Opinion ID: 2018236
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: harm done to j.a.

Text: J.A. was unable to relate to Mr. and Mrs. A. He manifested interest in objects, rather than his parents, and crawled to corners and rubbed his head against the wall. He was inattentive to his parents and did not progress in his development as a child. His neck was limp and wobbly. J.A. had a neurological problem, and one Dr. Aceto testified that J.A. would require extensive outside care and medical treatment. Finding IX of the trial court states that neither appellant is able or willing to provide for the child's exceptional needs. This finding is not clearly erroneous. Mrs. A. attempted to slash her wrists while holding J.A. She used him as a shield in a fight with her husband. She frequently left him unattended and J.A. would roll off of beds and tables. When Dr. Aceto discussed J.A.'s special needs with Mrs. A., she responded We don't need outside help. Mrs. A. was twice hospitalized for mental problems since J.A. was born. Finding VIII states that Mrs. A. is unable to provide proper parental care for J.A. Again, this finding is not clearly erroneous. Mr. A. had been admitted to the Human Services Center at Yankton 10 times in 15 years. Mr. A. had a long history of violence and marriage instability. He had assaulted all three of his fathers-in-law. One he hit over the head with a bat and the father-in-law had to be hospitalized. He struck his own father in 1974 or 1975. He also hit a sixty-year-old policeman and one of his wife's girlfriends. He assaulted a social worker involved in this case and was convicted therefor. He struck Mrs. A. while she was pregnant with J.A. Mr. A. frequently beat and battered Mrs. A. to the extent that she was bruised, had a bloody nose, and broke her glasses. In short, he was a man of great violence. Finding VII of the trial court states that Mr. A. is unwilling or unable to improve his parenting skills in that several years of counselling has not changed his explosive personality disorder, and that he has indicated he did not need help with his child's special needs. This finding of the trial court is obviously not clearly erroneous.