
TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN






NO. 03-04-00052-CV


In the Matter of C. F.






FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. J-21,405, HONORABLE W. JEANNE MEURER, JUDGE PRESIDING


M E M O R A N D U M   O P I N I O N


	In this case, we decide whether the district court abused its discretion by committing
a delinquent juvenile to the Texas Youth Commission ("TYC") instead of putting him on probation
and committing him to a residential treatment center.  We affirm the order of the district court.

BACKGROUND

	Appellant, C.F., was a fifteen-year-old student receiving special-education services
at the Pflugerville Opportunity Center, which is part of an alternative disciplinary center serving
students in the Pflugerville Independent School District.  The principal of the Center testified that,
during the last two years, C.F. had attended classes at the Center for various spans of time, including
one eight-month period.  C.F. had a long history of emotional and behavioral problems and had been
previously diagnosed with the "handicapping conditions" of emotional disturbance, (1) a writing-specific learning disability, and the "other health impairment" of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder.  As is standard with all of its special-education students, the Center developed a Behavior
Implementation Plan ("BIP") outlining strategies to help C.F. behave in an appropriate fashion. (2)  In
addition, C.F. was taking prescription medication to help control his behavior. 
	On May 12, 2003, C.F. was in a portable classroom with other students and his
teacher, Nicole Urbach.  At the end of the school day, but before he had been dismissed, he abruptly 
left. (3)  C.F. had left class without permission on a number of previous occasions. (4)  Urbach radioed
the other teachers at the Center that they should lock their portable classrooms.  She then followed
C.F. while he wandered from adjoining classrooms to different portable buildings.  When C.F.
approached a neighboring classroom, he was blocked at the door by another teacher.  He turned
around, shoved Urbach out of the way, and headed toward another classroom.  Urbach continued to
walk by C.F.'s side and attempted to calm him down and get him to return to the classroom.  During
these events, C.F. was cursing at Urbach and being verbally abusive.  He shoved Urbach against the
wall of a portable classroom.  Urbach testified that she felt pain from being shoved into the wall. 
When C.F. reached the next classroom, he found that the door was locked.  He then turned and
shoved Urbach a third time.  At this point, Urbach broke off contact and went to the office to contact
the principal. (5) 
	The State filed a petition alleging that C.F. engaged in delinquent conduct by
assaulting a public servant.  See Tex. Pen. Code Ann. § 22.01(b)(1) (West Supp. 2004-05).  At the
adjudication hearing before a juvenile court referee, the Honorable William D. King, several
teachers, including Urbach, testified about the facts related above.  Dr. Laura Hamilton, a
psychologist, testified on behalf of C.F.  She opined that because Urbach had not given C.F. a
"cooling-off" period and "choices to avoid power struggles," the Center had failed to properly
implement or follow strategies listed in the BIP during the incident. (6)  She further testified that the
BIP was not adequate to meet C.F.'s needs and that the escalation of the incident was a predictable
result, given his history.  C.F.'s mother testified that he had not received his medication that
morning.  At the close of the adjudication hearing, however, the referee found that C.F. had engaged
in delinquent conduct.
	At the subsequent disposition hearing, the State presented evidence that C.F. had
thirty-six other referrals to juvenile court and had previously been placed at Pathfinders, a residential
treatment center.  C.F.'s juvenile probation officer testified that he had been discharged 
unsuccessfully from the Pathfinders program because of an altercation with facility staff. (7)  Citing this
previous unsuccessful intervention and the ability of the TYC to provide counseling, therapy, and
help with medication maintenance, the probation officer recommended that C.F. be committed to
the TYC.  Dr. Hamilton again testified on behalf of C.F. and recommended that he be placed in a
residential treatment center.  She opined that it was unlikely that C.F. would receive the intensive
therapeutic treatment, which she asserted he needed, at the TYC and that a residential treatment
center would be more beneficial to him.  However, Hamilton admitted that she did not know the
program options currently offered by the TYC, and did not recommend a specific residential
treatment program.
	At the close of the disposition hearing, the referee recommended that C.F. be
committed to the TYC for an indeterminate period of time.  In doing so, the referee summarized the
findings of various tests C.F. had taken and considered the testimony that many individuals can
improve their behavior as they mature.  However, he also noted the finding that "in [C.F.'s] situation
this is unlikely without intense treatment due to the severity and long history of his problem."  Then,
he explained:

