State in the Interest of K. Z.

STATE OF LOUISIANA
COURT OF APPEAL, THIRD CIRCUIT

15-1029

STATE IN THE INTEREST OF

K. Z.

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APPEAL FROM THE
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, NO. JC-2015-384 J2
HONORABLE MICHELLE M. BREAUX, DISTRICT JUDGE

**********

SHANNON J. GREMILLION
JUDGE

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Court composed of Elizabeth A. Pickett, James T. Genovese, and Shannon J.
Gremillion, Judges.

AFFIRMED AS AMENDED;
REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

Keith A. Stutes
District Attorney, Fifteenth Judicial District
Christine B. Roberts
Assistant District Attorney
P. O. Box 3306
Lafayette, LA 70502-3306
(337) 232-5170
COUNSEL FOR:
State of Louisiana

Jane Hogan
Public Defender, Fifteenth Judicial District
P.O. Box 3622
Lafayette, LA 70502
(337) 232-9345
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT:
K. Z.

GREMILLION, Judge.

On January 31, 2015, the Juvenile, K.Z., 1 used a Ford truck owned by Minor

Domingue without his consent and with the intention of permanently depriving

Domingue of the vehicle.

On April 15, 2015, the State filed a petition seeking to have the Juvenile

adjudicated delinquent on the grounds that he allegedly committed the offenses of

unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a violation of La.R.S. 14:68.4, and resisting

an officer, a violation of La.R.S. 14:108. 2 The Juvenile initially denied the

allegations on April 29, 2015. Then, on May 21, 2015, the Juvenile appeared in

court to enter an admission. However, the matter was set for an adjudication

hearing when the Juvenile‟s mother expressed disagreement with the State‟s

recitation of the facts. On July 16, 2015, the Juvenile entered an admission to the

charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The companion charge of resisting

arrest was dismissed. The court ordered the Juvenile to serve eighteen months

with the Department of Youth Services, which it suspended. The Juvenile was

ordered to serve eighteen months of active supervised probation subject to

conditions. The juvenile court scheduled a restitution hearing for August 26, 2015.

At that hearing, the Juvenile was ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the

amount of $3,200.21 at a rate of $200.00 per month for sixteen months

commencing on September 1, 2015. The Juvenile objected and is before this court

challenging the restitution order.

1
Initials of the Juvenile are used to protect his identity as required by Uniform Rules—
Courts of Appeal, Rule 5-2.
2
Although not raised on appeal, we note an error patent in the record. The Juvenile was
charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, however, several times in the record that
charge is incorrectly referred to as unauthorized use of a movable. We find this error harmless.

The record before this court does not indicate that the juvenile court gave the

Juvenile credit for time spent in secure detention, if any, prior to the imposition of

disposition, as required by La.Ch.Code art. 900. See State in the Interest of J.F.,

03-321 (La.App. 3 Cir. 8/6/03), 851 So.2d 1282. Accordingly, we will amend the

Juvenile‟s disposition to give him credit for time served in a secure detention

facility before the imposition of disposition, if any, and instruct the juvenile court

to note the amendment in the written disposition and in the minute entry. See State

ex rel. M.M., 06-607 (La.App. 3 Cir. 11/2/06), 941 So.2d 716.

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER ONE

The Juvenile argues that the juvenile court erred in ordering him to pay

restitution for items allegedly stolen from Domingue‟s truck, despite a lack of

documentation as to their existence and cost. Further, the Juvenile notes that the

police reports did not allege that he committed a theft of the items from the truck,

nor was he charged with theft.

Louisiana Children‟s Code Article 897(B)(2)(c) allows the court to impose

as a condition of probation “[a] requirement that the child make reasonable

restitution to any victim for any personal or property damage caused by the child in

the commission of the delinquent act.” The “Plea Agreement” section of the

admission form reflects that a “restitution hearing [is] to be set on August 26,

2014.” 3 At the July 16, 2015 admission proceeding, the court indicated that

restitution would be imposed and that a hearing was set for August 26, 2015.

Domingue testified at the August 26, 2015 restitution hearing. Domingue‟s

truck, which was being driven by his son to and from college, was “stolen from a

3
The erroneous year is clearly a typographical error because the admission was entered in
2015.

2

friend‟s house.” When the truck was recovered, the tires were blown out, and the

body of the truck was damaged. Based on the insurance adjustment, the damage

and towing totaled $3,474.92. The insurance company paid Domingue $1,392.86.

