Case Title: In re Termination of Parental Rights of John Doe (2014-15)

Citation: 

Docket Number: 42234

State: idaho

Court: Idaho Supreme Court (civil)

Date: 2014-12-18T00:00:00Z

Document:
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF IDAHO 
 
Docket No. 42234 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE  
TERMINATION OF THE PARENTAL  
RIGHTS OF JOHN DOE (2014-15), 
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IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH &  
WELFARE,  
 
       Petitioner-Respondent, 
 
v. 
 
JOHN DOE (2014-15), 
 
       Respondent-Appellant. 
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Boise, October 2014 Term 
 
2014 Opinion No. 134 
 
Filed: December 18, 2014 
 
Stephen Kenyon, Clerk 
 
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of  
Idaho, Ada County.  Hon. Cathleen MacGregor Irby, Magistrate Judge. 
 
The judgment of the magistrate court is affirmed. 
 
 
Law Offices of Theresa A. Martin, Boise, for appellant. 
 
 
Hon. Lawrence G. Wasden, Attorney General, Boise, for respondent. 
                     _______________________________________________ 
 
ON THE BRIEFS 
 
HORTON, Justice. 
This is an expedited appeal by John Doe (2014-15) (“Doe”) from an order terminating his 
parental rights to two minor children on the grounds of neglect. We affirm. 
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 
 
Doe and Jane Doe are the biological father and mother of two boys: B.D., born in 2008, 
and T.D., born in 2011. Doe and Jane Doe divorced in 2009. This appeal only relates to the 
termination of Doe’s parental rights.1  
Beginning July 12, 2012, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (the Department) 
began working with Doe to address continuing safety concerns for the children. These concerns 
                                                 
1 Jane Doe consented to the termination of her parental rights on May 2, 2014.  
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included lack of supervision, neglect, and physical abuse.2 There were times when Doe did not 
know the whereabouts of the children, could not provide the names of occupants of his 
residence, and appeared to be under the influence of drugs. A service provider, Northwest 
Neurobehavioral, reported that B.D. had been missing counseling and speech therapy 
appointments. On November 19, 2012, Doe tested positive for methamphetamine.  
 
On December 13, 2012, the Department commenced a child protection case. On 
December 14, 2012, following a shelter care hearing, the magistrate court entered an order 
placing the children in the temporary custody of the Department. On January 23, 2013, the 
magistrate court vested custody of the children in the Department following an adjudicatory 
hearing. The magistrate judge commended Doe for entering into treatment and explained that she 
was concerned that Doe needed additional time to recover from recent methamphetamine use. 
 
On February 5, 2013, a case plan hearing was held and the magistrate judge modified the 
proposed case plan submitted by the Department. The case plan required Doe to: maintain a 
legitimate source of income; maintain safe and stable housing; resolve pending legal issues and 
refrain from illegal activity; attend anger management counseling; participate in counseling with 
his children; participate in visits with the children; supervise the children properly when they 
were in his care; engage in services to meet the children’s developmental, emotional, physical, 
and medical needs; attend a parenting education class; provide information regarding previous 
psychological evaluations or participate in an updated evaluation; continue mental health and 
substance abuse treatment; and participate in random tests for drugs and alcohol.  
 
On April 2, 2013, the magistrate court conducted a 60-day review hearing. There, Doe 
submitted to testing which showed recent methamphetamine use. Doe admitted to using 
methamphetamine the previous Friday. The magistrate judge explained to Doe that she was 
concerned that he was not engaging in his case plan, placing particular emphasis on the need for 
him to maintain sobriety and to engage in programming to address his substance abuse and anger 
management issues. The foster parents, who are also the children’s paternal grandparents, 
appeared at the hearing and reported the children were making developmental progress but were 
                                                 
2 Nothing in the record conclusively shows Doe physically abused his children, but there were instances when the 
Department received referrals to investigate potential physical abuse. On one occasion, B.D. had bruising on his 
right temple which Doe was unable to explain. There were also concerns about domestic violence between Doe and 
Jane Doe, including an incident on September, 17, 2012, when Jane Doe was arrested after an altercation with Doe.  
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agitated after parental visits. The children’s guardian ad litem reported that the children were 
improving in foster care and that the “children appeared to be well cared for.”  
 
