In Re Db
714 S.E.2d 522
| N.C. Ct. App. | 2011Background
- D.B., a juvenile, appeals adjudications for felony breaking and entering, felony larceny pursuant to breaking and entering, and misdemeanor possession of stolen goods.
- The petition for felony larceny pursuant to breaking and entering failed to allege Crossings Golf Club as a legal entity capable of owning property.
- Evidence from a Terry frisk led to the discovery of a stolen RBC Centura Visa card, which the State introduced at trial.
- Witness identification and juvenile Miranda-like rights were invoked; the juvenile age was 15 at the time of the incident.
- The trial court adjudicated delinquency on all offenses and imposed a Level 2 disposition with probation and restitution; later appeal followed.
- The court found clerical error in finding of fact three and remanded for correction; concluded one Class H felony conviction should have been dismissed.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was the larceny petition defective for lack of owner identity? | D.B. argues the Crossings Golf Club lacked legal ownership pleading. | State concedes the petition failed to name a legal entity owner. | Yes; petition fatally defective; adjudication for felony larceny pursuant to breaking and entering vacated. |
| Whether the RBC Centura Visa card obtained during a Terry frisk was admissible | The card evidence was unlawfully discovered beyond a valid Terry frisk. | State contends identification purposes justified the seizure. | No; evidence exceeded Terry scope; reversal for misdemeanor possession of stolen property. |
| Did clerical errors require remand to correct findings and related conclusions? | Finding of fact three misstated what the court actually found. | Clerical error does not affect the core legal conclusions. | Yes; remand to correct finding of fact three; conclusion of law two need not change. |
| Does the remand affect the validity of the other adjudications and disposition? | Multiple offenses adjudicated; remaining findings stand. | Restoration of proper clerical record preserves valid conclusions. | Partially; felonies and misdemeanor findings implicated by defective larceny count are addressed on remand. |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Phillips, 162 N.C.App. 719 (2004) (larceny requires owner in law; victim must be a legal entity)
- State v. Downing, 326 S.E.2d 256 (1985) (indictment must name owner or possessor of property)
- State v. Woody, 132 N.C.App. 788 (1999) (insufficient victim identity renders indictment defective)
- In re M.S., 681 S.E.2d 441 (2009) (remand for defective adjudication when petition invalid)
- State v. Lark, 678 S.E.2d 693 (2009) (clerical errors warrant remand for correction)
- State v. Jarman, 535 S.E.2d 875 (2000) (remand when clerical error found in judgment)
- State v. Shearin, 612 S.E.2d 371 (2005) (Terry search limits; admissibility of contraband found during frisk)
- Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial Dist. Ct. of Nev., 542 U.S. 177 (2004) (name identification statute analysis; not a rule permitting pat-down for ID)
