E X H I B I T S
IDENTIFIED
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P R 0 C E E D I N G S
(9:34:44 a.m.)
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Are we ready on D.V.?
MS. SAGESSE: We are ready.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Okay. It's a PDR here that I
have never seen before. This can't be right. Sir,
what is he pending trial for? What is he pending
trial? You can just tell me.
CORRECTIONS: Murder first degree.
JUDGE PRESCOTT okay. Any objection to the
adjudication?
MS. SAGESSE: No objection to the adjudication .
JUDGE PRESCOTT: He was found delinquent. He
went to an adjudicatory hearing and was found
delinquent on March 8th of 2016.
Subsequent to that, he has been in TGK pending
a trial for a homicide. The predisposition report
that I have before me is recommending probation, and
I don't think it's appropriate understanding the
circumstances that he is pending because he won't be
going to trial any time soon.
And placing him on probation, I don't think it
appropriate at this time. So what is your
objection? I am listening. I am looking at an
adjudication, and I will just give him the credit
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for time served. Well technically because I if hold
him in secure -- it will be three days secure
detention based upon that for which he is
adjudicated delinquent for. The court cost and the
case will be closed.
You will be adjudicated delinquent. Do you
wish be appointed for the purposes of appeal,
counselor?
MR. RAQUE: Yes, Your Honor.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Appointing Officer Carlos
Martinez for purposes of appeal. He will be
adjudicated delinquent to serve three days of secure
detention for the possession of a firearm by a minor
and the case will be closed. So you are done over
here. Okay?
THE DEFENDANT: All right. Thank you, sir.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: So since he is already over at
TGK, I am quite sure he can do the three days while
he is there. And we can just close him out here so
he doesn't have to come back over here. Alright,
Gentleman?
CORRECTIONS: Yes, sir.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Any questions of you mom?
you just
MS. VICKERS: Can you explain to me what
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JUDGE PRESCOTT: He went to trial over here,
and I found him guilty. Since I found him guilty
over here, I am adjudicating him delinquent and
having him serve three days in secure detention for
the gun that he had over here and now this case is
closed.
I have appointed the lawyer to represent him so
they can take an appeal of my decision at trial.
Okay. If I did anything wrong at trial, the
attorney will appeal it to a here court. And if the
higher court believes that I was mistaken, the case
can come back or they can throw the case out .
All right. But his lawyer will handle that.
The Court imposes all statutory cost and fees. I
appointed a lawyer to represent your son. For the
lawyer services, I am going to access a fee of $50
it doesn't have to be paid today. And it doesn't
have to be paid all at once. He can be paid in
monthly installments.
I will give you the necessary paperwork that
you can take to the clerk's office and you can pay
five dollars a month whatever. Okay, ma'am?
MS. VICKERS: Yes.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: Thank you. If you have an
objection to that amount of money, let me know and
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we can have a hearing. Okay. Gentleman, thank you.
THE CLERK: He has paperwork that needs to be
filled out.
JUDGE PRESCOTT: They can take it back for him.
Okay. Don't take him down just yet. They have some
paperwork for him. They will bring it back so he
can sign it. Okay.
(Whereupon, at 9:39 a.m. the proceedings were
adjourned.)
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116
REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE
I, Joe Vargas, hereby certify that the foregoing
transcript consisting of 08 pages, inclusive, is a complete,
true, and accurate transcript of the testimony indicated,
held on, Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at Children's Courthouse
Center, 155 Northwest 3rct Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33128, in the
State of Florida vs. D.V. Case No. 1600392, Judge Orlando A.
Prescott.
I further certify that this proceeding was reported
by Absolute Video Inc., and that the foregoing transcript has
been prepared by me or under my direction .
Date: 07/13/2016
Joe Vargas Transcriptionist
Absolute Video, Inc. (305) 379-4741