"Appellant produced some evidence that he had turned his life around. Appellant
had improved his behavior, finished high school, and was taking a class at a community
college. We find this admirable. But the trial court was well within its discretion in
concluding that the seriousness of the offenses and their recent commission precluded a
finding that appellant was rehabilitated. As the trial court acknowledged, the passage of
time works in his favor, and if appellant furthers his rehabilitation, he will in the future
have the opportunity to ask the trial court to seal his records."
Sounds right to me.
I'll nonetheless add that it's now the middle of 2015. Petitioner turned 18 in October of 2012, and moved to seal his juvenile file shortly thereafter. That was over two and a half years ago.
Counsel for J.W. should advise him to try again. If he's stayed clean, my money's on the motion to seal being granted at this point.
