Jerry M., a Minor

In re JERRY M., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. JERRY M., Defendant and Appellant. No. D026400 (Consolidated         with D027892) (Super. Ct. No. J176959) California Court of Appeal Fourth Appellate District Division One Filed November 19, 1997 CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION ¹
        Appeals from a judgment and an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Lawrence Kapiloff and Maria T. Arroyo, Judges. Judgment in D026400 affirmed in part and reversed in part; appeal in D027892 dismissed.

        John Lanahan, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
        Daniel E. Lungren, Attorney General, George Williamson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Gary W. Schons, Assistant Attorney General, Janelle M. Boustany and Jean Hume, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

        The juvenile court found eleven-year-old appellant Jerry M. (Jerry) came within the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 after finding true the allegations that he had committed four counts of violating Penal Code ² section 288, subdivision (a), one count of violating section 417, subdivision (a) and one count of violating section 242. On appeal from that judgment ³ Jerry argues: (1) he cannot violate section 288, subdivision (a) if he is younger than the victim; (2) the evidence was insufficient to support a finding he knew the wrongfulness of his conduct; (3) the petition allegations of violating section 288, subdivision (a) should have been dismissed in the interests of justice; and (4) he was denied effective assistance of counsel. This court requested supplemental briefing on the additional issue of the sufficiency of the evidence to establish the intent required for violation of section 288, subdivision (a).

I FACTS ⁴ A.        Offenses Against Christopher R.
        Misdemeanor Battery (§ 242 - Count 10): In March 1996 nine-year-old Christopher R. was building a fort with his baby-sitter when Jerry walked by. Christopher greeted Jerry and Jerry told him, "don't talk to me, don't talk at all." When Christopher said no, Jerry grabbed him by the neck and threw him against a tree.
        Misdemeanor Exhibiting a Weapon in a Threatening Manner (§ 417, subd. (a) - Count 9): In April 1996 Jerry asked Christopher to give him Christopher's ice cream money. When he refused, Jerry displayed a small pocket knife, and Christopher fled.

B.        Offenses Against Clair S.
        Felony Lewd Touching of Victim Under 14 Years of Age (§ 288, subd. (a) - Count 7): In March 1996 12-year-old Clair S. was talking with friends when Jerry approached the group and without Clair's permission squeezed her breasts through her shirt.
        Felony Lewd Touching of Victim Under 14 Years of Age (§ 288, subd. (a) - Count 8): In April 1996 Jerry borrowed Clair's bike. When she requested its return Jerry told her he would not return it unless she showed him her breasts. Clair initially refused to show him her breasts, but when he continued to withhold return of her bike she complied with his demand. Although Clair denied at trial that Jerry touched her breasts on that occasion, Detectives Shelby and Reyes testified Clair had told them Jerry had done so.

C.        Offense Against Stephanie T.
        Felony Lewd Touching of Victim Under 14 Years of Age (§ 288, subd. (a) - Count 3): In May 1996 13-year-old Stephanie T. was standing near her apartment complex mail boxes when Jerry approached her, touched her breasts with his fingertips and stated, "those grew" or "those feel good." She told him "no" and backed away from him.

D.        Offense Against Sonia E.
        Felony Lewd Touching of Victim Under 14 Years of Age (§ 288, subd. (a) - Count 6): In May 1996 12-year-old Sonia E. was on the steps of her apartment building when Jerry asked her if she was "flat." She ignored the question and Jerry put his hands under her tee shirt and bra and touched her breasts with his fingertips.

E.        Jerry's Knowledge of Wrongfulness
        Jerry's mother had told Jerry it was wrong to touch girls in certain places. He appeared to understand that "grabbing girls' chests," "punching" another child and "throwing" another child to the ground were wrong actions. At the time of the offenses, Jerry was between 11 years and 2 months and 11 years and 4 months of age.

II ANALYSIS
A.        The Section 288, Subdivision (a) Claim
        Jerry claims his conduct did not violate section 288, subdivision (a) because that section is not violated if the perpetrator is younger than the victim. Section 288, subdivision (a) provides:

"Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act . . . upon or with the body . . . of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony . . . ."

