Court Opinion

ID: 6105352
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-20 20:11:00.996284+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:53:48.089451
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re W.H., 2022-Ohio-121.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                   GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  JUDGES:
IN THE MATTER OF:                                 Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
                                                  Hon. John W. Wise, J.
        W.H.                                      Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.

        K.H.                                      Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and
                                                            21 CA 000023

                                                  OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                       Civil Appeal from the Court of Common
                                               Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No. 19 JC
                                               00057

JUDGMENT:                                     Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                       January 19, 2022

APPEARANCES:

For Appellee                                   For Appellant Mother

MELISSA M. WILSON                             ANDREW E. RUSS
1009 Steubenville Avenue                      PO Box 520
Cambridge, Ohio 43725                         Pickerington, Ohio 43147

Guardian ad Litem - Mother                    For Father

ERIK STEWART                                   TARA TIMBERLAKE
555 City Park Avenue                           122 South Wooster Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43215                           Strasburg, Ohio 44680

Guardian ad Litem                             For Children
RUTHELLEN WEAVER                              JEANETTE MOLL
542 Drexel Avenue                             803 Market Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43209                          Zanesville, Ohio 43701

CASA
CHERYL GADD
801 Wheeling Avenue
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA000022 and 21 CA 000023                                 2

Wise, John, J.

         {¶1}   Appellant-Mother J.L. appeals from the August 4, 2021, decision of the

Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, granting permanent

custody of her minor children, W.H. and K.H., to Appellee Guernsey County Children

Services.

         {¶2}   These cases come to us on the expedited calendar and shall be considered

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

                            STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

         {¶3}   Appellant-Mother J.L. and Father A.H. are the biological parents of minor

children W.H. and K.H.

         {¶4}   On May 23, 2019, the children were adjudicated Neglected (R.C.

§2151.03(c)) and Dependent (R.C. §2151.04(c)) children following a two-day trial which

began on May 2, 2019. The minor children were placed into the Temporary Custody of

Guernsey County Children’s Services (GCCS).

         {¶5}   Prior to the Adjudicatory Hearing, the children had been in the Temporary

Custody of GCCS since February 11, 2019, from an Ex parte Order issued from the trial

court.

         {¶6}   At all times since February 11, 2019, prior to the custody hearing in this

matter, K.H. has been in the Temporary Custody of GCCS. The only exception is from

August 19, 2019, until September 5, 2019, K.H. was in the Temporary Custody of Allen

and Beth Larrick. On September 5, 2019, this placement was disrupted and K.H. was

returned to the Temporary Custody of GCCS. W.H. was in the Temporary Custody of

GCCS from February 11, 2019 until August 19, 2019. W.H. was then placed into the
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                              3

Temporary Custody of Allen and Beth Larrick. W.H. has been in their Temporary Custody

from August 19, 2019, until the date of the hearing.

      {¶7}   Neither parent has been able to care for the children, and there were no

kinship placements available or appropriate for the minor children with the exception of

Allen and Beth Larrick.

      {¶8}   On May 23 2019, and August 19, 2019, the trial court held Dispositional

Hearings.

      {¶9}   On November 15, 2019, the trial court held a Review Hearing.

      {¶10} On October 5, 2020, the trial court held a Review Hearing.

      {¶11} On March 2, 2020, the court held an Annual Review Hearing.

      {¶12} On October 30, 2020, the court held another Review Hearing.

      {¶13} On February 8, 2021, GCCS filed its Motion to Modify Dispositional Orders

to that of Permanent Custody.

      {¶14} At the time of the hearing, the trial court noted that Appellant-Mother was

currently under Indictment in Guernsey County Common Pleas Court, Criminal Division,

Case No. 20CR00021 from an incident involving the two Guernsey County Children

Services Caseworkers related to this pending case. In an entry from that court on June

8, 2021, Appellant-Mother was found not competent to stand trial in her criminal case.

Mother was ordered into the custody of the Guernsey County Sheriff to be transported

to Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare for purposes of competency restoration based on

an entry from that Court dated June 11, 2021. Based on this information, the trial court

appointed a Guardian Ad Litem for Appellant-Mother.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                        4

          {¶15} The hearing commenced on July 28, 2021, and continued on July 29, 2021.1

    Present at the hearing were: Atty. Wilson, counsel for GCCS; Angela Grywalsky, GCCS

    Supervisor; Father A.H.; Atty. Timberlake, counsel for father; Attorney Moll, counsel for

    the children W.H. and K.H.; Atty. Weaver, GAL; Attorney Stewart, GAL for the Appellant-

    Mother J.L.; Atty. Johnson, Counsel for Appellant-Mother J.L.; Appellant-Mother J.L.,

    appearing via video from Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare; and Cheryl Gadd, CASA.