On May 29, 2013, a six-month review hearing was held. The magistrate judge expressed 
her concerns over Doe’s lack of effort to reunify with his children, his inability to communicate 
with the Department, and a recent psychological evaluation wherein Doe admitted continued use 
and the sale of methamphetamine. The evaluating psychologist recommended that Doe: (1) 
continue substance abuse treatment; (2) continue psychiatric care and medication; (3) obtain 
counseling for depression and relating to Doe’s unhealthy relationship with his ex-wife; (4) 
participate in anger management training if other interventions did not address Doe’s problems; 
and (5) obtain further parenting education.  
On July 25, 2013, the magistrate court held a 60-day review hearing. The magistrate 
judge found Doe was doing well in his visits with his children but still had issues with substance 
abuse and following through with treatment, telling him that “[t]he sad part about this is you do 
well in visits and the[] children enjoy visits. It is really just [dealing with] your substance abuse.” 
After the hearing, Doe’s housing situation deteriorated. Doe had not had steady employment 
since January of 2012. In the fall of 2013, after Doe became unemployed, he was evicted due to 
non-payment of rent. This led to a period of homelessness where he lived on the street, in a van, 
or in a car.  
On December 10, 2013, the magistrate court continued a permanency hearing to January 
6, 2014, due to Doe’s absence. After Doe failed to appear for the continued hearing, on January 
28, 2014, the magistrate court entered an order adopting a permanency plan calling for 
termination of Doe’s parental rights and adoption and authorizing the Department to suspend 
reunification efforts.  
On February 5, 2014, the Department filed a petition for termination of Doe’s parental 
rights on the basis of neglect. On March 20, 2014, Doe was arrested and charged with felony 
possession of a controlled substance and two misdemeanors. The arrest and subsequent charges 
resulted in Doe’s incarceration for the duration of the proceedings giving rise to this appeal.  
The trial on the Department’s petition occurred on May 2, 2014. On June 10, 2014, the 
magistrate court issued a memorandum decision setting forth its findings of fact and conclusions 
of law. The magistrate court determined that it was in the boys’ best interests that Doe’s parental 
rights be terminated for neglect. The same day, the magistrate court entered its judgment 
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terminating Doe’s parental rights. Doe timely appealed to this Court pursuant to I.A.R. 11.1 and 
this appeal has proceeded under the expedited process set forth in I.A.R. 12.2.  
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW 
 
The grounds for terminating a parent-child relationship must be proved by 
clear and convincing evidence. Our review of factual findings is limited, and 
where the trial court has granted a petition terminating parental rights, that 
conclusion will not be disturbed on appeal so long as there is substantial 
competent evidence in the record to support the findings. Furthermore, in 
reviewing such findings, this Court will indulge all reasonable inferences in 
support of the trial court’s judgment when reviewing an order that parental rights 
be terminated. 
 
In our review, we are mindful that [t]he finder of fact has the opportunity 
to observe witnesses’ demeanor, to assess their credibility, to detect prejudice or 
motive and to judge the character of the parties. In a parental-termination case, 
this is immensely important. A cold record of the trial does not tell the whole 
story. An independent review by our court could not take into account the trial 
court’s superior view of the entire situation. 
In re Doe, 156 Idaho 103, 105–06, 320 P.3d 1262, 1264–65 (2014) (alteration in original) 
(internal quotations and citations omitted).  
III. ANALYSIS 
 
