The Ware County Juvenile Court adjudicated sixteen year old J. B. M. delinquent for having committed burglary, criminal trespass, and theft by taking motor vehicle. On appeal, J. B. M. challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the juvenile court’s findings. We affirm the adjudications as to the burglary and criminal trespass charges. However, we reverse the adjudication as to the theft by taking motor vehicle.When reviewing the sufficiency of evidence supporting a juvenile court’s adjudication, we apply the same standard of review used in criminal cases. We construe the evidence in favor of the court’s adjudication and determine if a rational trier of fact could have found beyond a reasonable doubt that the juvenile committed the acts charged. Citation omitted. In the Interest of J. Q. W. , 288 placeStateGa. App. 444, 445 654 SE2d 424 2007. So viewed, the evidence established that on December 9, 2007, J. B. M. informed his friend, R. B., that he needed a ride home from school. R. B. told J. B. M. that he had the keys to his father’s truck and agreed to drive J. M. B. home. While traveling together, J. B. M. and R. B. stopped approximately four blocks away from R. B.’s home and went onto the burglary victim’s property. As R. B. stood nearby, J. B. M. entered the victim’s barn and picked up two gas cans. The victim’s daughter observed J. B. M.’s actions and began yelling. Upon being detected, J. B. M. dropped the gas cans and fled from the scene with R. B. The victim called 911 and attempted to follow the boys in the direction in which they fled. The victim showed the investigating officer R. B.’s residence where she believed the boys would be found.
The officer indeed located J. B. M. and R. B. at R. B.’s residence, and he spoke to them about the burglary incident. Both J. B. M. and R. B. admitted to the officer that they had gone onto the victim’s property, but claimed that they went there to see a friend. But, the victim’s family did not know the boys, and the victim testified that they were not authorized to enter her barn.
