T.A.S. v. State

Fifteen-year-old T.A.S. was charged with burglary of a dwelling and petit theft, and he pleaded no contest to the charges. He appeals only the order of restitution because the hearing setting the amount was held in his absence. We reverse.

T.A.S.’s plea was accepted on October 13, 2003, and set for final disposition on October 27, at which time T.A.S. appeared with his maternal grandparents. The grandparents had always appeared with T.A.S. in court even though they were only his voluntary caretakers, not his legal custodians; the Department of Children and Family Services placed T.A.S. with…