Court Opinion

ID: 1086137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-21 18:28:40.629085+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:52.682330
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

In Re: G.P.                                                                         FILED
                                                                                  October 21, 2013
No. 13-0411 (Braxton County 12-JA-24)                                          RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                 OF WEST VIRGINIA

                                 MEMORANDUM DECISION

        Petitioner Father filed this appeal, by counsel Daniel R. Grindo, from the Circuit Court of
Braxton County, which adjudicated him as an abusive and neglectful parent to child G.P. by
order entered on March 11, 2013. The guardian ad litem for the child, David Karickhoff, has
filed a response supporting the circuit court’s order. The Department of Health and Human
Resources (“DHHR”), by its attorney Angela Alexander Walters, has also filed a response in
support of the circuit court’s order. Petitioner contends that the circuit court’s finding of abuse
and neglect was inconsistent with the evidence presented.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision is appropriate under Rule 21 of the Rules of Appellate
Procedure.

        In July of 2012, the DHHR filed the abuse and neglect petition in the instant case,
alleging abuse and neglect by petitioner through his infliction of physical and emotional injury to
one of the three children in the home, J.H. Aside from J.H. and the subject child, G.P., child P.H.
also lived in the home with petitioner. Petitioner is the biological father of G.P. only. Petitioner’s
girlfriend, who also resided in the same home, is the biological mother of J.H. and P.H., but not
G.P. G.P. currently resides elsewhere with her biological mother who was a non-offending
respondent parent in the proceedings. Petitioner currently exercises supervised visitation with
G.P.

        The petition also stated that petitioner was placed under criminal bond to prohibit contact
with J.H. The circuit court heard testimony from J.H. and the DHHR at the preliminary hearing
and found probable cause to proceed with the case. After hearing further testimony at the
adjudicatory hearing, the circuit court found that petitioner inflicted physical injury onto J.H. by
kicking and hitting him, from which J.H. sustained bruises. Based on these findings, the circuit
court adjudicated petitioner as an abusive and neglectful parent to all three children who resided
in the home. Petitioner appeals this adjudication.1

1
  This case was ultimately dismissed by order entered on March 28, 2013; neither parent had
their parental rights terminated to any of the children. All children currently reside separately
with their biological parents who were non-offending parents in this matter.

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       The Court has previously established the following standard of review:

       “Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de novo
       review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the facts
       without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
       evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether
       such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a
       reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
       although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire
       evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
       committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply
       because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if
       the circuit court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record
       viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223,
       470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011).

         Petitioner’s sole argument on appeal is that the circuit court improperly found abuse and
neglect. Petitioner argues that this finding was inconsistent with the evidence presented to the
circuit court. In support, petitioner asserts that J.H.’s testimony during the proceedings was
inconsistent and that petitioner’s conduct did not rise to the level of abuse or neglect. Petitioner
further argues that no evidence was presented that raised any concerns about the safety of G.P. or
that petitioner had abused or neglected her in any way.

         Upon our review of the record, we find no error or abuse of discretion by the circuit
court’s adjudication. “‘Although parents have substantial rights that must be protected, the
primary goal in cases involving abuse and neglect, as in all family law matters, must be the
health and welfare of the children.’ Syl. Pt. 3, In re Katie S., 198 W.Va. 79, 479 S.E.2d 589
(1996).” Syl. Pt. 2, In re Timber M., 231 W.Va. 44, 743 S.E.2d 352 (2013). As provided in West
Virginia Code § 49-1-3(1)(A), “abused” children include those children whose health or welfare
are harmed or threatened because they reside in the same home where the subject parent inflicts
physical or emotional injury to another child in the home. The record supports the circuit court’s
decision to adjudicate petitioner as an abusive and neglectful parent. Our review of the
preliminary and adjudicatory hearing transcripts supports the circuit court’s findings upon which
it based its adjudication of petitioner. The circuit court made clear findings on the record that
petitioner had kicked and hit J.H. The testimony also indicates that G.P. was in the home during
this time. The circuit court further found that J.H. sustained injuries as a result of his altercation
with petitioner and that, following this altercation, petitioner was prohibited from contacting J.H.
by a criminal bond petition. We find no abuse of discretion in the record to warrant overturning
the circuit court’s decision.

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm.

                                                                                           Affirmed.

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ISSUED: October 21, 2013

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Allen H. Loughry II

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