Case Name: The State ex rel. Bruggeman, Appellant, v. Court of Common Pleas of Auglaize County et al., Appellees
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1999-12-01
Citations: 87 Ohio St. 3d 257
Docket Number: No. 99-956
Parties: The State ex rel. Bruggeman, Appellant, v. Court of Common Pleas of Auglaize County et al., Appellees.
Judges: Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney, Pfeifer, Cook and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, Third Service
Volume: 87
Pages: 257–258

Head Matter:
The State ex rel. Bruggeman, Appellant, v. Court of Common Pleas of Auglaize County et al., Appellees.
[Cite as State ex rel. Bruggeman v. Auglaize Cty. Court of Common Pleas (1999), 87 Ohio St.3d 257.]
(No. 99-956
Submitted November 3, 1999
Decided December 1, 1999.)
Christopher R. Bruggeman, pro se.
Edwin A. Pierce, Auglaize County Prosecuting Attorney, for appellees.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
Bruggeman asserts that the court of appeals erred in dismissing his habeas corpus petition. For the following reasons, Bruggeman's assertion is meritless.
In order to prevail on a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in a child custody case, the petitioner must establish that (1) the child is being unlawfully detained, and (2) the petitioner has the superior legal right to custody of the child. Holloway v. Clermont Cty. Dept. of Human Serv. (1997), 80 Ohio St.3d 128, 130, 684 N.E.2d 1217, 1219.
Here, Bruggeman did not allege any superior legal right to custody of the child. Further, from his own petition, it is evident that an award of custody to Bruggeman, an incarcerated, convicted child abuser, would not be in the best interests of his child. Id., 80 Ohio St.3d at 131, 684 N.E.2d at 1219-1220; see, also, Pegan v. Crawmer (1996), 76 Ohio St.3d 97, 102, 666 N.E.2d 1091, 1095-1096.
In addition, Bruggeman did not name his former wife, who has custody of their child, as a respondent in his habeas corpus petition. See R.C. 2725.04(A) and (B).
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the judgment of the court of appeals.
Judgment affirmed.
Moyer, C.J., Douglas, Resnick, F.E. Sweeney, Pfeifer, Cook and Lundberg Stratton, JJ., concur.