In addition to the damage to the truck, Domingue testified that there were

various items taken from the truck. Domingue obtained replacement values online

for the missing items including: a Garmin GPS ($199.00), a Drake waterfowl

jacket ($260.00), jumper cables ($25.00), a Bluetooth adapter for the stereo

($29.15), a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses ($129.00), a garage door opener ($30.00),

truck registration ($14.00), blue jeans, sweatpants, work-out shorts, shirts, socks,

underwear, and bath towels ($500.00). These items totaled $1,181.15. On cross-

examination, Domingue testified that receipts had not been retained for these

items, but that if he replaced the items, he could provide receipts. According to the

court‟s calculations, verified by Domingue, the out-of-pocket expenses for the

truck and the missing items was $3,263.21.

Domingue testified that the GPS, jumper cables, and garage door opener

were used, but in good working order. The hunting jacket and the Bluetooth

adapter were approximately one year old. The sunglasses were fairly new, and the

clothes and towels were approximately six months old. Domingue testified that he

arrived at the towing garage before the tow truck. Upon noticing that items were

missing from the truck, he asked the man towing the truck about the items. 4 He

was told no items had been removed. The following week, Domingue checked

with a deputy about the missing items. The deputy checked the evidence room and

confirmed the items were not there.

4
Domingue testified that he also asked the “deputy at the towing department” about these
missing items.

3

At the restitution hearing, the Juvenile denied damaging the truck or taking

the missing items. At the time of the hearing, the Juvenile was fifteen years old

and had no job except for an occasional lawn-mowing job for which he was paid

about $20.00. From the testimony, it was unclear how often the Juvenile mowed

lawns. When asked if he had any potential lawn-mowing jobs for the summer, the

Juvenile responded that he had two or three people, but he was vague as to the

number of times he could mow their lawns. He also testified that he lives in a

neighborhood and his next door neighbor agreed to pay him $10.00 a month to

mow their grass year-round. The Juvenile testified that he has his own mower and

affirmed that he was guaranteed $120.00 a year from the neighbor “if [he] could

get some gas to cut their grass.” According to the Juvenile, he gets no allowance

and has no inheritance or any other source of income. When questioned if he had

asked around the neighborhood for more yards to mow, the Juvenile replied, “No.

Not really,” but he agreed he had the ability to do so. He also acknowledged that

he had all of the items needed to wash cars, but he testified that he has not pursued

that. The Juvenile was also asked if had ever picked up aluminum cans to sell; he

replied, “I don‟t do that.” However, he acknowledged that he was a healthy fifteen

year old kid.

When the Juvenile was asked about his ability to get a job, he testified he

was waiting until he turned sixteen, which will be in June 2016. Counsel asked the

Juvenile whether he had ever tried refereeing, as that does not have an age

requirement of sixteen. The Juvenile responded that he had not, but that he was

unaware that was a possibility before age sixteen.

On cross-examination, the Juvenile testified that he did nothing over the past

summer. When asked if he sat around his house all day, the Juvenile replied, “I

4

just be chilling” and playing PS4 (PlayStation 4). He also testified that he

occasionally shoots basketball at the park.

In arriving at the amount of restitution owed, the court depreciated the value

of the jacket by $60.00 and set the amount of restitution at $3,200.21.5 Payments

in the amount of $200.00 were to be made for sixteen months commencing

September 1, 2015. In assessing this amount, the juvenile court noted that the

Juvenile has the ability to cut grass and there was nothing that he testified to that

would prevent him from working. The court noted that the Juvenile has his own

lawn mower, cell phone, and PS4, with the cell phone and PS4 being worth a lot of

money.6 The Juvenile and his mother responded that the PS4 was not his. His

mother further explained that the cell phone and the bill were “not for him and it‟s

not his bill.”

