Opinion ID: 1300210
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Findings of Physical and Sexual Abuse.

Text: The father challenges the juvenile court's finding that he physically and sexually abused his daughter. He claims there is not clear and convincing evidence to support such a finding. See Iowa Code § 232.96(2) (The state shall have the burden of proving the allegations by clear and convincing evidence.). We review CINA cases de novo. See In re A.M.H., 516 N.W.2d 867, 870 (Iowa 1994). Although this court is not bound by the juvenile court's factual findings, we give them weight, especially on issues concerning the credibility of witnesses. See id. Our overriding consideration is the best interest of the children. See Iowa Code § 232.1. A. Physical abuse. The allegation of physical abuse centered on Earl II's administration of water enemas to Sarah. He claimed they were used for medical purposes; Sarah claimed they were given to her as punishment. Sarah's version of these events was corroborated by her mother and brother. Both Geri and Earl III said Sarah complained to them shortly after she was given the enemas, saying that they hurt and that her father was punishing her. The record also shows Geri confronted Earl II after Sarah told her what had happened; Earl II confirmed that he had given the enemas to Sarah as discipline. Earl III also asked his father what he had done; Earl II told his son Sarah got an enema for punishment. Earl II's belated attempt to justify his actions is not believable. B. Sexual abuse. The juvenile court found that Earl II had sexually abused Sarah on several different occasions as detailed by Sarah in her videotaped statement. He denied the abuse, contending (1) Sarah was attributing abuse by her brother to Earl II, and (2) Earl II was physically incapable of an erection. (One incident of abuse consisted of Earl II's exposure of his erect penis to Sarah to teach her about sex, and then masturbating to the point of ejaculation in Sarah's presence.) We have reviewed the videotapes and find Sarah's description of these events to be credible. During her second interview, Sarah was comfortable, confident and able to respond to questions. The questions themselves were not leading or suggestive. Sarah remembered the details of the events involving her father, as well as where other family members were when the abuse occurred. She was able to distinguish between the incidents with her father and those with her brother. Earl II introduced testimony from his physician that he suffered from several medical conditions for which he took medication. Earl II's doctor testified that the combination of these conditions and the medication would probably render Earl II impotent, although the physician had not performed any tests to determine Earl II's sexual functioning. [2] This testimony does not eliminate the possibility that the event described by Sarah could occur. Again, the resolution of this issue depends on the relative credibility of Sarah and her father. We have previously judged Sarah to be a credible witness. We have not witnessed Earl II's testimony and so must rely on the juvenile court's observations. The juvenile court did not find Earl II's testimony convincing. We give weight to this conclusion in assessing the evidence before us. The father also attacks Sarah's credibility by alleging her therapists and DHS employees poisoned her mind against him and sanctioned her lies about him. The only evidence in the record that this occurred was the testimony of Sarah's grandmother, Earl II's mother. This witness testified Sarah related that the caseworker from Tanager Place told Sarah what to say about her father and that if she did not say it, Sarah would be placed in foster care. The juvenile court found this testimony unbelievable and so do we. The court noted that the caseworker's testimony and demeanor were completely professional and totally consistent with what one would expect from a treatment therapistobservations totally at odds with the grandmother's allegations of unprofessional conduct. We will again rely on the juvenile court's assessment of the credibility of these witnesses in weighing the evidence on appeal. In summary, we find clear and convincing evidence that Earl II physically and sexually abused Sarah. We now turn to the father's challenge to the juvenile court's order that he not be allowed to see his children until a reputable sexual offender treatment therapist recommends such contact recommence.