Court Opinion

ID: 2699053
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:59:11.584725+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:53:05.919863
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re S. Children, 2012-Ohio-6265.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                       STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:                                      JUDGES:
S. CHILDREN                                    :       Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
                                               :       Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
                                               :       Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :       Case No. 2012-CA-00164
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                           Civil appeal from the Stark County Court of
                                                   Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case
                                                   No. 2012JCV00512

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                            December 31, 2012

APPEARANCES:

For-Appellee                                       For-Appellant

JERRY A. COLEMAN                                   KEVIN J. ANKNEY
SCDJFS                                             Stark County Public Defendant's Office
110 Central Plaza South, Ste. 400                  200 W. Tuscarawas St., Ste 200
Canton, OH 44702                                   Canton, OH 44702
[Cite as In re S. Children, 2012-Ohio-6265.]

Hoffman, J.,

        {¶1}     Appellant Donald S. (“Father”) appeals the August 16, 2012 judgment

entered by the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, which

terminated his parental rights, privileges and responsibilities with respect to his two

minor children and granted permanent custody of the children to appellee Stark County

Department of Job and Family Services (“JFS”).

                             THE STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶2}     Father is the biological father of T.S. and L.S., both born on May 21, 2012.

On May 23, 2012, JFS filed a complaint alleging dependency and neglect, and seeking

permanent custody of the two children.         At the shelter care hearing, the trial court

placed the children in the temporary custody of JFS. The parties stipulated to a finding

of dependency. The children’s mother is not a party to this appeal, but she and Father

are married and reside together.

        {¶3}     JFS has historically been involved with family due to frequent drug and

alcohol use, inappropriate supervision of the young children, numerous criminal

convictions, and severe mental health concerns. JFS initially became involved with the

family in 2006. The child who was the subject of that case (2006JCV1847) was found

to be dependent, but was eventually returned to Mother after she completed her case

plan in 2007.

        {¶4}     In 2008, the agency again became involved with the family when Father

was convicted of gross sexual imposition of an eight year old child. The children

involved in that case (20008JCV00733) were found to be dependent, but Mother
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                                  3

completed her case plan and the agency terminated its involvement on December 23,

2008.

        {¶5}   JFS again became involved with the family in 2009 because of Mother’s

mental health and drug/alcohol abuse. The children in that case (2009JCV00882) again

were found to be dependent and permanent custody was eventually granted to JFS on

June 18, 2010. This court affirmed. In re D.D.S. and D.T.S. Minor Children, 5th Dist.

No. 2010CA00187, 2010-Ohio-5800.

        {¶6}   JFS became involved with Mother and Father again in 2011. The child

involved in that case (2011JCV00574) was found to be dependent and permanent

custody was granted to JFS on July 7, 2011. This court affirmed. In the Matter of D.S.,

5th Dist. No. 2011CA00166, 2011-Ohio-6379.

        {¶7}   The trial court found Father has a criminal record and is currently

registered as Tier II sex offender working his way through a treatment program at

Melymbrosia. Father has not completed the program despite having the opportunity to

do so for nearly two years. Father testified he stopped attending the class because of

financial reasons and had not re-enrolled in the program.      The court found Father

refuses to acknowledge the severe mental illness of his wife, the children’s mother,

which could lead to unsafe parenting situations in the future. The trial court found

neither parent had shown by clear and convincing evidence any change in

circumstances that would preclude a grant of permanent custody to JFS.

        {¶8}   At the time of the hearing, T.S. and L.S. were appropriately three months

of age and had no medical or psychological problems. They were placed in a licensed

foster home and the foster parents were interested in adopting the children. The court
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                                  4

found the foster parents have formed a bond with both children, and the children are not

strongly bonded with Father or Mother.

       {¶9}   The guardian ad litem presented a written report recommending that

permanent custody be granted to JFS.

       {¶10} The trial court awarded permanent custody to JFS on August 16, 2012,

and it is from this judgment entry Father appeals, citing as error:

       {¶11} “I. THE LOWER COURT ERRED PROCEDURALLY BY GRANTING

PERMANENT CUSTODY AT DISPOSITION PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE

2151.353 WITHOUT MAKING A FINDING THAT REASONABLE EFFORTS WERE

MET, OR NOT REQUIRED, UNDER OHIO REVISED CODE 2151.419.

       {¶12} “II. THE LOWER COURT ERRED BY NOT REQUIRING THE STARK

COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES TO MAKE REASONABLE

EFFORTS UNDER OHIO REVISED CODE 2151.419 TO REUNITE THE CHILDREN

WITH APPELLANT.

       {¶13} “III THE JUDGMENT OF THE LOWER COURT THAT THE BEST

INTERESTS OF THE CHILD (sic) WOULD BE SERVED BY GRANTING PERMANENT

CUSTODY WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE

EVIDENCE.”

       {¶14} This case comes to us on the expedited calendar and shall be considered

in compliance with App. R. 11.2 (C).

                                                 I.

       {¶15} In his first assignment of error, Father argues the trial court erred

procedurally by granting permanent custody at the dispositional hearing without making
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                                     5

a finding that either reasonable efforts were met, or were not required under R.C.

2151.419.

       {¶16} R.C. 2151.419 requires a court at the disposition hearing following an

adjudication of dependency, neglect or abuse to determine if reasonable efforts have

been made to return the children to the parents, and if not, the court determines if

reasonable efforts were not required. The statute requires the court to find that the

agency is not required to make reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child

from the child's home, eliminate the continued removal of the child from the child's

home, and return the child to the child's home if, inter alia, the parent from whom the

child is removed has had parental rights involuntarily terminated with respect to a sibling

of the child. R.C. 2151.419(A)(2)(e).