On appeal, the Juvenile notes that he was never charged with, nor did he

admit to, taking the property from the truck. Additionally, he contends that it was

improper to impose restitution with no proof of the existence of the missing items

and their costs. The Juvenile alleges that prior to the restitution hearing, he did not

know he would be held responsible for the stolen items. Although the Juvenile

suggests that these circumstances may render his plea involuntary, he does not

specifically ask for his plea to be set aside and concludes his brief with a request

that the restitution order be vacated.7

5
At the close of testimony, the court commented that it was “unimpressed with [the
Juvenile‟s] disposition, demeanor, and respect for the Court.” The court observed that when the
Juvenile was asked to give a verbal answer, the look on his face was one of disinterest and
disgust.
6
The Juvenile testified that he had a cell phone, but that it was “off” (presumably
deactivated).
7
The Juvenile‟s brief states in pertinent part:

5

In support of his contention that restitution awards must be based on more

than allegations and estimations, the Juvenile cites State v. Puzzio, 08-484

(La.App. 5 Cir. 11/12/08), 1 So.3d 540. In Puzzio, the defendant argued on appeal

that it was improper to order him to pay restitution for items other than those listed

in the police report when his plea bargain was based on an understanding that he

would pay restitution only as to the property documented in the report. On appeal,

the court found the record supported the argument that the intention of the parties

was to limit restitution to the value of items pawned by the defendant, as

referenced in the police report. The Juvenile in the instant case contends that when

he entered his guilty plea, he was not admitting to stealing $1,181.15 in personal

property. Absent evidence that he actually took these items, he claims he cannot

be held responsible for their loss.

Puzzio is distinguishable in that the record in this case does not support the

argument that the parties intended to limit restitution to any particular amount or to

cover any particular items or damage. More on point is State in the Interest of

D.B., 13-1364 (La.App. 3 Cir. 4/23/14), 137 So.3d 1282, writ denied, 14-1092 (La.

Both on the plea form and in the transcript, the restitution hearing is said
to be set for 2014. Clearly the incorrect date was a typo and an omission.
However, when it comes to a young child entering into a plea agreement, the
vagueness and imprecision of mentioning that an additional hearing will occur in
August 2014 could directly impact whether such plea was, in fact, knowing and
voluntary. K.Z. entered an admission to one count of unauthorized use of a
moveable [sic]. It is logical that had he understood he owed restitution for this
offense, he would understand the restitution to be limited to damage caused to the
vehicle by K.Z.‟s unauthorized use.

....

. . . Had K.Z. been informed that he would owe $1,181.15 for stolen items
from a truck, he would not have entered into a plea agreement with the State and
would have gone to trial in order to establish his narrow role in the offense.

6

1/9/15), 157 So.3d 596. In D.B., the juvenile entered an admission to unauthorized

use of a movable. The trial court ordered him to pay restitution for the tools taken

from the truck, even though he had not been charged with theft, and the items had

not been listed in the police report. He argued on appeal that the imposition of

restitution was improper because there was no evidence that he was responsible for

the theft of the tools or even that the tools had been stolen. Further, he claimed the

only evidence of loss presented was a list and receipts by the victim without any

prior notice to the defense. This court concluded that restitution was properly

ordered under facts very similar to those in this case:

Trahan subsequently testified that a lot of hand tools and power
tools were taken from this truck, and the total was $1,552.73. When
asked to enumerate what was taken, Trahan stated, “[a] lot of hand
tools.” Trahan was then asked to read from “the list” and told, “[i]f
you have to read every single one, that‟s fine.” Trahan then testified
that the following items had been taken:

[s]crewdriver, nut driver, torque wrench, plyers, needle
nose, Lyman plyers, nail set, a couple of felt knives, vice
grip, a wrench−two (2) or three (3) wrenches. Let‟s see,
line strippers, wire strippers, Dewalt set−power tool
Dewalt set, which is six hundred dollars ($600) by itself,
a tool box, some tape−some duct tape, other different
types of screwdrivers, wrenches, more wrenches and−[.]

Trahan said that the tools were kept inside his truck and were there the
night the truck was taken. Trahan testified that he purchased some
tools recently because he needed them to make repairs, and his
insurance did not cover the loss. He further testified that he arrived at
the total of $1,552.73 by adding the figures on the various receipts he
had presented. The receipts presented were for purchases on several
different occasions. Trahan said that he bought what he needed first,
and, when he realized he needed more, he purchased a “whole bunch.”
Trahan further testified, “[w]ell, I acquired all those tools over the
years. I didn‟t realize what I had, until I needed it. I didn‟t make a
list of everything.” He continued, “I had to just buy what I thought at
first and then come back.” Trahan was then questioned as follows:

Q . . . But you don‟t actually know what it was that you
were missing, because you don‟t have any documentation
of the tools that were actually stolen?

7

A You know--Yes, in a way I don‟t, but I do have that--I
know if I need it, which I had before, I go look for it and
I don‟t have it, I knew I had it before.

