Court Opinion

ID: 3179680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-02-23 21:24:01.115723+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:46:17.710888
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Weisgarber v. Weisgarber, 2016-Ohio-676.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                      STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

MONICA WEISGARBER                                    :   JUDGES:
NKA CARMAN                                           :   Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, P.J.
                                                     :   Hon. W. Scott Gwin, J.
        Plaintiff-Appellant                          :   Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                                     :
-vs-                                                 :
                                                     :   Case No. 2015CA00158
CHRISTOPHER WEISGARBER                               :
                                                     :
        Defendant-Appellee                           :   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                                 Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                         Pleas, Family Court Division, Case
                                                         No. 2004DR00331

JUDGMENT:                                                Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                        February 22, 2016

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellant                                  For Defendant-Appellee

DENISE E. FERGUSON                                       TRACEY A. LASLO
P.O. Box 26004                                           325 East Main Street
Akron, OH 44319                                          Alliance, OH 44601

Guardian ad Litem

KRISTEN GUARDADO
218 Cleveland Avenue, SW
Canton, OH 44702
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       2

Farmer, P.J.

       {¶1}    Appellant, Monica Weisgarber nka Carman, and appellee, Christopher

Weisgarber, were granted a divorce on June 10, 2004. In 2007 and 2011, appellee was

named residential parent and legal custodian of the parties' three children, P. born May

8, 1998, C. born August 17, 2001, and Z. born June 16, 2005.

       {¶2}    On May 21, 2013, appellant filed a motion to reallocate parental rights and

responsibilities. A hearing before a magistrate was held on September 9, 2014. By

decision filed December 5, 2014, the magistrate denied the motion, finding appellant

interfered with appellee's custody, her testimony was inconsistent, and there was no

change of circumstances. The trial court approved and adopted the decision.

       {¶3}    During the intervening years, both parties remarried, and appellant had two

more children. In December 2014, appellant was informed by her two younger children

that C. had behaved inappropriately with one of them. Appellant took the child to a doctor.

The Department of Job and Family Services became involved and a police investigation

ensued. Appellant took C. to the police department and permitted a police interrogation

without an attorney present. C. was formally charged with gross sexual imposition.

Appellant did not inform appellee of the allegations and the police involvement.

       {¶4}    On March 10, 2015, appellee filed a motion for contempt based upon

appellant's actions. A hearing was held on July 20, 2015. By judgment entry filed August

4, 2015, the trial court found appellant in contempt, and ordered her to serve thirty days

in jail and pay $1,000 in attorney fees related to the matter. The trial court also ordered

appellant to pay child support in the amount of $285.62 per month.
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       3

      {¶5}   Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:

                                             I

      {¶6}   "THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE AND STRUCTURAL

ERROR WHEN IT FOUND MOTHER GUILTY OF CRIMINAL CONTEMPT FOR

COOPERATING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REQUEST TO BRING THE

CHILD FOR AN INTERVIEW WHEN THE POLICE KNEW MOTHER DID NOT HAVE

CUSTODY."

                                            II

      {¶7}   "THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR WHEN IT

SENTENCED MOTHER TO JAIL TIME WITHOUT USING THE PROPER STANDARD

OF BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT."

                                            III

      {¶8}   "THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN ITS

CALCULATION OF CHILD SUPPORT BASED ON AN IMPUTED INCOME FOR

MOTHER, DETERMINING WHICH PARENT MAY CLAIM THE CHILDREN AND

PROHIBITING MOTHER FROM PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE

CHILDREN."

                                           I, II

      {¶9}   Appellant's first two assignments challenge the trial court's finding of

criminal contempt. Appellant claims the trial court committed structural errors and did not

make proper findings as to guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. We disagree.
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       4

      {¶10} As explained by this court in In the Matter of Amanda West, 5th Dist. Knox

No. 14CA22, 2015-Ohio-1501, ¶ 19:

             The burden of proof in an indirect criminal contempt proceeding is

      proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Brown v. Executive 200, Inc., 64 Ohio

      St.2d 250, 252, 416 N.E.2d 610 (1980).          In cases of indirect criminal

      contempt, intent to violate the order or defy the court is an essential

      element.    In re Purola, 73 Ohio App.3d 306, 596 N.E.2d 1140 (3rd

      Dist.1991). In an effort to ascertain an alleged contemnor's intent, the court

      must consider the totality of the circumstances. Id. An appellate court,

      when reviewing a trial court's finding of indirect criminal contempt, must

      determine whether sufficient evidence existed for the trial court to

      reasonably conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the contemnor

      purposely, willfully, or intentionally violated a prior court order. See Midland

      Steel Prods. Co. v. U.A.W. Local 486, 61 Ohio St.3d 121, 573 N.E.2d 98

      (1991).

