Opinion ID: 1903202
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: TestimonySecond Hearing

Text: ¶ 33. Dr. Michael West, a general dentist and the coroner for Forrest County, testified that S.C.R. brought his son to see him on June 10, 1996. According to Dr. West, the child claimed he had been the victim of sexual abuse involving fondling and oral sex. Dr. West noted that S.C.R. was present during his meeting with the child. Dr. West, who claimed no expertise in sexual abuse, referred S.C.R. to the district attorney's office. ¶ 34. Berdia Jordan, a social worker aide employed by DHS met with the child on June 26, 1996, at S.C.R.'s request. According to Jordan, the child made no allegations regarding oral sex but made other allegations of sexual abuse. Jordan noted that S.C.R. was present during her interview with the child. ¶ 35. Lillie Crawford, a social worker employed by DHS, also interviewed the child and the parties in August 1996. Outside the presence of the parties, the child stated that he made the allegations of sexual abuse because his father told him to and he was afraid of his father. The child related that his father had threatened to make his bottom look like a zebra if he failed to tell others that his maternal uncle was messing with him. The child insisted that his maternal uncle never abused him. Crawford concluded that the allegations of sexual abuse could not be substantiated. On cross examination, Crawford did admit that Jordan's report stated that the child told Jordan that it was his grandparents who threatened to make him look like a zebra if he told on his maternal uncle. ¶ 36. Dr. Pamela Cutrer, a clinical psychologist, examined the child on February 20 and March 4, 1997. The child, then seven and half years old, adamantly denied any abuse by his maternal uncle. In Dr. Cutrer's report, she stated that she began the interview by asking the child if he knew why they were meeting and the child responded, About that lie my daddy told me to tell? Is that it? Also, the child stated that S.C.R. was mean and frequently hit him in the face. According to the child, S.C.R. could be nice when other people were around, but when they were left alone, S.C.R. could be mean. Dr. Cutrer opined that the child was being truthful during the interview. ¶ 37. Dr. Matherne remarked that the younger child had become more ambivalent toward his father since prior interviews conducted with the child in July 1996 and August 1997. ¶ 38. The final witness, John Kerschbaum, a licensed clinical social worker with a degree in clinical social work, testified that he first met with the younger child at E.K.R.'s request because of some problems he was having at school. Kerschbaum stated that he had seen the child approximately thirty-five times since January of 1993. According to Kerschbaum, the child is afraid of his father. Kerschbaum opined that the child lied about the claims of sexual abuse but was telling the truth now. ¶ 39. The trial court found the evidence to be clear and persuasive that S.C.R. was morally unfit for custody as indicated by his willingness to instruct and compel one of the minor children to make false allegations of abuse against his maternal uncle, and the court concluded that S.C.R. was unfit for custody where the maternal grandparents were able and willing guardians. S.C.R. appeals to this Court from the trial court's judgment awarding custody of the children to F.W.K. and L.S.K.