          {¶16} The GAL for Appellant-Mother objected to her testifying or presenting

    testimony in a narrative form, arguing that based on her current mental status and having

    been found to be incompetent to stand trial, she could not knowingly and intelligently

    waive her Fifth Amendment Privilege against self-incrimination. The trial court sustained

    the objection and did not permit Mother to testify in this trial, thereby preserving her Fifth

    Amendment Privilege against self-incrimination relative to the pending criminal case.

          {¶17} At the time of the permanent custody hearing, W.H. had been in the

    temporary custody of Allen and Beth Larrick since August 19, 2019. K.H. was in a foster

    placement and had been in four foster homes and one residential placement since

    February 11, 2019.

          {¶18} Based on the testimony presented at the hearing, the trial court found that

    a legally secure permanent placement for K.H. could not be achieved without a grant of

    Permanent Custody to GCCS. The trial court based its decision on the following: the

    inability of the mother to parent the child; lack of progress in working the case plan by

1The trial court also considered the following motions at the July 28-29, 2021, hearing:
Motion for Visitation by father filed November 5, 2020; Motion to Modify Disposition to
Terminate case and return custody to Mother filed November 18, 2020; Motion for Legal
Custody of W.H. to Kendyl and Dustin King filed February 12, 2021; and Motion for Legal
Custody of W.H. and K.H. to father filed May 5, 2021.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                 5

the mother or father; lack of mental health medication or counseling for mother; lack of

mental health counseling for father; lack of housing or economic resources by mother or

father; lack of contact with the child by the father; ongoing criminal indictment and

competency issues for mother; mental health issues for K.H. and her need for a stable

environment; and the lack of desire by K.H. to be reunited with mother or father. Further,

the general lack of cooperation with GCCS and general hostility by mother and father

toward the Agency or other service providers and the lack of kinship placement were

considered by the court.

      {¶19} By Judgment Entry filed August 4, 2021, the trial court found:

             GCCS had made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal, to

       eliminate the continued removal, or to make it possible for K.H. to return

       home safely to the home of Appellant-Mother due to mother's inability to

       cooperate with service providers or make a parental commitment to the

       child as noted above. The Court finds that GCCS has made reasonable

       efforts to make a permanency plan for K.H. by establishing a safe, stable,

       and secure foster placement. (JE at 20-21).

      {¶20} The trial court found that it was in the best interest of K.H. to terminate the

parental rights of Appellant-Mother and Father and ordered K.H. committed to the

Permanent Custody of GCCS.

      {¶21} The trial court also granted the Motion of W.H. to be placed in the legal

custody of Kendyl and Dustin King stating that it was in the child's best interest to grant

said legal custody based on the same reasons as set forth above.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                  6

      {¶22} Appellant-Mother filed the instant appeals as to the trial court’s decision as

to K.H., and this matter is now before this court for consideration.

                               ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

      {¶23} “I. THE TRIAL COURT’S JUDGMENT GRANTING PERMANENT COURT

COMMITMENT OF THE MINOR CHILDREN TO GUERNSEY COUNTY CHILDREN’S

SERVICES WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”

                                                I.

      {¶24} Appellant-Mother argues the trial court’s decision granting permanent

custody of K.H. was against the manifest weight of the evidence. We disagree.

      {¶25} Specifically, Mother argues the trial court did not fully consider the

Appellant's progress on her portion of the case plan.

      {¶26} As an appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the

credibility of the witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent,

and credible evidence upon which the finder of fact could base its judgment. Cross Truck

Equipment Co. v. The Joseph A. Jeffries Co., 5th Dist. No. CA5758, 1982 WL 2911 (Feb.

10, 1982). Accordingly, judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence

going to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed as being against the

manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Constr., 54 Ohio St.2d 279,

376 N.E.2d 578 (1978), syllabus.

      {¶27} Issues relating to the credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given to

the evidence are primarily for the trier of fact. Seasons Coal v. Cleveland, 10 Ohio St.3d

77, 80, 461 N.E.2d 1273 (1984). Deferring to the trial court on matters of credibility is

“crucial in a child custody case, where there may be much evident in the parties'
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                    7

demeanor and attitude that does not translate to the record well.” Davis v. Flickinger, 77

Ohio St .3d 415, 419, 674 N.E.2d 1159 (1997).

      {¶28} R.C. §2151.414 sets forth the guidelines a trial court must follow when

deciding a motion for permanent custody. R.C. §2151.414(A)(1) mandates the trial court

schedule a hearing and provide notice upon the filing of a motion for permanent custody

of a child by a public children services agency or private child placing agency that has

temporary custody of the child or has placed the child in long-term foster care.