        Jerry concedes the statute on its face proscribes conduct by all persons without regard to age. However, Jerry cites Planned Parenthood Affiliates v. Van De Kamp (1986) 181 Cal.App.3d 245 (Planned Parenthood) in which the court stated section 288, subdivision (a) was intended to apply only to molestation of "sexually naive children by adults or older minors who do not suffer from the legal disability on their understanding of sexual acts." (Planned Parenthood, supra, at p. 276.) However, Planned Parenthood evaluated a different issue: Did the reporting requirements of "Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act" (section 11164 et seq.) apply? That Act compelled health professionals to report cases in which they suspected a child was a victim of a section 288, subdivision (a) offense. The Planned Parenthood court evaluated whether reports would be required when the sexual activity involved consensual acts by partners who were both under the age of 14. It held the reporting statutes were inapplicable to consensual conduct of persons under the age of 14 in part because both participants would be deemed legally incapable of consenting to the activity, both would be "victims" and neither could be reported as a perpetrator. (Planned Parenthood, supra, at pp. 273-276.)
        Certainly, Planned Parenthood contains dictum that a 13-year-old "is probably legally incapable of violating section 288." (181 Cal.App.3d at p. 273.) However, several courts have since concluded that sub-14-year-old minors can violate section 288, subdivision (a). In In re Billie Y. (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 127 (disapproved on other grounds in In re Manuel L. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 229, 239, fn. 5), the court concluded a 13-year-old could violate section 288, subdivision (a) if he understood the wrongfulness of his conduct and otherwise acted with the requisite intent. The Billie Y. court rejected the argument that under Planned Parenthood a sub-14-year-old cannot be responsible for violating section 288, subdivision (a), noting the plain language of the statute did not preclude applying the statute to sub-14-year-old minors, and further noting Planned Parenthood dealt with the different issue of whether consensual relations between sub-14-year-old minors violated section 288, subdivision (a). (In re Billie Y., supra, at pp. 130-133.)
        The court in In re Paul C. (1990) 221 Cal.App.3d 43 reached the same conclusion as the Billie Y. court and stated: "[A] minor under age 14 may be adjudged responsible for having committed [a violation of section 288, subdivision (a)] upon clear proof of the minor's knowledge of wrongfulness as required by section 26." (Id. at p. 49.) The Paul C. court relied in part on the holding of In re Gladys R. (1970) 1 Cal.3d 855 in which the Supreme Court concluded a 12-year-old could violate former section 647a, which the court quoted as: "Every person who annoys or molests any child under the age of 18 is a vagrant." (1 Cal.3d at p. 867.) Because the Gladys R. court concluded the "[e]very person" language applied to sub-14-year-old minors, and the "any person" language of section 288 was essentially the same, the Paul C. court concluded the "any person" language of section 288 applied to sub-14-year-old minors. The Paul C. court, rejecting the appellant's reliance on Planned Parenthood, reasoned:

"Planned Parenthood suggests an under-14 minor cannot know of the wrongfulness of conduct violating section 288 because such a minor is legally incapable of consenting to an act violating section 288. (Planned Parenthood, supra, 181 Cal.App.3d at pp. 273-274.) However, the prohibition on consent as a defense to a violation of section 288 is a categorical legal prohibition, in the nature of a salutary legal fiction, adopted for the protection of children under age 14. [Citation.] The prohibition does not mean that such children are in fact incapable of understanding sexual conduct. [Citations.] Nor does the prohibition mean that minors under age 14 are incapable of knowing the wrongdoing of their sexual conduct. 'A person under age 14 is not conclusively presumed incapable of committing a violation of Penal Code section 288. It is not all that unusual for mature children age 13 or younger sexually to molest children even younger than they knowing it is wrong to do so.' [Quoting People ex rel. Eichenberger v. Stockton Pregnancy Control Medical Clinic, Inc. [1988] 203 Cal.App.3d [225] at p. 248, conc. opn. of Puglia, P. J.] 'That an act is usually committed by adults against children, is made criminal for the protection of children, and requires a minor as victim, does not mean that the act cannot be performed by a minor.' [Quoting In re John L. (1989) 209 Cal.App.3d 1137, 1140.]" (In re Paul C., supra, 221 Cal.App.3d at p. 51.)
        