Q But you could have bought something on this list that
you didn‟t have before?

A If it is, it might be one (1) or two (2), but I really--

Q Might be one (1) or two (2). So there might be
something on here that you didn‟t lose before?

A Could be, but I really doubt it. Because I had
everything. I had a lot. Fifteen hundred is nothing.

Trahan then testified that his tools were old.

The Juvenile testified that he was fourteen years old and lived
with his aunt. The Juvenile indicated that he did not have a job and
had no money; however, he had cut grass for ten to fifteen dollars a
yard when he needed money.

After hearing the testimony of Trahan and the Juvenile and the
arguments of counsel, the trial court asked if the Juvenile‟s probation
would be for a period of one year. The State answered affirmatively.
The trial court then stated, “[t]hat reduces the amount of available
funds.” The trial court then inquired as to the date probation would
be terminated and ordered the Juvenile to pay restitution of $750.00 at
a rate of $75.00 per month. Defense counsel objected and asked that
payment be suspended pending review of the trial court‟s ruling. The
trial court denied the request.

The Juvenile contends that he was not charged with, and did not
admit to, any offense by which Trahan was permanently deprived of
any property. In support of this argument, the Juvenile cites
La.Ch.Code art. 897(B)(2)(c) [. . . ]

....

The Juvenile also cites La.Code Crim.P. art. 895.1(A)(1), which
provides:

When a court places the defendant on probation, it
shall, as a condition of probation, order the payment of
restitution in cases where the victim or his family has
suffered any direct loss of actual cash, any monetary loss
pursuant to damage to or loss of property, or medical
expense. The court shall order restitution in a reasonable
sum not to exceed the actual pecuniary loss to the victim

8

in an amount certain. However, any additional or other
damages sought by the victim and available under the
law shall be pursued in an action separate from the
establishment of the restitution order as a civil money
judgment provided for in Subparagraph (2) of this
Paragraph. The restitution payment shall be made, in
discretion of the court, either in a lump sum or in
monthly installments based on the earning capacity and
assets of the defendant.

The Juvenile argues that the trial court improperly applied the
standard found in La.Code Crim.P. art. 895.1(A)(1). Additionally, he
argues that the order of restitution was improper under the standards
set forth in the criminal code and children‟s code, as there was no
evidence that he was responsible for the theft of tools or that the tools
were stolen.

The Juvenile cites the following from State ex rel. K.J., 11-266,
p. 12 (La.App. 4 Cir. 8/17/11), 71 So.3d 557, 564, in his brief to this
court:

[I]n a criminal case where the evidence establishes the
victim has suffered a direct loss of actual cash, monetary
loss due to physical damage to or loss of property, and/or
incurred medical expenses, the sentencing judge must
order restitution in an amount not to exceed the actual
loss sustained or medical expense incurred by the victim
as established at trial. The court may further order
payment of an additional amount to the victim for any
quantifiable loss or inconvenience (i.e. costs of rental car,
cabs, medical equipment, etc.) suffered as a result of the
criminal activity for which the defendant was convicted.

The Juvenile argues that K.J. shows that there must be evidence
presented at a restitution hearing that the victim suffered a loss as a
result of the crime for which he was convicted. The Juvenile argues
that the victim presented a new allegation at the restitution hearing,
claiming his truck had been burglarized. The Juvenile claims that he
received no prior notice through arrest, charge, or documentation of
the victim‟s claim.

The Juvenile notes that the only testimony presented was that of
the victim. The Juvenile then argues there was no attempt to
demonstrate the loss suffered was the result of the delinquent act
charged in the petition.

In State v. Boudreaux, 98-1932 (La.App. 3 Cir. 6/16/99), 741
So.2d 860, the defendant was convicted of forgery. As a condition of
probation, the trial court ordered the defendant to pay restitution in the

9

amount of $33,946.90. On appeal, the defendant argued that the trial
court erred in ordering restitution for the uncharged conduct of
forgery by false making. The defendant explained that the bill of
indictment charged her with forgery by altering checks and not
forgery by false making. In support of this claim, the defendant cited
this court‟s opinion affirming her conviction, in which this court
stated the defendant was guilty of forgery by altering certain checks
and not by false making. See State v. Boudreaux, 98-40 (La.App. 3
Cir. 6/3/98) (unpublished opinion).

