IN RE: A. O. (2023)

PER CURIAM

Youth appeals a judgment finding him within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court because he committed acts that, if he were an adult, would constitute minor in possession of alcohol, a Class B violation. ORS 471.430.¹ The court found youth within its jurisdiction after applying a “preponderance of the evidence” standard of proof. Although a “violation proceeding” conducted pursuant to ORS 153.076 requires that the state need only prove “the charged violation by a preponderance of the evidence,” the parties agree that that is not the case in a juvenile delinquency proceeding. Moreover, the parties agree that the trial court plainly erred in applying the incorrect standard. We agree and accept the state's concession.

Under ORS 419C.400(2), “[t]he facts alleged in the petition showing the youth to be within the jurisdiction of the court as provided in ORS 419C.005, unless admitted, must be established beyond a reasonable doubt.” There is no provision in the juvenile code for applying a lesser standard where the act committed by the youth otherwise would be considered a violation rather than a crime. We exercise our discretion to correct the error, given the gravity of the error.

Reconsideration allowed; former nonprecedential decision reissued as precedential opinion; reversed and remanded.

FOOTNOTES

1.   This opinion originally issued as a nonprecedential memorandum disposition. State v. A. O., 328 Or App 107 (2023) (nonprecedential memorandum opinion). Pursuant to ORAP 6.25(1)(f) and 10.30(1)(e), youth has requested that we reconsider the opinion solely for the purpose of changing that designation and reissuing it as a precedential opinion. We agree that this opinion should be designated as precedential. Other than this footnote and the disposition of the motion being added to the tagline, this opinion is identical to the nonprecedential one that previously issued.

PER CURIAM