       {¶17} The trial court made extensive findings regarding the family history and

specifically found Father had involuntarily lost permanent custody of several children in

prior cases. This fact has never been disputed. However, the trial court did not make a

specific finding reasonable efforts were not necessary. This court has previously held it

is not reversible error to omit a specific determination JFS was not required to make

reasonable efforts where the facts and circumstances would support such a finding. In

Re: Brown, 5th Dist. No. 2008 CA 00029, 2008-Ohio-3655, ¶ 26.

       {¶18} The first assignment of error is overruled.

                                                II.

       {¶19} In his second assignment of error, Father cites R.C. 2151.419 (A)(3),

which provides “At any hearing in which the court determines whether to return a child

to the child’s home, the court may issue an order that returns a child in situations in
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                                     6

which the conditions described in divisions (A)(2)(a) to (e) of this section.” Father

asserts the statute permits the trial court to return these children to his home, even

though he had his parental rights involuntarily terminated as to other children previously.

       {¶20} The statute makes the decision to return the children discretionary, not

mandatory. We find the trial court did not err in not ordering JFS to make reasonable

efforts to return these children to their home.

       {¶21} The second assignment of error is overruled.

                                                  III.

       {¶22} In his third assignment of error, Father argues the trial court’s finding the

best interest of the children would be served by granting JFS permanent custody was

against the manifest weight and sufficiency of the evidence.

       {¶23} In Eastley v. Volkman, 132 Ohio St.3d 328, 2012-Ohio-2179, the Ohio

Supreme Court distinguished the terms “sufficiency” and “weight” in civil cases,

declaring that “manifest weight” and “legal sufficiency” are “both quantitatively and

qualitatively different,” in the same manner the Supreme Court previously held

regarding criminal cases in State v. Thompkins, 78 Ohio St.3d 380, 678 N.E.2d 541

(1997), paragraph two of the syllabus. The court found sufficiency of the evidence to be

“a term of art meaning that legal standard which is applied to determine whether the

case may go to the jury or whether the evidence is legally sufficient to support the jury

verdict as a matter of law. * * * In essence, sufficiency is a test of adequacy.” Eastley,

¶11, citing Thompkins, supra at 386, 678 N.E.2d 541, and Black’s Law Dictionary 1433

(6th Ed. 1990).
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                                         7

       {¶24} By contrast, weight of the evidence concerns “the inclination of the greater

amount of credible evidence, offered in a trial, to support one side of the issue rather

than the other. It indicates clearly to the jury that the party having the burden of proof

will be entitled to their verdict, if, on weighing the evidence in their minds, they shall find

the greater amount of credible evidence sustains the issue which is to be established

before them. Weight is not a question of mathematics, but depends on its effect in

inducing belief.” Eastley at ¶12, citing Thompkins, supra at 387, 678 N.E.2d 541, and

Black’s, supra at 1594. (Emphasis sic.)

       {¶25} Permanent custody cases, require the evidence to meet the clear and

convincing standard. The Ohio Supreme Court has defined “clear and convincing

evidence” as the measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind of the trier of

fact a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be established. It is

intermediate, being more than a mere preponderance, but not to the extent of such

certainty as required beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases. In re: Estate of

Haynes, 25 Ohio St.3d 101, 103–04, 495 N.E.2d 23(1986); see, also, State v. Schiebel,

55 Ohio St.3d 71, 74, 564 N.E.2d 54(1990).

       {¶26} In determining the best interest of the child at a permanent custody

hearing, R.C. 2151.414(D) mandates the trial court must consider all relevant factors,

including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the interaction and interrelationship of the

child with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, foster parents and out-of-home

providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the child; (2) the wishes of

the child as expressed directly by the child or through the child's guardian ad litem, with

due regard for the maturity of the child; (3) the custodial history of the child; and (4) the
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                                    8

child's need for a legally secure permanent placement and whether that type of

placement can be achieved without a grant of permanent custody.

      {¶27} The trial court found the children are with foster parents who are

interested in adopting them. The court found the foster parents are very interactive with

the children and formed a bond with both children, and the children were not strongly

bonded to either biological parent. The guardian ad litem recommended permanent

custody be granted to JFS.

      {¶28} The court found the children deserved to be in a stable, loving

environment where they can thrive and have their needs met on a daily basis. The

court explained that extending temporary custody of the children to allow the parents to

work on their case plan was not in the children’s best interest, because it appears from

the evidence the parents will not be able to remedy the initial problems in the case at

any time within the foreseeable future. The court concluded it was in the best interest of

the children to grant permanent custody to JFS for purposes of adoption.

      {¶29} Based upon the foregoing, we find the trial court’s finding it was in the

children’s best interest to grant permanent custody was not against the manifest weight

or based upon insufficient evidence.

      {¶30} The third assignment of error is overruled.
Stark County, Case No. 2012-CA-00164                                         9

       {¶31} The judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division, is affirmed.

By Hoffman, J.,

Delaney, P.J., and

Farmer, J., concur

                                       s/ William B. Hoffman ________________
                                       HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                       s/ Patricia A. Delaney ________________
                                       HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                       s/ Sheila G. Farmer __________________
                                       HON. SHEILA G. FARMER

WBH:clw 1211
[Cite as In re S. Children, 2012-Ohio-6265.]

                IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO

                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:
S. CHILDREN                                    :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :        JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :        CASE NO. 2012-CA-00164

    For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the judgment of

the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.           Costs to

Appellant.

                                                   s/ William B. Hoffman ________________
                                                   HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN

                                                   s/ Patricia A. Delaney ________________
                                                   HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY

                                                   s/ Sheila G. Farmer __________________
                                                   HON. SHEILA G. FARMER