The issues presented in this appeal are: (1) whether there was substantial and competent 
evidence that Doe neglected his children as defined in Idaho Code section 16-1602(28)(a); and 
(2) whether the magistrate court erred when it found termination of Doe’s parental rights to be in 
the best interest of Doe’s children. We address these issues in turn.  
A. The magistrate court’s finding that Doe neglected his children was based on substantial 
and competent evidence. 
“Grounds for termination of parental rights must be shown by clear and convincing 
evidence because each parent has a fundamental liberty interest in maintaining a relationship 
with his or her child.” In re Doe, 156 Idaho at 110, 320 P.3d at 1269 (quoting Idaho Dep’t of 
Health & Welfare v. Doe II, 150 Idaho 36, 41, 244 P.3d 180, 185 (2010)). Idaho Code section 
16-2005 specifies enumerated grounds for termination of parental rights. Termination is only 
appropriate if both (1) an enumerated ground for termination exists and (2) termination is in the 
best interest of the child. Id. “One ground on which the parent-child relationship may be 
terminated is where ‘the parent has neglected or abused the child.’” Id. (quoting I.C. § 16-
2005(1)(b)). Idaho Code section 16-2002(3) defines “neglected,” and provides: 
(3) “Neglected” means: 
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(a) Conduct as defined in section 16-1602(28), Idaho Code; or 
 
(b) The parent(s) has failed to comply with the court’s orders or the case 
 
plan in a child protective act case and: 
 
(i) The department has had temporary or legal custody of 
 
the child for fifteen (15) of the most recent twenty-two (22) 
 
months; and 
 
(ii) Reunification has not been accomplished by the last day 
 
of the fifteenth month in which the child has been in the 
 
temporary or legal custody of the department. 
Idaho Code section 16-1602(28) defines “neglected,” as: 
“Neglected” means a child: 
(a) Who is without proper parental care and control, or subsistence, 
medical or other care or control necessary for his well-being 
because of the conduct or omission of his parents, guardian or 
other custodian or their neglect or refusal to provide them . . . 
 “Whether neglect has occurred is a question of fact to be established by clear and 
convincing evidence.” In re Doe, 156 Idaho at 110, 320 P.3d at 1269. “Idaho’s termination 
statute exists ‘not merely to alleviate harm but to prevent it.’ ” Id. (quoting In the Interest of 
Cheatwood, 108 Idaho 218, 220, 697 P.2d 1232, 1234 (Ct. App.1985)).  
Here, the magistrate court’s decision was based only upon the definition of neglect found 
in Idaho Code section 16-1602(28)(a).3 The magistrate court found that neglect had been proven 
by clear and convincing evidence in three respects: 
[Doe] failed to properly address his substance abuse issues, which impair his 
ability to provide proper parental care and control; [Doe] failed to demonstrate the 
ability to provide a safe, stable and/or continuous residence for the children; and 
[Doe] failed to demonstrate the ability to provide consistently for the children’s 
medical, educational, mental health, and or other daily needs. 
On appeal, Doe asserts that the magistrate court’s finding of neglect was not supported by 
substantial and competent evidence and that “the magistrate erred by ignoring or at least not 
discussing relevant evidence of [Doe’s] conduct. . . .” We agree with Doe that the trial court is 
not free to ignore relevant evidence that has been admitted. State, Dep’t of Health & Welfare v. 
Doe, 149 Idaho 409, 414, 234 P.3d 733, 738 (2010). However, I.R.C.P. 52 governs the 
requirement that trial courts make findings of fact and conclusions of law. When interpreting that 
rule, we have held that  
                                                 
3 Although much of the magistrate court’s decision is devoted to a discussion of Doe’s failures to comply with his 
case plan, the Department did not allege neglect as defined by Idaho Code section 16-2002(3)(b). Accordingly, this 
opinion will focus on the grounds alleged in the Department’s petition for termination of Doe’s parental rights.  
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the trial judge is not required to recite every piece of evidence and either adopt it 
or reject it, or to sort through and discuss the testimony of each witness. 
Furthermore, the trial court may disbelieve the testimony of witnesses without 
giving specific reasons for doing so, provided that the record supports the 
conclusion that the court made adequate credibility determinations.  
Browning v. Ringel, 134 Idaho 6, 14, 995 P.2d 351, 359 (2000) (quoting Moore’s Federal 
Practice 3d, § 52.15[2][b]). Instead, the trial court’s decision must “fulfill the purpose of I.R.C.P. 
52(a) which is ‘to provide the appellate court with a clear understanding of the trial court’s 
decision so that it may determine whether the trial court applied the proper law in reaching its 
ultimate judgment.’ ” Id. (quoting The Highlands, Inc. v. Hosac, 130 Idaho 67, 70, 936 P.2d 
1309, 1312 (1997)). With this standard in mind, we consider the three grounds upon which the 
magistrate court made its finding of neglect. 
 
