Court Opinion

ID: 3163132
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-12-16 16:03:16.60737+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:51:30.017859
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 724

                    ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                       DIVISION I
                                      No. CV-15-656

KATHERINE VELASCO                                Opinion Delivered   DECEMBER 16, 2015
                              APPELLANT
                                                 APPEAL FROM THE PULASKI
V.                                               COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
                                                 EIGHTH JUVENILE DIVISION
                                                 [NO. 60JV-14-1186]
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES AND MINOR                         HONORABLE WILEY A. BRANTON,
CHILDREN                                         JR., JUDGE
                    APPELLEES
                                                 AFFIRMED

                             DAVID M. GLOVER, Judge

       Katherine Velasco’s parental rights to her four children, A.B. (dob 11/14/04), A.V.

(dob 2/1/06), M.M.V. (dob 8/24/07), and M.A.V. (dob 12/27/11), were terminated by the

Pulaski County Circuit Court.1 Ms. Velasco now appeals the termination. We affirm the trial

court’s decision.

       On August 22, 2014, the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) exercised

a seventy-two-hour hold on the children after the Pulaski County Narcotics Unit executed

a search warrant on the Velasco home based on information that the Velascos were selling

drugs there with the children present. The search yielded a meth pipe, a marijuana pipe, and

marijuana in the children’s room, as well as two pounds of marijuana, two ounces of meth,

firearms, and other drug paraphernalia in other areas of the house. Both of the Velascos were

       1
         The parental rights of Adrian Masestas, putative father of A.B., and Miguel Velasco,
legal father of A.V., M.M.V., and M.A.V., were also terminated; however, neither of these
men is a party to this appeal.
                                  Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 724

arrested and charged with child endangerment and various drug charges. Ms. Velasco initially

denied any knowledge of her husband selling drugs from her home, but she later admitted he

had been selling drugs. DHS filed a petition for ex parte emergency custody and dependency-

neglect on August 25, 2014, based on these events, and an ex parte order for emergency

custody was entered that same day. On September 23, 2014, a probable-cause order

continuing custody of the children with DHS was entered.

       On November 6, 2014, an order adjudicating the children dependent-neglected was

entered. In this order, the trial court found that two of the children had tested positive for

THC, as had Ms. Velasco. Furthermore, the trial court found by clear and convincing

evidence that the Velascos had subjected the children to aggravated circumstances in that the

children were neglected such that the neglect could endanger their lives, and there was little

likelihood that services to the family would result in successful reunification. In making the

aggravated-circumstances finding, the trial court specifically relied on the August 22 drug raid,

at which the children were present; the fact that drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm were

found within easy reach of the children during the raid; the positive drug-test results; evidence

of marijuana next to a birthday cake, a dead rat on the kitchen counter, and an infestation of

roaches in the home; the fact that Ms. Velasco admitted Mr. Velasco had been selling drugs

from the house; and the pending criminal charges against both parents. The trial court noted

in its order that Ms. Velasco testified she and Mr. Velasco had separated. Ms. Velasco did not

appeal the adjudication order.

       On February 5, 2015, a review order was filed. In this order, the trial court changed

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the goal of the case to termination of parental rights, finding that shortly after the last hearing,

Mr. Velasco had moved back into the house, and a second drug raid had been conducted

there, resulting in further criminal charges. The trial court rejected Ms. Velasco’s claim that

she did not know drugs were again being sold out of the house, and it made a second finding

of aggravated circumstances, again finding that it was unlikely that services to the family

would result in successful reunification.

       DHS filed a petition to terminate parental rights on February 26, 2015. After a hearing,

the trial court terminated Ms. Velasco’s parental rights in an order entered on May 28, 2015.

       The appellate courts review termination orders de novo. Singleton v. Arkansas Dep’t

of Human Servs., 2015 Ark. App. 455, 468 S.W.3d 809. An order terminating parental rights

must be based on clear and convincing evidence. Camarillo-Cox v. Arkansas Dep’t of Human

Servs., 360 Ark. 340, 201 S.W.3d 391 (2005). The trial court’s findings will not be reversed

unless they are clearly erroneous—when, although there is evidence to support it, the

reviewing court, on the entire evidence, is left with a definite and firm conviction that a

mistake has been made. Strickland v. Arkansas Dep’t of Human Servs., 103 Ark. App. 193, 287
S.W.3d 633 (2008). Credibility determinations are left to the fact-finder. Singleton, supra.