        We agree with Paul C.'s and Billie Y.'s rejection of the dictum in Planned Parenthood and their conclusion that as a matter of statutory construction nothing in section 288, subdivision (a) precludes a minor under 14 years of age from violating that statute. Jerry points out that Paul C. and Billie Y. involved defendants older than the victims, and because there are no cases applying the statute to defendants younger than the victims we should superimpose a requirement that the perpetrator be older than the victim. However, to both quote and paraphrase the Paul C. court: "While we think the dearth of direct authority may be useful as a reflection of prudent prosecutorial discretion, it is not useful as tending to state a rule of law." The dearth means simply that cases involving minors younger than the victim have not been decided by the appellate courts in published opinions. (In re Paul C., supra, 221 Cal.App.3d at p. 51.)
        We are presented no sound reason to hold that a statute otherwise applicable to an 11-year-old perpetrator becomes inapplicable merely because the victim is a 13-year-old child rather than a 10-year-old child. Because the 13-year-old and the 10-year-old are equally protected by the statutory classification and are equally victimized, we decline to place a judicial gloss of "older perpetrator" on a statute which does not impose that requirement. ⁵

B.        Sufficiency of the Evidence -- Knowledge of Wrongfulness
        When a child under the age of 14 years is charged with criminal offenses, he may not be found guilty of those offenses unless the prosecution proves the child understood the wrongfulness of his conduct. (§ 26; In re Manuel L., supra, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 232-239.) The understanding of wrongfulness must be shown by "clear and convincing" evidence. ⁶ (Ibid.) On appeal from the true findings, we must affirm an implied finding that the juvenile understood the wrongfulness of his conduct if the implied finding is supported by substantial evidence. ⁷ (In re Cindy E. (1978) 83 Cal.App.3d 393, 398-399; In re Marven C., supra, 33 Cal.App.4th at pp. 486-487.)
        When an appellant asserts there is insufficient evidence to support the judgment, our review is circumscribed. (People v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal.4th 764, 792-793.) We review the whole record most favorably to the judgment to determine whether there is substantial evidence -- that is, evidence that is reasonable, credible, and of solid value -- from which a reasonable trier of fact could have made the requisite finding under the governing standard of proof. (People v. Johnson (1980) 26 Cal.3d 557, 578; Jackson v. Virginia (1979) 443 U.S. 307, 317-320.) The trier of fact, not the appellate court, must be convinced of the defendant's guilt, and if the circumstances and reasonable inferences justify the trier of fact's findings, the opinion of the reviewing court that the circumstances might also reasonably be reconciled with a contrary finding does not warrant reversal of the judgment. (People v. Bean (1988) 46 Cal.3d 919, 932-933.) This standard of review applies with equal force to claims that the evidence does not support the determination that a juvenile understood the wrongfulness of his conduct. (In re Paul C., supra, 221 Cal.App.3d at p. 52.)
        In determining whether the minor knows of the wrongfulness of his conduct, the court must often rely on circumstantial evidence (In re Tony C. (1978) 21 Cal.3d 888, 900) including the minor's age, experience and understanding, as well as the circumstances of the offense including its method of commission and concealment (In re Marven C., supra, 33 Cal.App.4th at p. 487). The offenses here were committed two to four months after Jerry turned eleven years old. There was evidence Jerry was told and knew of the wrongfulness of his acts: his mother had told him it was wrong to touch girls in certain places, and he appeared to understand it was wrong to touch girls' breasts or attack other children. Furthermore, the trier of fact could infer Jerry was aware of the wrongfulness from the circumstances of the offenses. In each case, when the target of Jerry's advances verbally declined or resisted he refused to accept her rebuffs; he even resorted to extorting one victim into complying with his demands. A trier of fact could infer from this evidence that Jerry was aware of the wrongfulness of his conduct.

