Opinion ID: 1805587
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: did the family court err in finding the siblings of e.s. neglected and abused within the meaning of the youth court act?

Text: The appellants, the parents of E.S., first contend that the evidence was not sufficient to support a finding that E.S. had been sexually abused by the father. The burden of proof by the State must be the establishment of its case by a preponderance of the evidence. If the court finds from a preponderance of the evidence that the child is a neglected child or an abused child, the youth court shall enter an order adjudicating the child to be a neglected child or an abused child. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-561(3) (1972). See In Interest of I.G., 467 So.2d 920, 924 (Miss. 1985) for burden of proof. Upon review, this Court considers all the evidence before the Youth Court in the light most favorable to the State. In so doing, we are of the opinion here that the evidence preponderates in favor of the State and that it was sufficient to support a finding that E.S. was sexually abused by her father. Collins v. Lowndes County Public Welfare Dept., 555 So.2d 71, 72 (Miss. 1989); In Interest of M.R.L., 488 So.2d 788, 791 (Miss. 1986). As to issue two, the Harrison County Family Court found that M.S., J.S., and A.S., siblings of E.S. were neglected and abused minor children within the meaning of the Court Act. A neglected child is any child: whose parent ... or any person responsible for his care or support, neglects or refuses, when able so to do, to provide for him proper and necessary care or support, or education as required by law, or medical, surgical, or other care necessary for his well-being;... [or] who is otherwise without proper care, custody, supervision, or support; or ... who, for any reason, lacks the care necessary for his health, morals or well-being. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-105( l ) (1990) [1] . The Harrison County Family Court's holding that one child is neglected when that child's sibling is abused is supported by cases from foreign jurisdictions. In Interest of J.A.J., 652 S.W.2d 745 (Mo. App. 1983); New Jersey Div. of Youth and Family Services v. A.W., 103 N.J. 591, 512 A.2d 438 (1986); In Interest of A.K.S., 602 S.W.2d 848 (Mo. App. 1980). In In Interest of A.K.S., two minor children were removed from the custody of their mother. The mother argued that the lower court was in error in removing both children from her custody when all of the evidence of abuse related to one child only and none to the other. The appellate court, rejecting her contention, stated that the harm to a sibling, potential in the harm done to another child, is sufficient to justify intervention of the court to remove the sibling from the harmful environment. In Interest of A.K.S., 602 S.W.2d at 851. We are of the opinion that the Harrison County Family Court's order enjoining the father from contact with the siblings of E.S. is justified by the potential harm those children would be subjected to in light of the fact that the father has already perpetrated sexual abuse upon one of his children. Since the father was enjoined from contact with his minor children until the successful completion of the Child Sex Abuse Treatment Team Program at the Gulf Coast Mental Health Center, this cause will be affirmed and remanded to the Harrison County Family Court for further action consistent with this opinion. AFFIRMED AND REMANDED. HAWKINS and DAN M. LEE, P.JJ., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON, PITTMAN and BLASS, JJ., concur.