Opinion ID: 2582141
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: limitations on visitation

Text: The magistrate judge ordered that Theron have visitation with the children on alternating weekends and holidays and six weeks during the summer providing that Father is not residing in the same house with his male partner during those visits. Theron appeals this restriction, arguing that it is discriminatory against him as a homosexual and is not based on credible evidence to support it. We find that such a restriction was appropriate given the circumstances involving Nick Case in the custody matter. The magistrate found: Mother testified that in December 2000, and January 2001, she received several hang-up telephone calls which she reported to the police. She called a number on her caller-ID and it was Nick Case's voice mail. Chandra Evans testified that in mid-March, 2001, a call came to the Mayor's office (where Shawn worked) from someone refusing to identify himself and complaining about Mother and demanding that his complaint be forwarded to the Mayor. Chandra Evans had caller-ID, informed Mother's supervisor, Chad Stanger, advising him of the call and phone number. Chad Stanger testified that the allegations against Mother were completely false. Evans testified regarding a second call from the same caller who was angry with her for giving out his phone number. He threatened her. Father when asked if he believed his partner Nick Case made the calls, said, Well, ... they had his number and I talked to him about it. Father testified that he did not want to know if Nick made the call but told him to stop, and said, Don't tell me if you did it. In February 2001, the Idaho Falls police advised Mother that a Nick Case had filed a Complaint against her for her driving, cutting him off. Mother testified that she did not know what vehicle Nick Case was driving and denied the accusation. Her testimony was uncontroverted. According to the testimony of Chandra Evans, Case was attempting to complain to the mayor that Shawn took her girls to work and sold Girl Scout cookies, and that she walked the river on city time. However, Chad Stanger, Shawn's supervisor, testified this was usually done on Shawn's break time or with his permission and was not a violation of city policy. In addition, it appears the police only visited Shawn at her home regarding the alleged cut-off after Case had called the police a second time, asking why no action had been taken on his complaint. In his parental evaluation, Dr. Corgiat, the court-appointed counselor, stated: I would strongly recommend that Nick Case stay out of the relationship between Theron and Shawn. There have been some hostilities that have developed between Nick and Shawn. These are inappropriate and acting upon them will clearly be to the detriment of the children. He also later testified that Case's involvement in the matter had not been helpful. We have held in the past that it is appropriate for a trial judge to review the living arrangements of a child as part of a review of what is in the best interests of the child and that such a review may include a consideration of persons with whom a parent intends to reside. Roberts v. Roberts, 138 Idaho 401, 404, 64 P.3d 327, 330 (2003). In Roberts, this Court upheld the trial court's decision restricting the custodial mother's place of residence to a certain geographic area and, in arriving at that conclusion, the trial court considered and based its decision in part on the fact that the mother's fiancé with whom she wished to reside had drug abuse problems and a felony record. This Court has also held that [t]he acts and conduct of the custodial parent, resulting in the alienation of the love and affection which children naturally have for the other parent, is a vital and very serious detriment to the welfare of such children and is grounds for modification of the decree with respect to such custody. Stewart v. Stewart, 86 Idaho 108, 114, 383 P.2d 617, 620 (1963). This same rule carries equal weight when applied to any other individual who could potentially play an influential part in the development of the children and their relationship with the other parent. There was sufficient evidence to support the magistrate judge's finding that Nick Case should not be involved in the family relationship with Shawn at the present time, where he had taken vindictive action in attempting to discredit her and create trouble for her at work and with the police. The magistrate judge did not abuse his discretion in ordering that Case not be residing at the home when the children were visiting, as Case's involvement had been shown to be detrimental and to pose a valid danger of alienating the children's affections toward their mother.