C.        Sufficiency of the Evidence -- Intent
        Although we have determined there was sufficient evidence to support the finding that Jerry knew of the wrongfulness of his acts, a more difficult issue is whether there was sufficient evidence to support the finding of intent required to constitute a violation of section 288, subdivision (a). Violation of section 288, subdivision (a) requires the specific intent of arousing the sexual desires of either the perpetrator or the victim. (People v. Martinez (1995) 11 Cal.4th 434, 444, 452; see generally, 2 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law (2d ed. 1988) Crimes Against Decency and Morals, § 788, pp. 892, 893.) Because the requisite specific intent is an element of the crime it must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 701; see In re Manuel L., supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 236.)
        The People do not contend that Jerry's touching was for the purpose or with the intent of arousing the sexual desires of any of the three girls. The focus therefore is whether substantial evidence supports a finding beyond a reasonable doubt that Jerry's touching was with the intent to satisfy his sexual desires.
        Because intent can seldom be proved by direct evidence, it may be inferred from the circumstances. (See People v. Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 445; see generally 2 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law, supra, at §§ 789, 790, pp. 893, 894.) Circumstances which have been considered relevant to proving intent to satisfy sexual desires include: the charged act, extrajudicial statements, the relationship of the parties, other acts of lewd conduct, coercion or deceit used to obtain the victim's cooperation, attempts to avoid detection, offering of a reward for cooperation, a stealthy approach to the victim, admonishment of the victim not to disclose the occurrence, physical evidence of sexual arousal and clandestine meetings. (See People v. Martinez, supra, at p. 445; People v. Hyche (1942) 52 Cal.App.2d 661, 664; People v. Hobbs (1952) 109 Cal.App.2d 189, 192; People v. Piccionelli (1959) 175 Cal.App.2d 391, 394; In re Billie Y., supra, 220 Cal.App.3d at pp. 129-130; In re Paul C., supra, 221 Cal.App.3d at p. 54.) To this list must be added, in our view, the age of the defendant. As noted in Paul C., supra, at page 53, which quoted from Cindy E., supra, 83 Cal.App.3d at p. 399, and which is paraphrased here, the closer the minor approaches the age of 14 years, the more likely the minor understands the wrongfulness of his acts within the meaning of section 26. Conversely, the more distant the age of the minor below the age of 14 years, the less likely the minor understands the wrongfulness of his acts. Similarly, the younger the minor the less likely his acts are with the specific intent of sexual arousal. At some age younger than 14 years, which we need not determine in this case, the minor cannot as a matter of law have the specific intent of sexual arousal.
        Based on our review of the entire record in this case in the context of the factors to be considered to determine if there was substantial evidence Jerry touched Clair S., Stephanie T. and Sonia E. with the specific intent sexually to arouse himself, we conclude the People did not sustain its burden of proof: A rational trier of fact could not conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Jerry acted with the specific intent sexually to arouse himself.
        In reaching this conclusion we are persuaded by the following factors. Jerry was 11 years old and there is no evidence he had reached puberty. There is no evidence of sexual arousal. (Cf. In re Paul C., supra, 221 Cal.App.3d at p. 54 [defendant 13-1/2 years old had an erection at time of offense].) Each of the minor victims knew Jerry; his conduct was in public, during daytime in the presence of others; and there was no attempt or opportunity to avoid detection. There was no clandestine activity preceding the touching, no stealthy approach or modus operandi and no admonishment to the victims not to disclose the occurrence. There was no attempt to prolong the touching beyond the initial momentary contact; there was no caressing. The record shows Jerry was a brazen 11-year-old whose conduct was more consistent with an intent to annoy and obtain attention than with sexual arousal. Under these circumstances Jerry was perhaps guilty of battery (§ 242), but the record does not support a true finding beyond a reasonable doubt of conduct intended sexually to exploit a child -- the "gist" of section 288, subdivision (a). (See People v. Martinez, supra, 11 Cal.4th at p. 444.)

[THIS PART IS NOT CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION]
D.        The Welfare and Institutions Code Section 782 Claim
        Jerry argues the trial court had discretion to dismiss the petition under Welfare and Institutions Code section 782 (W&I section 782) but did not dismiss because it mistakenly understood that it lacked the power to do so. Jerry argues reversal is required because the trial court erred by not dismissing the petition under W&I section 782 or, alternatively, because defense counsel's failure to move for dismissal under that section denied Jerry effective assistance of counsel.

        1. Legal Standards
        W&I section 782 provides:
"A judge of the juvenile court in which a petition was filed, at any time before the minor reaches the age of 21 years, may dismiss the petition or may set aside the findings and dismiss the petition if the court finds that the interests of justice and the welfare of the minor require such dismissal, or if it finds that the minor is not in need of treatment or rehabilitation. The court shall have jurisdiction to order such dismissal or setting aside of the findings and dismissal regardless of whether the minor is, at the time of such order, a ward or dependent child of the court."
        Exercise of the discretionary power to dismiss requires one of two findings: (1) dismissal would best serve the interests of justice and the welfare of the minor, or (2) the minor is not in need of treatment or rehabilitation. (In re Albert M. (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 353, 358.) When considering whether a dismissal will serve the interests of the minor and the interests of justice, the court must consider the objects and purposes of the juvenile court law, which include protection of the public and awakening in the minor a sense of responsibility for his own actions. (Derek L. v. Superior Court (1982) 137 Cal.App.3d 228, 232-233.)