Treatment that focuses on problem solving, compliance training, and medication
therapy should prove to be helpful.  People may disagree with this, but I try to
think--I do think of myself as someone who gives kids in my court as many chances
as I reasonably can to--and fortunately we live in a county--we have a high tax rate
but we also--because of that we have a lot of services in this county for kids, and the
school districts, I think, are progressive and try to do everything they can for their
students, both regular education and special education.  But at some point, and this
is the point, I've got to figure out what I think is going to work in a reasonable
amount of time and a reasonable use of the limited resources we do have, because
even though we have some, we don't have an unlimited amount of resource.  I cannot
justify another placement through county resources for [C.F.].  I think it's going to
be a long process.  So I'm going to commit [C.F.] to the Texas Youth Commission. 
We have extensive documentation of his mental health needs and history.  They
contract with private facilities themselves.  They run their own residential treatment
facilities as well as a host of other types of programs, but the particularly helpful
thing that the TYC can do is keep kids long enough to make a difference.  And [C.F.]
is certainly an intelligent child, and while there are some obstacles, many people
believe that he can change his behavior if in the right place for the right amount of
time.  And I think TYC is the way to go with that.


The district court signed an order committing C.F. to the TYC for an indeterminate period of time. 
This appeal followed.

DISCUSSION

	C.F. brings a single issue on appeal.  He argues that the court abused its discretion
by committing him to the TYC instead of putting him on probation and committing him to a
residential treatment center.  Specifically, he contends that expert testimony at trial showed that he
would benefit from therapy in a residential treatment system, but he was committed to the TYC
instead because the court was not willing to devote any more of Travis County's funds to C.F.

Standard of review
	A juvenile court possesses broad discretion to determine the disposition of a child
adjudicated delinquent.  In re C.G., No. 05-04-00541-CV, 2005 Tex. App. LEXIS 3705, at *6 (Tex.
App.--Dallas May 13, 2005, no pet.); In re K.J.N., 103 S.W.3d 465, 465-66 (Tex. App.--San
Antonio 2003, no pet.); In re J.R., 907 S.W.2d 107, 110 (Tex. App.--Austin 1995, no writ).  Absent
a showing of abuse of discretion, we will not disturb the district court's decision.  In re M.S., 940
S.W.2d 789, 791 (Tex. App.--Austin 1997, no writ).  A court abuses its discretion when it acts in
an unreasonable and arbitrary manner, or without reference to any guiding rules or principles. In re
K.K.D., No. 03-03-00702-CV, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 7166, at *8 (Tex. App.--Austin August 12,
2004, pet. denied) (mem. op.); see Beaumont Bank, N.A. v. Buller, 806 S.W.2d 223, 226 (Tex. 1991). 
To determine whether there has been an abuse of discretion, we review the reasons stated by the
court to determine whether they are supported by the evidence and are legally and factually sufficient
to justify the disposition ordered.  See In re J.R., 907 S.W.2d at 110; see also In re C.G., 2005 Tex.
App. LEXIS 3705, at *7; Doyle v. Doyle, 955 S.W.2d 478, 481 (Tex. App.--Austin 1997, no writ). 
In reviewing factual sufficiency, we consider and weigh all of the evidence, and if the finding is so
against the great weight and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust, we set aside
the disposition order and remand the case for a new disposition hearing.  In re K.K.D., 2004 Tex.
App. LEXIS 7166, at *7-8; see In re C.C., 13 S.W.3d 854, 859 (Tex. App.--Austin 2000, no pet.);
In re K.L.C., 972 S.W.2d 203, 206 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 1998, no pet.).  In deciding whether the
evidence is legally sufficient, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding and
determine whether any rational trier of fact could have found that the elements of the requirement
were proved beyond a reasonable doubt. (8) In re M.S., 940 S.W.2d at 791-92; see In re K.K.D., 2004
Tex. App. LEXIS 7166, at *8.

