Court Opinion

ID: 4259260
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-03-29 07:12:23.606252+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:32.269691
License: Public Domain

STATE OF MICHIGAN

                            COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                     UNPUBLISHED
In re A. SMITH, Minor.                                               March 27, 2018

                                                                     No. 339061
                                                                     Berrien Circuit Court
                                                                     Family Division
                                                                     LC No. 2015-000005-NA

Before: O’CONNELL, P.J., and HOEKSTRA and SWARTZLE, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

        Respondent-father appeals as of right the trial court order terminating his parental rights
to the minor child, AS, under MCL 712A.19b(3)(b)(i) (sibling of the child suffered sexual abuse
caused by the parent), (g) (failure to provide proper care and custody), (j) (reasonable likelihood
of harm if returned to the parent), and (k)(ii) (the parent sexually abused a sibling of the child).
We affirm.

                                       I. BACKGROUND

       This case involves respondent’s children from two marriages. Respondent was married
to Rachel Smith1 and had two children with her: a daughter, TP, born in 2000, and a son, KP.2
Respondent and Rachel divorced in 2001, but respondent continued to have parenting time with
TP until late 2012. Respondent started dating Sarah Parish in 2005, and they were married in
2013. Respondent and Sarah had one son together, AS, born in 2007. Respondent and Sarah
remained married throughout these proceedings.

        TP was three or four years old when respondent first began touching her inappropriately
in her vaginal area. According to TP, respondent threatened to kill her brother, KP, if TP told
anyone about the abuse. TP disclosed that she was seven years old when the first penile
penetration occurred, which she described as “hurt[ing] really bad.” The abuse continued until

1
 Because of the familial relationships, we will use first names when referring to respondent’s
wife and ex-wife.
2
 There is little information in the record regarding KP, outside of the fact that he is respondent’s
biological son.

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TP was 12 years old and involved many instances of finger, mouth, penis, and object penetration.
Additionally, TP reported that she would sometimes wake up with her pants around her ankles
when she stayed overnight at respondent’s home. The abuse continued until TP was 12 years
old. The last incident occurred around December 2012, during which respondent inserted a
foreign object into TP’s vagina and did not remove it.

       Respondent appears to have left TP’s life—and the relevant geographic area—for a
couple of years between December 2012 and December 2014, after which respondent returned
and sought to reconnect with TP, who was now 14 years old. In the interim, TP had experienced
a period of cutting behavior, had withdrawn from her family, and had struggled in school. Upon
hearing of respondent’s intentions to reconnect, TP disclosed the abuse. TP was examined by a
sexual assault nurse examiner who discovered multiple areas of injury consistent with a history
of sexual abuse, including vaginal penetration and insertion of foreign objects in TP’s vagina.
The examiner also discovered a plastic object embedded inside TP’s vagina near her cervix,
which was removed by an emergency room physician.

        In January 2015, petitioner filed a petition in the trial court seeking termination of
respondent’s parental rights to TP and AS. Respondent was arrested in Van Buren County on
charges of criminal sexual conduct in May 2015. Because respondent’s abuse of TP spanned
several years and residences, charges against respondent were also eventually brought in Berrien
County. The trial court ordered that TP and AS remain in the care of their respective mothers
and suspended respondent’s parenting time to both children during his incarceration.

        A bench trial was held in July 2015. The trial court received testimony regarding
respondent’s abuse of TP, which it described as unrefuted. The trial court also received
testimony from Sarah regarding her plans if respondent was released from jail. Sarah testified
that she did not believe that respondent abused TP and that she would not adopt a safety plan or
take any precautions to prevent respondent from having unsupervised parenting time with AS.
In fact, Sarah wanted respondent to move into the family home as soon as he was released from
jail. Sarah testified that she had no source of income other than disability and that she relied on
respondent and respondent’s family for financial support. According to Sarah, respondent was a
great father and had a strong bond with AS.

        In August 2015, the trial court terminated respondent’s parental rights to TP. The trial
court determined that statutory grounds existed to terminate respondent’s parental rights to AS,
but concluded that termination was not in AS’s best interests at that time. The trial court noted
that there was no evidence that AS had been a target of respondent’s abuse and that respondent
had a continuing marital relationship with Sarah. Additionally, the trial court believed that
reunification services could help preserve the family. The trial court continued its jurisdiction
over AS, who remained in Sarah’s care.

       Respondent remained incarcerated in Van Buren County and, as a result of this
incarceration, did not receive services. In respondent’s absence from the home, AS began
“acting out” and was referred to therapy to help him work through his father’s absence.
Respondent had no access to AS until February 2016, when the trial court agreed to allow AS to
have supervised contact with respondent.

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        Respondent’s first criminal trial in Van Buren County resulted in a mistrial in March
2016. Respondent was acquitted of the Van Buren charges following a second trial in May 2016,
at the conclusion of which respondent was transported to Berrien County to resolve the charges
pending there. In June 2016, respondent pleaded no-contest to engaging in the services of a
minor for the purposes of prostitution, MCL 750.451(4), and attempted sodomy, MCL 750.158.
Both charges related to TP. Following this plea, petitioner filed a supplemental petition to
terminate respondent’s parental rights. In August 2016, respondent was sentenced to time served
and five years of probation. As part of his sentence, respondent was ordered to have no contact
with any child under the age of 17, with the exception of supervised visitation with relatives.
Upon his release, respondent obtained employment and independent housing, and did not have
any contact with AS in compliance with the no-contact order.