      {¶29} Following the hearing, R.C. §2151.414(B) authorizes the juvenile court to

grant permanent custody of the child to the public or private agency if the court

determines, by clear and convincing evidence, it is in the best interest of the child to

grant permanent custody to the agency, and that any of the following apply: (a) the child

is not abandoned or orphaned, and the child cannot be placed with either of the child's

parents within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the child's parents; (b) the

child is abandoned; (c) the child is orphaned and there are no relatives of the child who

are able to take permanent custody; or (d) the child has been in the temporary custody

of one or more public children services agencies or private child placement agencies for

twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two month period ending on or after

March 18, 1999.

      {¶30} 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
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                     8

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 child's need

for a legally secure permanent placement and whether that type of placement can be

achieved without a grant of permanent custody.

      {¶31} Therefore, R.C. §2151.414(B) establishes a two-pronged analysis the trial

court must apply when ruling on a motion for permanent custody. In practice, a trial court

will usually determine whether one of the four circumstances delineated in R.C

§2151.414(B)(1)(a) through (d) is present before proceeding to a determination

regarding the best interest of the child.

      {¶32} In this case, the trial court found that the statutory requirements of R.C.

§2151.414(B)(1)(a) and (d) had been met. The court found by clear and convincing

evidence that K.H. had been in the Temporary Custody of GCCS from February 11,

2019, to August 19, 2019 and then continuously from September 5, 2019 until July 28,

2021, the date of the permanent custody hearing. The court then further found, by clear

and convincing evidence, that K.H. cannot be placed with either of the parents within a

reasonable time or should not be placed with the parents.

      {¶33} Appellant-Mother does not challenge the trial court's finding. This finding

alone, in conjunction with a best-interest finding, is sufficient to support the grant of

permanent custody. In re Calhoun, 5th Dist. No. 2008CA00118, 2008–Ohio–5458, ¶ 45.

      {¶34} The trial court found the minor children in this case could not be placed with

Appellant-Mother or Father within a reasonable time or should not be placed with either

parent. If the child is not abandoned or orphaned, the focus turns to whether the child

cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable period of time or should not be
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                  9

placed with the parents. Under R.C. §2151.414(E), the trial court must consider all

relevant evidence before making this determination. The trial court is required to enter

such a finding if it determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that one or more of the

factors enumerated in R.C. §2151.414(E)(1) through (16) exist with respect to each of

the child's parents.

       {¶35} Here, the trial court found that notwithstanding the reasonable case

planning and diligent efforts of GCCS to assist Mother to remedy the problems that

initially caused the children to be placed outside the home, Appellant-Mother, and

Father, have failed continuously and repeatedly to substantially remedy the conditions

causing the children to be placed outside of the home. R.C. §2151.414(E)(1).

      {¶36} The trial court found that Appellant-Mother has failed to follow her case plan.

Mother was to provide safe, stable, and appropriate housing, but she failed to pay her

rent and was evicted from the trailer where she had been living. The court found that

Mother is currently residing at Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare.

       {¶37} Mother’s case plan also required that she obtain enough economic

resources to meet K.H. and W.H. 's basic needs. Mother received $250.00 per month for

child support for her oldest child. She was not employed during this entire case.

       {¶38} Mother was also to ensure that K.H. and W.H. were enrolled and attending

school. The trial court did not measure this finding due to the fact that both children were

not in her home during the period of this case.

       {¶39} Mother was to complete a mental health assessment and follow all

recommendations. The court found that Mother's mental health has deteriorated over the

course of this case. She was attending mental health services at Mid-Ohio prior to GCCS
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                10

involvement. She has several diagnosis including PSTD, Major Depressive Disorder,

OCD and Bipolar Disorder. She has been prescribed meds but has been mostly

noncompliant. There was a period during this case when she was med complaint and

appeared to be improving. However, caseworkers would visit her home and note full

bottles and half full bottles of medication. Mother would indicate she only would take half

doses or none altogether. The court found that when Mother is non-compliant with mental

health services she would become erratic and paranoid. She becomes rambling in her

speech and hard to redirect in conversations. She has paranoid ideations concerning the

government and that her children are involved in some form of child trafficking. She claims

that all of these proceedings are unconstitutional and void from the beginning.

      {¶40} Mother was also to complete a parenting course, which she did complete

through Creative Options in May, 2019.

      {¶41} Mother was to complete a parenting assessment and a psychological

assessment and follow all recommendations. Mother completed the assessment through

Dr. Amy Thomas. Dr. Thomas recommended continued psychological counseling and

medication management. This has not been done as noted above. While Mother has in

the past been counseled for her mental health, she is non-compliant with medication.

      {¶42} Family Counseling was also recommended. However, Mother could not get

her own mental health under control in order to proceed with family counseling. Mother

did work with the Staff there for a short period of time. However, Mother's behavior began

to deteriorate and would become erratic and threatening.