Legal and factual sufficiency
	The disposition order in this case states that C.F. would not accept parental
supervision and has demonstrated a disregard for all authority.  That statement is supported by
evidence of previous behavior that is included in the record.  The order also makes the required
statutory findings, including a finding that the best interest of C.F. would be served by placing him
outside the home.  In short, the final disposition order presents the court's determination that
commitment to the TYC was in the best interest of C.F.  See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 54.04(I) (West
Supp. 2004-05).
	C.F. does not challenge language included in the disposition order signed by the
district court.  Instead, he challenges comments made by the referee at a hearing which occurred
before the district court signed the disposition order.  C.F. suggests that these comments reveal that
the disposition order is based not on his best interests or other statutory requirements, but on concern
with taxpayer burden.  The district court's order, however, does not contain any hint of references
that its recommendation was based on funding concerns. (9)  Rather, in addition to other statutory
findings not at issue on appeal, it finds that C.F. "was adjudged to have engaged in delinquent
conduct for committing the offense of Assault on Public Servant (22.01) and that [C.F.] is in need
of rehabilitation and that the protection of the public requires that disposition be made." 
Furthermore, all "reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for the child's
removal from the home and to make it possible for [C.F.] to return home."  The district court then
found that it would be in the best interest of C.F. to be committed to TYC.
	We hold that the record includes factually and legally sufficient evidence to justify
the disposition ordered in the final disposition order.  See In re J.R., 907 S.W.2d at 110.  At the
disposition hearing, C.F.'s juvenile probation officer testified regarding the large number of C.F.'s
juvenile referrals, evidence of his previous unsuccessful placement at a residential treatment center
and the various treatment programs offered by the TYC.  Considering the testimony and evidence
presented, the finding that C.F. should be committed to the TYC is not so against the great weight
and preponderance of the evidence as to be manifestly unjust.  Additionally, the evidence of
unsuccessful prior treatment and the possibility of rehabilitation at TYC would permit any rational
trier of fact to find that the elements of the disposition requirements were proved beyond a
reasonable doubt.  Although Dr. Hamilton testified that she believed C.F. should be placed in a
residential treatment center instead of at TYC, she admitted she was "not sure what the menu of
options are right now."  The court explained that "it's not necessarily a true dichotomy between TYC
and residential treatment."  The record contains extensive discussions at trial and questioning of Dr.
Hamilton by the referee regarding the length of treatment necessary for C.F. to improve his behavior,
and why treatment was unsuccessful in the past.  We hold that the decision to commit C.F. to the
TYC instead of to a residential treatment center was not an abuse of discretion.  We overrule C.F.'s
issue.

CONCLUSION

	Having overruled C.F.'s only issue, we affirm the order of the district court.


  
					Bob Pemberton, Justice
Before Chief Justice Law, Justices B. A. Smith and Pemberton
Affirmed
Filed:   June 23, 2005
1.   According to a report by C.F.'s expert, emotional disturbance is a condition exhibiting one
or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that
adversely affects educational performance:  (1) an inability to learn that cannot be explained by
intellectual, sensory, or health factors; (2) an inability to build or maintain satisfactory relationships
with peers and teachers; (3) inappropriate types of behaviors or feelings under normal circumstances;
(4) a general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; and (5) a tendency to develop physical
symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.
2.   For example, one of the listed objectives in the BIP was for C.F. to "respond to adult
correction appropriately and nondefensively."  Among the strategies listed for accomplishing this
objective were teaching alternative behaviors, teaching appropriate social skills, setting clear
expectations, and "redirecting" in a calm voice.  
3.   The Opportunity Center's procedure was to keep students in their classrooms until their
transportation home had arrived at the school.
4.   Because of these prior incidents, this wandering behavior was addressed in his BIP. 
5.   The record is not clear about what happened after Urbach broke off contact with C.F. 
Based on testimony, it appears that C.F. remained on the Center campus for at least two more hours. 
6.   Among other opinions, the expert criticized Center teachers for locking their classroom
doors because those responses to C.F.'s actions were not explicitly enumerated in the BIP.
7.   C.F.'s juvenile probation officer testified that the discharge summary from Pathfinders also
indicated that while there, C.F. was "verbally aggressive towards fellow residents and staff" and had
other incidents where C.F. allegedly "had shoved, pushed, assaulted, or thrown objects at other
residents."
8.   In his brief, C.F. relies heavily on a different standard applied by the San Antonio Court
of Appeals.  See In re E.T., No. 04-03-00796-CV, 2004 Tex. App. LEXIS 9929, at *4 (Tex.
App.--San Antonio November 10, 2004, no pet.) (mem. op.); In re K.T., 107 S.W.3d 65, 67 (Tex.
App.--San Antonio 2003, no pet.).  The San Antonio court has rejected the legal and factual
sufficiency standard, replacing it with a new standard requiring deference to the district court's
findings of fact but a de novo determination of whether those facts justify the district court's
disposition order in light of the purposes of the juvenile justice code.  Id.  We will continue to apply
our legal and factual sufficiency standard in this case.  See In re K.K.D., No. 03-03-00702-CV, 2004
Tex. App. LEXIS 7166, at *8 (Tex. App.--Austin August 12, 2004, pet. denied) (mem. op.); In re
M.C.L., 110 S.W.3d 591, 594 (Tex. App.--Austin, no pet.).
9.   Additionally, in contrast to C.F.'s interpretation of the referee's comments, we believe that
the more plausible interpretation is that the referee believed that the limited resources of county-funded programs would not allow for the long-term treatment necessary for C.F.'s successful
rehabilitation.  