      {¶11} "The purpose of criminal sanctions is to vindicate the authority of the court

and punish past acts of disobedience and thus penalties for criminal contempt are

unconditional and 'may take the shape of an absolute fine for a specific amount or a

determinate period of confinement.' "        Geary v. Geary, 5th Dist. Delaware No.

14CAF050033, 2015-Ohio-259, ¶ 44; Contex v. Consolidated Technologies, Inc., 40 Ohio

App.3d 94, 95 (1st Dist.1988).
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                        5

       {¶12} An appellate court's standard of review of a trial court's contempt finding is

abuse of discretion. State ex rel. Celebrezze v. Gibbs, 60 Ohio St.3d 69 (1991). In order

to find an abuse of discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was

unreasonable, arbitrary or unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment.

Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217 (1983).

       {¶13} "Our standard of review of a contempt finding is 'highly deferential.'***We

defer to the trial court because the magistrate and trial court have heard the evidence and

are familiar with the terms of the parties' agreement." Burke v. French, 5th Dist. Knox No.

14CA1, 2014-Ohio-3217, ¶ 27.

       {¶14} The genesis of the contempt motion was appellant's actions, as the non-

custodial parent, of permitting the parties' child, C., to be questioned by the police

regarding a sexual abuse allegation made by appellant's younger child, without an

attorney present, and not objecting to the police interview. Vol. 1 T. at 5-7, 108, 110.

Appellant did not inform appellee, as the custodial parent, of this police investigation and

interrogation. Id. at 87-88, 128-130.

       {¶15} There is no dispute that the situation occurred and appellant permitted the

police interview/interrogation.

       {¶16} Prior to this contempt motion being filed, appellant had filed a motion to

reallocate parental rights and responsibilities on May 21, 2013. A hearing before a

magistrate was held on September 9, 2014. By decision filed December 5, 2014, the

magistrate denied the motion, finding appellant interfered with appellee's custody, her

testimony was inconsistent, and there was no change of circumstances. The trial court
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       6

approved and adopted the decision. The decision contained the following findings in part

and the following orders in part:

              MOTHER consistently "misinterprets" court orders, refuses to be

       flexible or cooperate, interferes with and obstructs FATHER in the exercise

       of his rights. MOTHER asserts that "others" have told her she can proceed

       in certain directions without any authority to do so in existing court orders.

              ***

              To characterize MOTHER as "an overly concerned parent" is an

       understatement. After all of the deflection, inconsistency and obfuscation,

       MOTHER deliberately violates the orders of this COURT. She creates her

       own rules and expects everyone to play by them. MOTHER contrives

       ambiguity in court orders which attempt to define the rights of the parties.***

              Much of the current troubles can be attributed to MOTHER's

       perception that the parties have a quasi-shared parenting situation.

       FATHER is the residential parent and legal custodian of all three of the

       children.    As legal custodian, he has the right to make the essential

       decisions for the children including selection of medical providers and

       setting appointments. While R C 3109.051 (H) (1) grants MOTHER equal

       access to records, it does not give MOTHER the right to schedule, attend

       or have input at every medical appointment for the children. MOTHER'S

       actions continue to make parenting decisions unnecessarily difficult,
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                        7

       undermine FATHER's positon as parent and discourage the relationship

       between the children and FATHER.

              ***

              MOTHER shall not:

              commit the children to any activity on FATHER'S time without his

       consent which is to be expressed on Family Wizard and preserved;

              set medical appointments for the children unless an emergency

       occurs which requires immediate treatment during the time that they are

       visiting with her;

              provide any medical insurance coverage for [P.], [C.] and [Z.];

              use any medical insurance coverage for [P.], [C.] and [Z.] other than

       FATHER's provider Tricare;

              provide any medical provider with insurance coverage information

       other than FATHER's insurance which is Tricare;

              bring her husband and/or children to medical appointments for [P.],

       [C.], and [Z.];

              attend medical appointments for [P.], [C.] and [Z.] unless invited by

       FATHER; and

              make "day to day decisions" regarding [Z.] that impact FATHER's

       time with [Z.]