        2. Proceedings Below
        Defense counsel did not move to dismiss the petition under W&I section 782. However, defense counsel argued that section 288, subdivision (a) was designed to punish adult predators on younger children and was thus inappropriate in this case. Defense counsel asserted that in lieu of true findings on the section 288, subdivision (a) allegations the court should find Jerry had committed lesser offenses of sexual battery (§ 243.4, subd. (a)) and reduce the section 243.4 offenses to misdemeanors pursuant to section 17, subdivision (b). The prosecution objected, arguing that section 243.4, subdivision (a) required that the touching occur while the victim was restrained, and because there was no restraint here any reduction of the charges would be to a six-month misdemeanor sexual battery (§ 243.4, subd. (d)). The prosecutor argued that a touching violating section 288, subdivision (a) differed from a touching violating section 243.4, subdivision (d) principally because of the age of the victim, and that the ages of the victims here made the more serious offense an appropriate charge. The trial court responded to the prosecutor's argument by stating:
"Well, counsel, unfortunately I agree with you. I say unfortunately. I really wish there were a lot more flexibility given the judges in situations like this. The problem is that we have the obligation or we are going to have the obligation of finding a proper remedy and proper place for this young man. Its going to come out of our budget here on this side which means probation gets stuck with it instead of having D.S.S. look at this understanding there is a problem and then having to deal with it because they get 3232 money. I don't think we can get it over here which is unfortunate, isn't it? So we make him a criminal and we cut off those funds but that's, who was it . . . says the law is an ass. Anyway, sometimes I feel like that but that's the law as I read it and I am required to interpret it and I invite you to appeal, counsel. Maybe you can prevail. Something has to be done. Apparently the Legislature is in no mood to reduce. They are going to reduce the age of people which we can send them downtown to the age of 14 . . . ."
        Jerry argues the trial court's statement showed the court believed it could only make true findings on the allegations, when in fact it had the power to dismiss the petition. We do not ascribe the same meaning to the court's statement as does Jerry. The statement showed the trial court "unfortunately" agreed that section 288, subdivision (a) did apply to youthful offenders, and expressed disapproval of the perception that less money was available for rehabilitating minors adjudicated wards under Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 than for minors declared dependent under section 300 of that code. Although the trial court appears to have questioned the wisdom of budgetary and other choices made by the Legislature, it did not suggest that had its discretionary power under W&I section 782 been invoked it would have found that the interests of justice and the minor's welfare would have been served by complete dismissal of the petition. ⁸
        Moreover, even if the trial court misunderstood the scope of its powers and otherwise would have dismissed some or all of the true findings under W&I section 782, no prejudice resulted because a motion to dismiss may be made "at any time before the minor reaches the age of 21 years . . . regardless of whether the minor is, at the time of such order, a ward or dependent child of the court." (Ibid.) Jerry retains the right and ability to make a W&I section 782 motion at any time. Because Jerry may request the court's exercise of the discretion he claims would have been exercised in his favor, we decline to reverse the judgment based on speculations from ambiguous language. ⁹

E.        The Evidentiary Claim
        Clair S. denied at trial that Jerry had touched her breasts on the April 1996 occasion when Jerry refused to return her bike until she exposed her breasts. Jerry argues his attorney was ineffective for failing to lodge a hearsay objection to the testimonies of Detectives Shelby and Reyes that Clair had told them in a May 1996 interview that Jerry had touched her breasts when she exposed them to obtain the return of her bike. An attorney is not required to make futile motions or engage in idle acts to appear competent. (People v. Torrez (1995) 31 Cal.App.4th 1084, 1091.) A hearsay objection would have been futile because the detectives' testimonies were admissible to show a witness's prior inconsistent statement. ¹⁰

[END OF PART IS NOT CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION]
DISPOSITION         The true findings of four counts of violating section 288, subdivision (a) in appeal number D026400 are reversed. In all other respects the judgment in appeal number D026400 is affirmed. The appeal from the December 5, 1996 order in appeal number D027892 is dismissed.


WE CONCUR:
        BENKE, Acting P.J.
        McINTYRE, J.