        A termination hearing was held in December 2016. The trial court received evidence that
petitioner would not approve respondent having contact with AS until, at the earliest, he
completed sex-offender treatment. Respondent had completed 13 weeks of a 52-week sex-
offender program by the time of trial. Respondent’s therapist testified that, to continue in the
program, respondent was expected to disclose facts relating to his offense consistent with the
presentence-investigation report. Although respondent had admitted some sexual impropriety to
his therapist, respondent testified during the hearing that he did not abuse TP. Indeed,
respondent indicated that he only entered the no-contest plea to avoid a substantial prison
sentence. Respondent’s caseworkers indicated that respondent similarly denied the abuse during
their conversations. Accordingly, the caseworkers were doubtful that parenting time would ever
be approved for respondent. Respondent and Sarah both testified that, once respondent was
granted contact with AS, they would reunite the family in one home.

        AS’s counselor testified that she worked with AS on his anger, anxiety, and sadness
related to respondent’s absence. AS’s counselor previously believed that it would not be in AS’s
best interests to terminate respondent’s parental rights; however, she received additional
information about respondent’s abuse of TP that had begun to change her mind. Although she
could not ultimately opine on whether termination was in AS’s best interests, she believed any
contact that respondent had with AS needed to be fully supervised.

        The trial court ruled from the bench at a hearing in March 2017. The trial court
concluded that statutory grounds existed to terminate respondent’s parental rights to AS under
MCL 712A.19b(3)(b)(i) and (k)(ii) on the basis of respondent’s convictions and the doctrine of
anticipatory neglect. The trial court also concluded that statutory grounds existed to support
termination under MCL 712A.19b(3)(g) and (j). The trial court noted that respondent is subject
to the no-contact order “for the continuing period of his five year probation order” and found that
“without any regard to intent [respondent] cannot provide proper care and custody and would not
be reasonably expected to do so within the five-year term period.” Additionally, the trial court
noted that, despite respondent’s testimony that he posed no threat to AS because he was not
attracted to men, respondent still posed a threat to AS. The trial court concluded that
respondent’s non-attraction to men did not render him harmless to “children of young and tender
age” given the “horrific nature” of respondent’s past conduct and his refusal to acknowledge that
he engaged in any wrongdoing.

       The trial court then turned to AS’s best interests:

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        The Court now having determined that consistent with the pleading MCL
[712A.19b(3)(b)(i), (g), (j), and (k)(ii)] having been satisfied by a standard clear
and convincing evidence is required to give consideration to the best interest of
the minor child, [AS]. The prosecutor in closing argument reminded the Court
that indeed the Court’s prior action failed to support termination. It indicated
based truly, solely on the best interest finding in there previously . . . . The Court
must now consider the changes that have occurred since that prior denial of
termination.

        The Court acknowledges that we now have convictions, as indicated. We
also have a therapist who did not have information even with her most recent
report that the Court considered . . . , but her testimony that now [AS] said, quote,
“His sister said her father had sex with her.” Even the therapist, we still don’t
have the context within which that was shared, whether it was [AS] and [TP] and
some sibling, confidential exchange or whether it was from another adult being
used to somehow exculpate the respondent-father from the conviction and
allegations. Nevertheless, it is this new information that [AS] will have to process
and reconcile.

        Counsel for [respondent] argues that his client has been compliant and
wants to move on with life. [Respondent] testified that when of age, quote, “He
will certainly seek a relationship with his son.”

        The preponderance of the evidence . . . supports that this environment
inclusive of the respondent remains inherently unfit for the minor for reasons of
the cruelty, criminality and to some respect the depravity on the part of the parent
that would continue to subject the minor child to risk of harm by continued
exposure in that environment. Quite candidly, for as long as [respondent’s]
parental rights remain intact he remains poised to pursue and in any unthinkable
circumstances incapacitating the non-respondent mother to step in to serve as
custodial parent exercising legal authority of the minor and certainly indicated his
continuing desire to commit to a relationship to his son in that situation.

       As he states when of age he would seek a relationship with his son, the
Court could not preclude that and would have less obligation of protection event
of exposure to the respondent for [AS] as an almost adult at that time, following
what would likely still have been years of counseling and therapy for [AS] to
address the feelings and emotions as testified to by his counselor.

      Termination does not preclude [respondent] from again being able to
move on with his life and/or when of age establish some relationship with [AS].