      {¶43} Mother was to sign all releases of information for the Agency. The

caseworkers expressed that this has been a struggle.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                               11

      {¶44} The court found that Mother has not visited with K.H. since the summer of

2020. Mother last visited with W.H. in February, 2021. The Agency arranged for Mother

to Facetime and/or call the children if they would like that contact. Both children are

declining contact with their mother at this time predominantly because of Mother's

behavior. Mother has made posts on social media claiming her children have been

kidnapped, and this embarrasses both of the children. The children see this because they

are tagged in her posts.

      {¶45} With regard to the Father, the trial court also found the he has not followed

his case plan. Father is remarried and has three other children in that home. Father’s

work situation over the past two years has been sporadic. Father owes approximately

$2,000.00 dollars in back child support. However, at one point he owed over $50,000.00

in back support. Pursuant to the CASA's report father's current wife has indicated that

they do not have enough money to care for two more children in their home.

      {¶46} Father was to resolve his legal issues regarding a protection order that was

in place with the children resulting from a domestic violence incident which took place in

Texas when he and Appellant-Mother lived there between 2010 to 2012. In 2017, Mother

renewed the CPO with the Guernsey County Common Pleas Court.

      {¶47} Father was to have a mental health assessment and follow all

recommendations. Father was attending counseling in New Philadelphia. He quit going

to counseling and has refused efforts by the Agency for him to return to counseling.

      {¶48} Father was also required to complete a parenting course. This has not been

done. Father was to sign releases of information and cooperate with the Agency. Father

has signed releases of information and cooperates with the Agency until he hears
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                                12

something he does not like. Testimony was provided that Father has become aggressive,

loud, and argumentative with the Agency on several occasions. The Agency will no longer

do home visits with Father, as they are fearful of their safety when he became angered.

The Agency has had to end a telephone conference with father when he became

belligerent with the caseworker.

      {¶49} Finally, both children have indicated that they do not wish to visit with their

Father or have a relationship with him.

      {¶50} Based on the foregoing, we find the "first prong" burden as required by R.C.

§2151.414(B)(1)(a) and (d) has been met.

                                          Best Interests

      {¶51} We next turn to the issue of best interest. We have frequently noted, “[t]he

discretion which the juvenile court enjoys in determining whether an order of permanent

custody is in the best interest of a child should be accorded the utmost respect, given

the nature of the proceeding and the impact the court's determination will have on the

lives of the parties concerned.” In re Mauzy Children, 5th Dist. No. 2000CA00244, 2000

WL 1700073 (Nov. 13, 2000), citing In re Awkal, 85 Ohio App.3d 309, 316, 642 N.E.2d

424 (8th Dist.1994).

      {¶52} In this case, the trial court determined it was in the best interest of K.H. to

be placed in the permanent custody of GCCS pursuant to R.C. §2151.414(D), and we

agree.

      {¶53} The trial court found Mother's relationship with K.H. is problematic. K.H. has

indicated to the CASA that she doesn't believe her mother ever loved her. She indicated

Mother would bring strange men around her, and that her family is "crazy" in that they all
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                              13

fight and scream at each other, sometimes violently. K.H. is in a therapeutic foster home

after being in four other placements. Unfortunately, she was abused in one of the

placements, further adding to her ongoing trauma.

      {¶54} The court found that K.H. and W.H. do not appear to be especially close.

There was some testimony and reports that K.H. can be aggressive with W.H. which has

strained their relationship. W.H., at this time, does not wish contact with K.H.

      {¶55} K.H. does have a close and bonded relationship with her current foster

mother, Shawna Goines. Ms. Goines had K.H. in her home from July 9, 2020, to October

15, 2020, and then again from March, 2021, until the date of the hearing. K.H. was at

Fox Run Hospital from October 2020 until March of 2021 for mental health concerns.

She appears to be doing much better in Ms. Goines home at this time and is currently

not taking any medication.

      {¶56} K.H. has been in multiple placements since removal but appears to have

settled in with Ms. Goines. The court found that the child has been in foster care 898

days and deserves stability. She has indicated that she does not wish to go back with

her mother, nor does she wish to see her father whom she has not seen in nine (9) years.

She appears happy in her current placement.

      {¶57} There have been several kinship options explored by the Agency. None

have been found to be appropriate and/or interested.

      {¶58} The custodial history of the child has been that she has been in the

Temporary Custody of GCCS since February 11, 2019 until August 19, 2019 and then

from September 5, 2019 until the date of the hearing.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 21 CA 000022 and 21 CA 000023                              14

       {¶59} Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court’s decision finding that

K.H. could not or should not be placed with Appellant-Mother or Father within a

reasonable period of time was not against the manifest weight of the evidence and that

the grant of permanent custody to the Agency was in the child's best interest.

       {¶60} Appellant-Mother’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled.

       {¶61} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Guernsey

County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.

By: Wise, John, J.

Gwin, P. J., and

Wise, Earle, J., concur.

JWW/kw 0113