Summary
remanding for causal connection analysis because of section 52.02(b) violation
Summary of this case from In re J.B.JOpinion
No. 198-01
Delivered April 10, 2002
On State's Petition For Discretionary Review From The First Court Of Appeals Harris County
G. Allen Goodling, Houston, for appellant.
Jeffrey L. Van Horn, First Assist. St. Att., Matthew Paul, State's Attorney, Austin, for state.
OPINION
A jury found Appellant guilty of murder and assessed punishment at confinement for life. The Court of Appeals reversed the conviction based on its conclusion that the trial court erred to admit Appellant's confession. Pham v. State, 36 S.W.3d 199 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 2001). The Court of Appeals held the confession was inadmissible because of the State's violation of V.T.C.A. Family Code, § 52.02(b), which requires that a juvenile's parent or guardian be promptly notified that the juvenile has been taken into custody. The Court of Appeals concluded the trial court reversibly erred to admit Appellant's confession. See Article 38.23, V.A.C.C.P.; Tex.R.App.P. 44.2(b).
The State has filed a petition for discretionary review contending the Court of Appeals erred to conclude that any statement given by the juvenile must be suppressed because of the failure to notify the juvenile's parent, guardian, or custodian that the juvenile had been taken into custody. The State also argues that no causal connection exists between the failure to notify and any statement subsequently made by the juvenile.
Recently, in Gonzales v. State, 67 S.W.3d 910 (Tex.Crim.App. No. 47-00, delivered February 13, 2002), we addressed the same issue. We concluded that before a juvenile's written statement can be excluded, there must be a causal connection between the Family Code violation and the making of the statement. Id. slip op. at 4-5. The Court of Appeals in the instant case did not have the benefit of our opinion in Gonzales. Accordingly, we grant grounds one and two of the State's petition for discretionary review, vacate the judgment of the Court of Appeals, and remand this case to the Court of Appeals in light of our opinion inGonzales.