1.  Doe’s substance abuse issues and their impact upon his ability to provide proper 
parental care and control. 
 
There was significant evidence presented as to Doe’s long-standing difficulties with 
substance abuse. He entered into a drug court program in 2006, which resulted in a charge of 
possession of methamphetamine being dismissed in 2008. Doe testified that he began using 
methamphetamine again in 2010. Throughout the course of his contact with Department 
representatives during the pendency of the child protection proceedings, Doe admitted the 
ongoing use of methamphetamine. 
 
Doe testified about his participation in substance abuse treatment during the course of the 
child protection proceedings. Doe first started treatment with the Veterans Administration but he 
did not find the services to be effective. In the spring of 2013, Doe began outpatient treatment at 
the Easter Seals but he “didn’t really like it that much.” Doe then sought treatment in the summer 
of 2013 with Ascent, but indicated that was unsuccessful because his “follow through wasn’t 
there.” Doe testified he made plans to restart his Ascent treatment in March of 2014, but was 
arrested before he could start. 
    
On appeal, Doe does not challenge the magistrate court’s finding that his use of 
methamphetamine compromised his ability to provide proper parental care and control of the 
children. Rather, Doe points to the months leading up to the termination trial, contending that 
“there was no evidence presented to contradict [his] testimony that he had been free of illegal 
substances since December 2013.” Doe’s assertion is incorrect. The magistrate judge’s findings 
of fact address a conversation between Doe and a Department social worker in January of 2014. 
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Doe asked why he was not permitted to transport the boys. The social worker replied that it was 
dangerous so long as Doe continued to use methamphetamine. Rather than denying continued 
use of the drug, Doe attempted to assure the social worker that methamphetamine affected him 
differently than others.  
 
There was other evidence presented contradicting Doe’s claim that he had last used 
methamphetamine in December of 2013. The social worker testified about meeting with Doe in 
April of 2014, when Doe claimed that his last use of methamphetamine had been “two or three 
months” earlier. The social worker was then asked whether he had requested Doe to submit to 
urinalyses. The social worker explained that he had not because “[p]retty much throughout the 
entirety of this case” that Doe had admitted to the continued use of methamphetamine. The social 
worker further testified that Doe was arrested on March 20, 2014, for possession of 
methamphetamine and had thereafter remained in custody through the time of the termination 
trial.  
 
Based upon the foregoing, we find that there was substantial and competent evidence 
supporting the magistrate court’s finding that Doe’s continued use of methamphetamine resulted 
in his inability to provide proper parental care and control of the children. 
 
2.  Doe’s inability to provide a safe, stable or continuous home for the children. 
 
Doe asserts that there “was not clear and convincing evidence that [Doe] did not have the 
ability to provide a safe, stable, and/or continuous residence for the children.” The evidence 
presented at trial showed that Doe was evicted from his residence in October 2013. Following his 
loss of a residence, Doe was unemployed and lived in a van. Although Doe testified that he had 
an address where he was living for a couple of weeks prior to his arrest in March 2014, he did 
not describe the circumstances of his living arrangements. Doe resided in the Ada County Jail 
from March 2014 through the time of trial. The magistrate court’s finding that Doe was unable to 
provide a residence for the boys was supported by substantial, competent evidence. 
 
3.  Doe’s inability to provide for the children’s medical, educational, mental health, and 
other daily needs.  
 
Doe was the children’s primary caregiver. The exhibits admitted at trial demonstrate that 
the boys had significant mental health issues. At the time T.D. entered into foster care, he had 
significant behavioral problems. He would strike his head against objects when redirected or told 
“no.” Although Doe was aware of such behavior, he did not identify it as a matter of concern. 
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T.D. was evaluated by the Infant and Toddler Program, which recommended 26 sessions of 
developmental therapy. Doe denied awareness of either the evaluation or the recommendations. 
Likewise, B.D. was diagnosed with significant behavioral disorders. “Intense Behavioral 
Intervention” services were recommended, along with parent/child interaction training. The 
services were terminated due to missed appointments. After initially denying being aware of 
these recommendations, Doe said that the services were terminated because of interference by a 
Department risk worker showing up frequently “looking for things wrong.”  
 
