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The Indiana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments later this month for a case involving a 15 year-old Hendricks County juvenile who is appealing his adjudication for allegedly selling drugs that led to a classmate’s death.
Oral arguments for the case will be held Oct. 31 at 9 a.m. at the Supreme Court Courtroom at the Statehouse.
In the case, 15-year-old J.Q.R. allegedly sold counterfeit pills to a classmate who later died from ingesting them.
During their investigation, law enforcement discovered J.Q.R.’s father possessed heroin and vape cartridges, but still allowed J.Q.R. to consult with his father before waiving his privilege against self-incrimination.
According to court records, in the spring of 2023, J.Q.R., R.J., and B.H. were high school freshmen.
On March 14, R.J. and B.H. texted J.Q.R. and asked to purchase Percocet from him. J.Q.R. went to B.H.’s house and gave R.J. and B.H. 11 round blue pills marked “M30” in exchange for $110.
J.Q.R. stayed a couple hours at B.H.’s house and then left. R.J. and B.H. each took one-eighth of a pill while at B.H.’s house. R.J. went home with the remaining pills and took more at his house.
The following day, B.H. learned that R.J. had died from an overdose. An autopsy revealed that R.J. died of fentanyl intoxication.
Police then obtained a warrant to search J.Q.R.’s home.
An Avon Police Department detective spoke with J.Q.R. and his father and advised them of their Miranda rights.
After the detective confirmed that J.Q.R. and the father understood their rights, he began questioning J.Q.R.
The father also asked J.Q.R. some questions, including whether J.Q.R. knew that the pills contained fentanyl, and J.Q.R. said he knew.
The Hendricks Superior Court adjudicated J.Q.R. a delinquent child, and the Court of Appeals affirmed. J.Q.R. v. State, 232 N.E.3d 654 (Ind. Ct. App. 2024), vacated.
J.Q.R. was adjudicated as a delinquent child for committing acts that, if committed by an adult, would be level 1 felony dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, level 5 felony dealing in a narcotic drug, and level 6 felony possession of a narcotic drug.
The trial court made J.Q.R. a ward of the Indiana Department of Correction until he turned 18.
In his appeal, J.Q.R. argued that that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting his statements to police because the state failed to demonstrate that the waiver of his constitutional rights was made after meaningful consultation with his father.
He also contended that the trial court abused its discretion by granting the state’s motion to continue the fact-finding hearing.
The Indiana Supreme Court has granted J.Q.R.’s petition to transfer and assumed jurisdiction over the case.
The case is J.Q.R v. State of Indiana, 24S-JV-00298.
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