The defendant then stated she was charged and convicted with
altering only two checks; therefore, she should have been ordered to
pay restitution on those two checks only. This court noted that the
defendant seemed to distinguish between the unauthorized checks she
wrote to herself (forgery by false making) and the canceled checks she
altered to conceal the false making. Because the defendant was not
charged with false making, she argued that she should not have been
ordered to pay restitution for damages caused by that conduct. This
court addressed the issue, stating:

Even though Defendant was not charged with the false
making of the checks for which she actually received
cash, she was charged with altering canceled checks in
order to facilitate her forgery scheme. As noted by this
court‟s original opinion, “La.Code Crim.P. art. 895
grants the trial judge authority to impose as a specific
condition of probation payment of a „reasonable . . .
restitution to the aggrieved party for damage or loss
caused by his offense . . .‟ (Emphasis added).” Id. at p. 5,
n. 2, Citing State v. Alleman, 439 So.2d 418 (La.1983);
State v. Labure, 427 So.2d 855 (La.1983). Because the
offense committed by Defendant facilitated the forgery
scheme by which she caused $33,496.90 worth of loss to
the victim, the damage suffered by the victim was caused
by the offense committed by Defendant. Thus, the trial
court was correct in ordering restitution in the amount of
$33,496.90.

Id. at 862.

In State v. Metlin, 467 So.2d 876 (La.App. 3 Cir.1985), the
defendant pled guilty to three counts of illegal possession of stolen
things valued under $100.00 and was ordered to make restitution of
$8,037.50 to the owners of the stolen things he received. This court
found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering the
defendant to make restitution. This court noted that the victims
suffered a loss caused by the defendant‟s offense of receiving stolen
things, to which the defendant pled guilty in misdemeanor amounts.
The court found that this condition of the defendant‟s probation was

10

permitted under the provisions of La.Code Crim.P. art. 895(A)(7) and
was reasonably related to his rehabilitation.

In State v. Portie, 08-1580 (La.App. 4 Cir. 9/16/09), 22 So.3d
213, the defendant was charged with theft of property having a value
over $500.00. A jury found him guilty of attempted theft of property
valued over $500.00. As part of his sentence, the defendant was
ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $38,553.91. On appeal,
the defendant argued that a sentence requiring payment of restitution
for stolen property could only be justified upon a conviction for the
actual crime of theft. The fourth circuit noted that the trial court, at
the time restitution was imposed, stated it was perplexed and had no
idea why the jury made the decision to find the defendant guilty of the
lesser included offense of attempted theft. The fourth circuit then
cited La.R.S. 14:27(C), which states that a defendant may be
convicted of an attempt to commit a crime although it appears at trial
that the crime intended or attempted was actually perpetrated in
pursuance of the attempt. The fourth circuit then found the trial court
acted within its discretion when ordering the defendant to pay full
restitution to the victim.

In State v. Moore, 614 So.2d 145 (La.App. 3 Cir.1993), the
defendant pled guilty to ten counts of misdemeanor theft and five
counts of simple burglary. This court noted that restitution may have
been ordered on counts to which the defendant did not enter pleas of
guilty. This court found that a factual basis was stated for the record
showing the defendant‟s participation in the crimes involving each of
the victims to whom restitution was ordered; likewise, the defendant‟s
possession of the various stolen things was not disputed. This court
found that restitution as part of defendant‟s probation was permitted
under the provisions of La.Code Crim.P. Art. 895(A)(7) and was
reasonably related to his rehabilitation.

Based on the cases cited above, we find that the trial court
properly ordered restitution, as simple logic and deduction demands a
conclusion that the loss suffered by Trahan was caused by the offense
committed by the Juvenile. Further, this court finds that the trial
court‟s order is reasonably related to the Juvenile‟s rehabilitation.

Id. at 1285-88.

The Juvenile distinguishes D.B. by pointing out that the victim in that case

had evidence in the form of receipts to prove the amount he had to spend to replace

the items. In this case, Domingue testified that he had not replaced the items;

11

accordingly, the Juvenile argues that Domingue incurred no out-of-pocket expense

for the items.8

As in D.B., the victim in this case did not present evidence, other than

testimony, of the existence of nor the original cost of the items taken from his

vehicle. The court relied upon the victim‟s testimony regarding these facts, as did

the juvenile court in this case. The fact that Domingue had not replaced the items

at the time of the hearing does not alter the fact that a loss was incurred. These

findings are within the trial court‟s vast discretion as to the imposition of

restitution. State v. Johnson, 04-1266, (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/2/05), 893 So.2d 945. In

Johnson, a panel of this court stated:

[T]he trier of fact is to consider the value that the stolen items have to
the victim. “Unless it is shown the owner lacks knowledge of the
value of a movable, his testimony as to value is generally admissible,
with its weight being left to the jury.” Further, the owner of stolen
property may testify regarding the value of the stolen items without
the necessity of being qualified as an expert, and such testimony “can
constitute ample evidence of the property‟s value.”