The record shows that Doe had “little to no involvement” with the boys during the 
pendency of the child protection proceedings. He was inconsistent in his visitation with the boys. 
He did not attend the children’s appointments nor did he go to the boys’ schools. The magistrate 
court concluded that Doe was unable to provide for the children’s medical, educational and other 
needs, primarily due to his ongoing use of controlled substances. This finding is supported by 
substantial and competent evidence.   
B. Doe has failed to demonstrate that the magistrate court erred in finding that the 
termination of his parental rights was in the best interests of B.D. and T.D. 
The magistrate court found termination was in the children’s best interest because: (1) 
Doe’s bond with his children had diminished as he was not their caregiver for the better part of 
eighteen months; (2) Doe did not resolve the safety concerns that caused his children to be 
removed from his care; (3) Doe was facing felony charges and still continues to struggle with 
substance abuse issues; (4) Doe’s children need a safe, stable home; (5) both the children’s 
guardian ad litem and the Department case manager believed termination is in Doe’s children’s 
best interest; and (6) Doe failed to follow through with his case plan.  
Doe argues that termination is not in his children’s best interests because the children, 
especially B.D. who is older, are very bonded to Doe and, with few exceptions, the visits 
between Doe and his children went well.  
“Once a statutory ground for termination has been established, the trial court must next 
determine whether it is in the best interests of the child to terminate the parent-child 
relationship.” In re Doe, 156 Idaho 103, 111, 320 P.3d 1262, 1270 (2014). “When considering 
the best interests of the child, a trial court may consider numerous factors.” Id. For instance, 
[w]hen determining whether termination is in the child’s best interests the trial 
court may consider the stability and permanency of the home, unemployment of 
the parent, the financial contribution of the parent to the child’s care after the 
child is placed in protective custody, improvement of child while in foster care, 
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the parent’s efforts to improve his or her situation, and the parent’s continuing 
problems with the law. 
Id. The best interest analysis takes into account the reality that children need “stability and 
certainty.” Id. at 112, 320 P.3d at 1271. 
 
Here, there is substantial and competent evidence to support the magistrate court’s 
finding that termination was in the best interest of Doe’s children. Every single factor mentioned 
in In re Doe supports the magistrate court’s conclusion. First, Doe cannot provide his children 
with a stable and permanent home because he continues to use methamphetamine and 
consequently has been in and out of jail. The children have found a safe stable home in foster 
care with their paternal grandparents. Second, Doe has been unemployed for a significant length 
of time. Third, there is no evidence that Doe financially contributed to his children’s care since 
they came into the care of the State. Fourth, the children’s foster parents and guardian ad litem 
reported that the children have been well cared for in foster care and have made improvements. 
Fifth, over the course of two years, Doe has made very little effort to improve his situation. 
Sixth, Doe has recurring problems with the law as he was repeatedly arrested during the child 
protection proceedings and was in the Ada County Jail at the time of the termination trial. There 
is nothing in the record suggesting that Doe will be able to provide stability and certainty for his 
children. 
 
As the magistrate court pointed out, Doe’s bond with his children had diminished as he 
was not their care giver for the better part of eighteen months. The magistrate court received 
evidence from the children’s guardian ad litem and the Department case manager that they 
believed termination was in B.D. and T.D.’s best interest.  
This Court concludes that substantial and competent evidence supports the magistrate 
court’s conclusion that termination of Doe’s parental rights was in the best interests of Doe’s 
children. Therefore, we affirm the magistrate court’s judgment.   
IV. CONCLUSION 
We affirm the magistrate court’s judgment terminating Doe’s parental rights to B.D. and 
T.D and award costs to the Department. 
 
Chief Justice BURDICK, Justices EISMANN, J. JONES and Justice Pro Tem 
WALTERS, CONCUR.