       {¶17} The incident regarding the police interview/interrogation occurred within a

month of these stringent orders. In its August 4, 2015 judgment entry, the trial court found
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                        8

and concluded appellant violated not only the spirit of the December 5, 2014 order, but

the black letter law of the order as well:

              2. Mother continued to ignore court orders and make independent

       decisions regarding the children, even though she was not the custodial

       parent. The Magistrate Decision filed December 5, 2014, identifies Father

       as the custodial parent, but felt the extreme need to clearly notify Mother as

       to what this means by ordering: "Father is the residential parent and legal

       custodian of all three children. As legal custodian, he has the right to

       make the essential decisions for the children."         The Magistrate took

       extraordinary measures and went on to specifically note that Mother shall

       not commit the children to activities, set medical appointments, change

       medial (sic) insurance or make day to day decisions that affect Father.

              3. Mother remarried and has two younger children from that marriage

       that reside with her and her Husband. The latest filings relate to alleged

       inappropriate sexual contact between [C.] and these two younger children.

       Mother failed to notify Father, the custodial parent, of the allegations or the

       DJFS investigation. Mother took [C.] to the police station without notifying

       Father, who is the custodial parent. Mother submitted [C.] to a custodial

       interrogation without notifying Father or allowing Father the ability to provide

       [C.], age 13 at the time, with the benefit of legal counsel while possibly

       facing felony charges. In fact, [C.] was charged with Felony 3 Gross Sexual
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                      9

     Imposition after this interrogation. This clearly is an "essential decision" for

     [C.] that Father should have made.

            4. While Mother testified that the detective investigating the

     allegations did not have a problem with the non-custodial parent bringing in

     the child, this did not relieve Mother of her obligation and duty to notify

     Father of the allegations and the interview with the detective. Mother and

     her husband both testified that the interview was set up by them during

     discussions with the detective on a Friday and the interview was scheduled

     for the next Tuesday when Mother would have visitation. Mother had an

     opportunity to tell the detective to contact the custodial parent to schedule

     an interview or herself notify Father. She failed to do anything and Father

     learned of this custodial interrogation after the fact when informed by the

     DJFS investigating worker. Mother blatantly and willfully violated court

     orders which name Father as the custodial and residential parent of this

     child and the one with the only authority to make decisions on this child's

     behalf. Father was prevented from being able to make decisions on behalf

     of [C.], prevented from being with [C.] at the interrogation, and prevented

     from providing [C.] with an attorney at the interrogation. Mother is clearly in

     contempt of court orders but more importantly, [C.] was deprived of having

     his Father present and supporting him during a time when he needed that

     support most. Mother used [C.] as a pawn to exert control over the situation

     and prevent Father from making decisions in [C.]'s best interest. This is so
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                      10

       reprehensible because this criminal matter may affect [C.] for the rest of his

       life.

               ***

               1. ***But Mother should be well aware if she continues to try to make

       Father out to be the bad guy and continues to undermine him as the

       custodial parent, there may be modifications. MOTHER DOES NOT SEEM

       TO GET THE FACT THAT SHE IS NOT THE DECISION MAKER. The

       Court is at a loss as to how to get that fact across, and it will be addressed

       in the imposition hearing.

               ***

               5. Monica Carmen is found guilty of contempt. She is sentenced to

       30 days in the Stark County Jail. An imposition hearing will be held on

       September 14, 2015 at 9:20 am. Monica Carmen shall appear or a warrant

       for her arrest shall issue. Monica Carmen is ordered to pay $1,000 in

       attorney fees to Attorney Laslo by September 2, 2015.

       {¶18} The language employed by the trial court, "Mother blatantly and willfully

violated court orders" and "Mother is clearly in contempt of court orders," is a sufficient

indication that the trial court applied the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard.

       {¶19} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding

appellant guilty of contempt and sentencing her to thirty days in jail.

       {¶20} Assignments of Error I and II are denied.

                                             III
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                   11

      {¶21} Appellant claims the trial court erred in calculating child support based on

an imputed income for her, improperly assigned the tax exemptions to appellee, and erred

in prohibiting her from providing health insurance for the children. We disagree.

      {¶22} In its judgment entry filed August 4, 2015, the trial court found and

concluded the following on the issue of imputed income and child support:

             7. Both parties agree that Father's annual income is $63,013.83.

      Mother's income is in dispute.     In 2007, Mother was earning $54,000

      working for the Postal Service. She quit that job. Mother has an Associate's

      Degree in Early Childhood, a BA in Early Childhood K-3 and has been a

      licensed teacher since July 2014. She currently is employed part time

      through Massillon City Schools as a tutor earning $20/hr. Mother's year-to-

      date wages for 2015 are $7,288.65.        Father argues Mother should be

      imputed the $54,000 income from the job she quit.            Mother argues

      imputation of minimum wage only.         Mother has the ability to earn a

      substantial income. Prior to earning her degree, she earned $54,000 and

      can earn that much as a teacher/tutor. The Court imputes $25,000 as

      income for Mother, understanding that she can and should earn more.