Id. at 955 (quoting State v. Stack, 97-1176, p.7 (La.App. 5 Cir. 4/15/98), 710 So.2d

841, 844).

Domingue‟s non-expert opinion regarding the value of the items is sufficient

evidence of the property‟s value. The court appropriately considered the value that

the items had to the victim, and the credibility of Domingue‟s testimony was

properly assessed by the court. Thus, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion

is ordering the Juvenile to pay restitution for the items taken from the truck.

Accordingly, this assignment of error is without merit.

8
The Juvenile does not argue that the restitution award exceeds the pecuniary loss to the
victim, which was a basis for relief being granted in State in the Interest of B.A., 12-659 (La.App.
3 Cir. 12/19/12), 104 So.3d 833.

12

ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR NUMBER TWO

In this assignment of error, the Juvenile contends that the amount of

restitution imposed by the trial court is excessive, i.e., that $200.00 a month is an

unreasonable burden to place on an indigent fifteen year old, and it serves no

rehabilitative purpose. In support of his position, the Juvenile relies upon State in

the Interest of B.A., 12-659, pp. 4-5 (La.App. 3 Cir. 12/19/12), 104 So.3d 833, 836,

a case in which this court found a restitution award of $5,805.00 excessive:

Even assuming that the actual damage to the Middle School is
$5,805.00, that amount is still excessive. B.A. has no funds to fulfill
this obligation and has no work skills to assist him in securing
employment that would allow him to meet his obligation in the
remaining probationary time. His one-year probation period began
with the disposition on November 9, 2011, yet his restitution
obligation was not set until March 28, 2012. In the roughly seven
months remaining on his probation, B.A. would have to find gainful
employment that would allow him to earn approximately $830.00 per
month in order to satisfy this restitution obligation, while at the same
time pursuing his education.

In D.B., 137 So.3d at 1288-89, this court found a restitution award of

$750.00 to be paid at a rate of $75.00 per month was not an unreasonable burden to

place on a fourteen-year-old juvenile:

The Juvenile further argues that mowing approximately five
yards per month is too extreme a punishment. The Juvenile suggests
to this court that he is unable to find any rehabilitative purpose in the
trial court‟s order. Again, we disagree. We find that requiring a
juvenile to account for a portion of the reasonable and direct
consequences of his crime is an acceptable form of rehabilitation.

While we concede that the trial court‟s order could have been
done with more precision (such as considering the lack of yards to
mow in the winter), overall we find that it did an excellent job of
“balanc[ing] the needs of the child with the best interest of society.”
State ex rel. Garner, 484 So.2d 149, 154 (La.App. 3 Cir.1986), citing
State ex rel. Ray, 432 So.2d 312 (La.App. 5 Cir.1983). Further, we
recognize that much discretion is granted to the trial court because of
the special nature of the juvenile proceeding. Garner, 484 So.2d 149.
Particularly, we have found that “[a]lthough many of the amounts
assessed by the trial court are replacement values, it was within the

13

trial court‟s discretion to choose an appropriate amount.” State v.
Johnson, 04-1266, p. 22 (La.App. 3 Cir. 2/2/05), 893 So.2d 945, 959.
The trial court clearly acted within its discretion. Therefore, the
assignment of error lacks merit.

Id. at 1288-89.

We find that the restitution amount of $200.00 per month was not an

unreasonable burden to place on fifteen-year-old K.Z.

DISPOSITION

We amend K.Z.‟s disposition to give him credit for time served in a secure

detention facility before the imposition of disposition, if any, and instruct the

juvenile court to note the amendment in the written disposition and in the minute

entry. We affirm the trial court‟s disposition ordering restitution for the personal

items in the victim‟s vehicle and further ordering K.Z. to pay restitution of

$3,200.21 at the rate of $200.00 per month.

AFFIRMED AS AMENDED;
REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

14