       In order to terminate parental rights, the trial court must determine by clear and

convincing evidence that such termination is in the child’s best interest, including

consideration of the likelihood that the juvenile will be adopted and the potential harm

caused by returning custody of the child to the parent. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341(b)(3)(A)

(Supp. 2015). One of the statutory grounds for termination in Arkansas Code Annotated

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                                  Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 724

section 9-27-341(b)(3)(B) must also be proved by clear and convincing evidence.

       Ms. Velasco does not challenge the statutory grounds for termination,2 nor does she

challenge the trial court’s finding that her children are adoptable. She does, however, take

issue with the second prong of the best-interest analysis—the trial court’s finding that the

children would be subject to potential harm if returned to her custody.

       In considering potential harm caused by returning the child to the parent, the trial

court is not required to find that actual harm would result or affirmatively identify a potential

harm. Welch v. Arkansas Dep’t of Human Servs., 2010 Ark. App. 798, 378 S.W.3d 290.

Potential harm must be viewed in a forward-looking manner and in broad terms, including

the harm the child suffers from the lack of stability the child receives in a permanent home.

Collins v. Arkansas Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. App. 90.

       On appeal, Ms. Velasco argues that her children would not be subjected to potential

harm if returned to her custody. In support of this assertion, Ms. Velasco points to the

testimony at the termination hearing that she has been in a faith-based substance-abuse

program and is doing well in the program; she has had negative drug screens; she has made

       2
          One of the grounds for termination alleged by DHS in its petition for termination
of parental rights was Arkansas Code Annotated section 9-27-341(b)(3)(B)(ix)(a)(3), that the
children had been subjected to aggravated circumstances. A finding of aggravated
circumstances was made in this case at the adjudication hearing. In termination cases, a
challenge to a finding of aggravated circumstances must be made, if at all, in an appeal from
the adjudication order, and if one fails to appeal from an adjudication order in which an
aggravated-circumstances finding is made, one is precluded from asserting error with respect
to that finding on appeal from an order terminating parental rights. Holloway v. Arkansas Dep’t
of Human Servs., 2015 Ark. App. 458, 468 S.W.3d 805. Velasco acknowledges that she did
not appeal the adjudication order in which the finding of aggravated circumstances was made
and therefore cannot now attack that ground for termination on appeal.

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                                  Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 724

all of her visits with her children; that although a home study had not been performed, the

caseworker admitted the home appeared to be stable; and, while Ms. Velasco had not

provided verification of her employment, she had testified she had been employed since

October 2014. Ms. Velasco also asserted she had reached a plea deal on her criminal charges

that would place her on one year of probation without any jail time.

       While it is true there was testimony that Ms. Velasco had shown progress with regard

to getting her life back on track, the fact remains that drug raids were made on the Velasco

home, not once, but twice. While the children were not present in the home for the second

drug raid, the fact that drugs continued to be sold out of the house after the children had been

removed due to the first drug raid is an indication of where the parents’ priorities lie. While

Ms. Velasco argues it was her husband, not her, who was selling drugs, the trial court did not

find her statements that she was unaware that drugs were being sold out of her house to be

credible, especially in light of her past statements in which she admitted she knew drugs were

being sold. Furthermore, Ms. Velasco testified at the termination hearing she loved Mr.

Velasco and was still in a relationship with him, while at the same time asserting that she

would not allow him to come back into the home until he obtained help with his substance-

abuse issues. The trial court found Ms. Velasco was not credible, and it was concerned that

if the Velascos stayed together, there would be future drug activity around the children.

       We cannot say that the trial court’s findings with regard to potential harm were clearly

erroneous. While Ms. Velasco has indeed made strides in improving her life, the trial court

did not find her to be a credible witness. There had been not one, but two, drug raids in the

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home, and the trial court believed Ms. Velasco was aware of the drug activity in her home.

Furthermore, Ms. Velasco professed she still loved Mr. Velasco, and they were still together

at the termination hearing. A parent’s past behavior is often a good indicator of future

behavior. Singleton, supra. While Ms. Velasco may not have been the one selling the drugs,

she was aware it was occurring and had not demonstrated that she was willing to put the well

being of her children above her relationship with Mr. Velasco and his criminal activity.

       Affirmed.

       GLADWIN, C.J., and VAUGHT, J., agree.

       Dusti Standridge, for appellant.

       Jerald A. Sharum, Office of Chief Counsel, for appellee.

       Chrestman Group, PLLC, by: Keith L. Chrestman, attorney ad litem for minor children.

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