        The Court does believe that the prosecutor has met their burden [of] proof
as it related to the best interest of the minor child by a preponderance of the
evidence given the convictions, given the degree of I think sadness and fear and
stress and anxiety that was testified to that [the minor child] is still in counseling,
and anticipated to continue counseling, to address those issues, and primarily

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       again for his protection, to preclude barring any now unknown tragedy to occur
       for the [child’s mother]. While hoping not, the Court has no control over that
       whatsoever, none of us do. And, again, absent a termination of parental rights,
       [respondent] would remain, poised to be, the legal parent for this minor child,
       which the Court being fully persuaded by the preponderance of the evidence, does
       not believe it’s in his best interests, as supported equally by that of the foster care
       specialist and the guardian ad litem, and the Court believes consistent with, while
       the therapist indicated that “not her specialty” in terms of giving a firm
       recommendation at this time. For all of those reasons the Court does believe that
       the prosecutor has met their burden of proof.

Accordingly, the trial court terminated respondent’s parental rights to AS. This appeal followed.

                                          II. ANALYSIS

        Respondent’s sole argument on appeal is that the trial court clearly erred in determining
that termination of his parental rights was in AS’s best interests. We disagree.

        “[W]hether termination of parental rights is in the best interests of the child must be
proved by a preponderance of the evidence.” In re Moss, 301 Mich. App. 76, 90; 836 NW2d 182
(2013). This Court reviews the trial court’s decision regarding the child’s best interests for clear
error. In re Olive/Metts Minors, 297 Mich. App. 35, 40; 823 NW2d 144 (2012). “A finding of
fact is clearly erroneous if the reviewing court has a definite and firm conviction that a mistake
has been committed, giving due regard to the trial court’s special opportunity to observe the
witnesses.” In re BZ, 264 Mich. App. 286, 296-297; 690 NW2d 505 (2004). This Court is
“obliged to defer to a trial court’s factual findings at termination proceedings if those findings do
not constitute clear error.” In re Rood, 483 Mich. 73, 90; 763 NW2d 587 (2009).

         “Once a statutory ground for termination has been proven, the trial court must find that
termination is in the child’s best interests before it can terminate parental rights.” In re
Olive/Metts Minors, 297 Mich. App. at 40. When the trial court considers a child’s best interests,
the focus must be on the child and not the parent. In re Moss, 301 Mich. App. at 87. “In deciding
whether termination is in the child’s best interests, the court may consider the child’s bond to the
parent, the parent’s parenting ability, the child’s need for permanency, stability, and finality, and
the advantages of a foster home over the parent’s home.” In re Olive/Metts Minors, 297 Mich
App at 41-42 (internal citations omitted). The trial court may consider the evidence on the whole
record, including the evidence establishing the statutory grounds for termination, when making
its best-interests determination. In re Trejo, 462 Mich. 341, 353; 612 NW2d 407 (2000).

        Respondent argues that the trial court failed to give sufficient weight to AS’s placement
with his biological mother. Contrary to respondent’s contention, the trial court did consider this
placement when making its best-interests determination. In fact, the trial court expressed
concern that respondent would become AS’s custodial parent if anything ever happened to the
child’s mother. Moreover, “relative” is defined as a “grandparent, great-grandparent, great-
great-grandparent, aunt or uncle, great-aunt or great-uncle, great-great-aunt or great-great-uncle,
sibling, stepsibling, nephew or niece, first cousin or first cousin once removed, and the spouse of
any of the above[.]” MCL 712A.13a(1)(j). Therefore, AS’s biological mother was not a

                                                -5-
statutory “relative” under MCL 712A.19a(8)(a), and the trial court was not required to consider
this placement in its analysis. See In re Schadler, 315 Mich. App. 406, 413; 890 NW2d 676
(2016) (stating that “because [the child’s] biological mother was not a ‘relative’ for purposes of
MCL 712A.19a, the trial court was not required to consider that relative placement”).

        In addition, the trial court considered respondent’s sexual-abuse convictions and the
sadness, fear, stress, and anxiety that AS had already experienced with respondent’s absence
from the family home. With respect to the sexual abuse of AS’s sibling, the trial court noted
when discussing termination that a parent’s treatment of one child was probative of how that
parent would likely treat another child. Moreover, considering the horrific nature of the sexual
abuse, the trial court believed that AS would be at risk of harm if he was reunited with
respondent. While the trial court did not recount the specific instances of sexual abuse in its
best-interests determination, it clearly eluded to them by reference to respondent’s “convictions”
just a few moments after it made its ruling with respect to the specific grounds for termination,
which again are not challenged on appeal.

        Based on the record in this case, we are not left with a definite and firm conviction that it
was in AS’s best interests to decline termination. Respondent’s sexual-abuse convictions
support the trial court’s finding that his return to the family home would put AS at risk of harm.
Furthermore, AS will have to come to terms with how respondent sexually abused AS’s sibling
and how those actions will affect AS’s family. Termination will allow AS to grow and mature in
a safe and stable environment. As such, the trial court’s determination that termination was in
AS’s best interests was not clearly erroneous. See In re Hudson, 294 Mich. App. 261, 269; 817
NW2d 115 (2011) (concluding that all of the children would struggle dealing with repercussions
of the respondent’s sexual abuse and that termination “was in their best interest and was a
necessary step in allowing the children to have the safety, permanence, and stability to which
they are entitled”).

       Affirmed.

                                                              /s/ Peter D. O'Connell
                                                              /s/ Brock A. Swartzle

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