¹ . Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 976.1, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of parts II E and II D.
²  All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise specified.
³  In appeal number D026400 Jerry challenges the true findings and wardship adjudication entered on June 25, 1996. Jerry also filed a notice of appeal (number D027892) from a December 5, 1996 order entered after a review hearing at which Jerry was continued as a ward under Welfare and Institutions Code section 602. Appeal number D027892 was consolidated with appeal number D026400. However, because no appellate claims of error regarding the order appealed from in appeal number D027892 are raised, we deem that appeal to be abandoned and order it dismissed. (Berger v. Godden (1985) 163 Cal.App.3d 1113, 1119-1120.)
⁴  Although the petition alleged Jerry had committed numerous criminal violations, we detail the evidence relating only to those counts on which true findings were entered.
⁵  The structure of section 288 also militates against imposing the "older than the victim" interpretation urged by Jerry. Subdivision (a) of that section does not impose that condition. Subdivision (c)(1) of that section, however, provides that when a perpetrator commits an act proscribed by subdivision (a) on a 14- or 15-year-old victim, and the perpetrator is "at least ten years older than the child," he is guilty of a public offense carrying a lesser punishment than prescribed for violation of section 288, subdivision (a). When the Legislature uses a term or phrase in one part of a statute but excludes it from another part, the courts should not imply the missing phrase into the sections from which it was excluded. (Pasadena Police Officers Assn. v. City of Pasadena (1990) 51 Cal.3d 564, 576.) If the Legislature had intended to include an "older than the victim" requirement in subdivision (a), it has shown it is capable of expressing that intent.
⁶  Jerry argues section 26 adds an element to the offense which must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt as required by In re Winship (1970) 397 U.S. 358, 364. The identical argument was made to and rejected by the Manuel L. court (In re Manuel L., supra, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 236-239), and we may not disregard controlling authority from our Supreme Court. (Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court (1962) 57 Cal.2d 450, 455.)
⁷  Jerry argues our review is governed not by the deferential substantial evidence test but by the de novo standard of review, citing In re Michael B. (1975) 44 Cal.App.3d 443, 446. However, the Michael B. court did not purport to use the de novo standard and thereby usurp the role of the trier of fact, but instead found that the evidence in that case fell "far short" of showing knowledge of wrongfulness. The Michael B. court reversed because "[n]o such substantial evidence was presented," thus employing rather than eschewing the deferential substantial evidence standard of review applicable to such issues. (Id. at p. 446; see also In re Marven C. (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 482, 486-487 [using substantial evidence standard to review finding of knowledge of wrongfulness].)
⁸  Jerry argues the court might have concluded the interests of justice and the minor's welfare would have been served by dismissal of only the section 288, subdivision (a) allegations. However, that order still would have resulted in Jerry's being declared a ward because of the true findings on the battery and weapon misdemeanors, and nothing suggests this result would have solved the problem about which the court lamented: lack of funding for rehabilitation of Welfare and Institutions Code section 602 wards.
⁹  Jerry claims he was denied effective assistance of counsel because his attorney made no motion under W&I section 782. To obtain relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel a defendant must show (1) incompetence -- that is, the challenged conduct fell below the standard of care to be exercised by reasonably competent attorneys acting as diligent advocates; and (2) prejudice -- that is, there is a reasonable probability of a more favorable result absent counsel's failings. (People v. Lewis (1990) 50 Cal.3d 262, 288.) We need not reach the first issue if we conclude the second element (prejudice) is absent. (Strickland v. Washington (1984) 466 U.S. 668, 697.) Because there is no reasonable probability the court would have dismissed the petition had the motion been made, and because Jerry can seek the identical relief at any time, we conclude there is no prejudice even assuming counsel should have made the W&I section 782 motion.
¹⁰  Under Evidence Code section 1235, a witness's prior statement which is inconsistent with her trial testimony is admissible if offered in compliance with the Evidence Code section 770 requirement that the witness be given the opportunity at trial to explain or deny her prior statements. After Clair denied Jerry touched her on the occasion involving her bike, she was asked whether she recalled describing the bike incident to Detective Shelby and telling Shelby that Jerry had touched her breasts on that occasion. Although Clair remembered describing the bike incident to Shelby, she denied telling him that Jerry had touched her breasts on that occasion. This questioning sufficed under Evidence Code section 770 and made Clair's statements to Shelby admissible under Evidence Code section 1235.