Opinion ID: 2204316
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Stalking Protection Order

Text: [¶ 23] Mother asserts the district court abused its discretion in awarding primary physical custody to Father when he was the subject of a stalking protection order. Spousal abuse is contrary to a child's best interest; therefore, she maintains, the district court's order must be reversed. Father contends the issue of spousal abuse was only one factor the district court was required to consider and the district court properly considered all of the factors set forth in § 20-2-201 in arriving at its decision. Father also asserts witness credibility determinations are properly left to the district court and after hearing the witness testimony the district court chose not to make a finding that spousal abuse occurred. [¶ 24] The best interest of the child are paramount in child custody determinations. Parris v. Parris, 2009 WY 44, ¶ 18, 204 P.3d 298, 304 (Wyo.2009). Upon a showing in a custody modification proceeding that a material change of circumstances has occurred, it must be shown that modification of custody is in the best interest of the child. Durfee v. Durfee, 2009 WY 7, ¶ 6, 199 P.3d 1087, 1089 (Wyo.2009). In determining the best interest of the child, the court is required pursuant to § 20-2-201 to consider the following factors: (i) The quality of the relationship each child has with each parent; (ii) The ability of each parent to provide adequate care for each child throughout each period of responsibility, including arranging for each child's care by others as needed; (iii) The relative competency and fitness of each parent; (iv) Each parent's willingness to accept all responsibilities of parenting, including a willingness to accept care for each child at specified times and to relinquish care to the other parent at specified times; (v) How the parents and each child can best maintain and strengthen a relationship with each other; (vi) How the parents and each child interact and communicate with each other and how such interaction and communication may be improved; (vii) The ability and willingness of each parent to allow the other to provide care without intrusion, respect the other parent's rights and responsibilities, including the right to privacy; (viii) Geographic distance between the parents' residences; (ix) The current physical and mental ability of each parent to care for each child; (x) Any other factors the court deems necessary and relevant. In addition, § 20-2-201 provides: (c) The court shall consider evidence of spousal abuse or child abuse as being contrary to the best interest of the children. If the court finds that family violence has occurred, the court shall make arrangements for visitation that best protects the children and the abused spouse from further harm. [¶ 25] In support of her claim that spousal abuse occurred, Mother testified that on one occasion in early April shortly after the divorce, Father wanted to talk to her as she was giving the child a bath and getting him ready for bed. She testified that she told Father she did not want to talk with him then; he followed her around the house until she went into the bedroom and slammed the door; he pushed the door open; she got her cell phone and he grabbed it from her; she went into the child's room to get the house phone and Father tackled her on the bed, took the phone and removed the batteries. Mother testified she then went into the bathroom to get the child and Father proceeded to tell the child, Your mom is a lying, cheating whore. She's a liar. Her family is a bunch of liars. And all this is her fault. [¶ 26] Mother testified that a few weeks later, on May 1, 2009, Father called her on her cell phone and said, We need to talk ... to prove what a lying, cheating whore you are. Mother testified he continued to call her names, she hung up, he repeatedly called her back, and she called the police to ask what she could do to stop him. She testified that as she was speaking with a police officer, Father continued to call and text her, and did so every minute for two hours. Mother testified that Father waited for her outside her school that day and called her when she was not there as he expected her to be. He continued to call and text even after being told by a law enforcement officer not to contact her. Mother testified Father told her she could not have the child the following Sunday unless she came into his house when she came to pick him up and listened to something Father had to tell her. She again called the police and a police officer offered to park nearby while she picked up the child. Mother told Father an officer was going to come with her. When she arrived to pick up the child, Father asked her where her f___ ing body guard was? [¶ 27] Mother testified that on May 6, 2009, she went to her storage shed and Father unexpectedly showed up with the child. Father proceeded to take things out of her storage shed and put them in his vehicle. He got into her car and rifled through items in it. He took her car keys, she threatened to call the police and he threw the keys back into her car. Mother testified that after this incident, Father continued to call and text Mother repeatedly. He brought the child to the birthday party Mother was having for the child on May 30, 2009, and followed her around, getting in her face and bullying her. [¶ 28] Father confirmed that a protection order was entered against him prohibiting him from having any contact with Mother for ninety days. He also confirmed the protective order was placed against him for numerous text messages and phone calls he made to Mother in which he made threatening statements. He admitted he sent a text to Mother on May 1, 2009, stating to the effect, You are so full of sh___. I cannot wait until the day comes when I get to share with your son who you really were. He also admitted sending a text to Mother stating, [E]veryone knows you are a crazy bitch. Father also admitted taking items from Mother's car without her permission although he testified the items belonged to him and he and Mother jointly owned the car. He further admitted to taking the phone away from Mother to prevent her from calling the police during the fight when Mother was giving the child a bath. He also admitted pushing Mother but testified he did so because she was hitting him. [¶ 29] Father testified that both parties engaged in taking pot shots at each other. He testified that many times he contacted Mother about financial matters that needed to be resolved after the divorce. He testified that he asked Mother to come into the house when she picked up the child in order to get her signature on some papers. He denied Mother's account of the confrontation at the storage shed, stating that she jumped on his back and started scratching him when he was removing some of his tools from the shed and she then jumped in her car and took off, squealing the tires as she drove away. He testified that he did not get into her car or take her phone or her keys. [¶ 30] It is clear from the decision letter that the district court considered the evidence both parties presented on the issue of spousal abuse. The district court summarized the testimony of three law enforcement officers Mother called as witnesses about their involvement with her complaints and concerns about Father's behavior. The district court also summarized Mother's and Father's testimony about the events in the house while the child was taking a bath and at the storage unit and specifically noted that Mother's testimony was inconsistent with Father's testimony. Beyond summarizing the testimony, however, the district court made no finding on the issue of spousal abuse and does not appear to have weighed it as a factor in determining the child's best interest. [¶ 31] It would have been helpful if the district court had made express findings about the spousal abuse allegations. However, considering all of the evidence and the district court's statements in their entirety, we cannot say the district court abused its discretion in declining to base its custody determination on the evidence of spousal abuse. While there is no question from the evidence that Father harassed Mother by cell phone and that the parties fought on two occasions in the presence of the child contrary to his best interest, we conclude the district court reasonably could have determined from the totality of the evidence that the admitted harassment and alleged abuse was not sufficient to override the other factors it was required to consider in determining custody. It is clear from the district court's decision letter that it considered and weighed each of the factors set out in § 20-2-201. Additionally, as we have said many times, the district court is in the best position to assess witness credibility and weigh testimony and is therefore in a better position than this Court to judge the respective merits of the parties' claims. Pond v. Pond, 2009 WY 134, ¶ 9, 218 P.3d 650, 652 (Wyo. 2009). From the evidence presented, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in declining to award primary custody to Mother on the basis of her spousal abuse claim.