      Since this is a minimal imputation to Mother, there will be no deviation of

      the child support for time allocation.       The Child Support Guideline

      Worksheet is attached as Exhibit A.

             ***
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                         12

               4. Pursuant to the child support schedules and worksheet the annual

       amount of reasonable and necessary child support for three children is

       $16,251.50. Fact #7. The husband's obligation is $12,824.06, or 78.91%,

       and the wife's obligation is $3,427.44, or 21.09%.             (See attached

       worksheet). O.R.C. §3109.05(A)(1), §3119.022, §3123.17.

               Effective January 22, 2015, the Mother Monica Carmen, the Obligor,

       shall pay to the Father Christopher Weisgarber, the Obligee, the sum of

       $285.62, per month, (plus 2% processing fee), with insurance, for the

       support of the parties' children. When health insurance is not available,

       Mother shall pay to Father the sum of $231.37 per month, plus processing

       fee.    The Cash Medical Support is ordered at $68.75 per month plus

       processing fees.

       {¶23} The trial court ordered continuing jurisdiction on the child support issue "until

the children have reached age eighteen and are no longer attending high school on a full-

time basis."

       {¶24} Appellant does not dispute the narrative and findings concerning her

income, but argues the trial court failed to make an explicit finding that she was voluntarily

underemployed or unemployed. Appellant also argues evidence was not presented that

she could earn $25,000 as a teacher, and argues she chose the substantial decrease in

her income to be with her children during their school breaks and vacations.

       {¶25} In calculating child support, a trial court is permitted to impute income to a

parent when the parent is voluntarily unemployed or voluntarily underemployed. R.C.
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       13

3119.01(C)(5) and (11). "In deciding if an individual is voluntarily under employed or

unemployed, the court must determine not only whether the change was voluntary, but

also whether it was made with due regard to obligor's income-producing abilities and his

or her duty to provide for the continuing needs of the child." Farrell v. Farrell, 5th Dist.

Licking No. 2008-CA-0080, 2009-Ohio-1341, ¶ 20. The decision to impute income to a

parent is within the trial court's sound discretion. Rock v. Cabral, 67 Ohio St.3d 108

(1993); Blakemore.

       {¶26} Pursuant to R.C. 3119.01(C)(11)(a), imputed income is determined from the

following criteria:

               (i) The parent's prior employment experience;

               (ii) The parent's education;

               (iii) The parent's physical and mental disabilities, if any;

               (iv) The availability of employment in the geographic area in which

       the parent resides;

               (v) The prevailing wage and salary levels in the geographic area in

       which the parent resides;

               (vi) The parent's special skills and training;

               (vii) Whether there is evidence that the parent has the ability to earn

       the imputed income;

               (viii) The age and special needs of the child for whom child support

       is being calculated under this section;

               (ix) The parent's increased earning capacity because of experience;
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                          14

              (x) The parent's decreased earning capacity because of a felony

       conviction;

              (xi) Any other relevant factor.

       {¶27} Appellant has a Bachelor's Degree in early childhood education and is

licensed to teach. Vol. 1 T. at 84. She earns an hourly wage of $20 as a tutor. Id. The

trial court specifically found appellant "has the ability to earn a substantial income," noting

prior to earning her degree, she earned $54,000 a year working for the post office. The

trial court imputed income of $25,000. As this court noted in Snyder v. Snyder, 5th Dist.

Stark No. 2008CA00219, 2009-Ohio-5292, ¶ 37, citing Winkelman v. Winkelman, 7th Dist.

Geauga No. 2008-G-2834, 2008-Ohio-6557, ¶ 22, "there is no 'magic language'

requirement in deciding if an individual is voluntarily under employed or unemployed."

We find the trial court's statements sufficiently comply with the mandate of R.C.

3119.01(C)(11).

       {¶28} Appellant appears to argue that the trial court should have considered her

unilateral decision to give up a higher paying job as a "best interest of the children event"

as opposed to a change of lifestyle.       Appellant voluntarily chose her career choice

(teaching) with no guarantee of employment. Hopefully with the advent of the new school

year following the July 2015 hearing, appellant will have obtained her desired

employment.     Up until then, it is inequitable to tax appellee based on appellant's

employment choices.

       {¶29} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in imputing

income to appellant.
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       15

      {¶30} In its judgment entry filed August 4, 2015, the trial court ordered the

following on the issue of the tax exemptions:

             The residential parent shall take all the children as dependents for

      income tax purposes each year.

             In determining whether taxes would be saved by allocating the

      federal tax dependency exemption to the non-custodial parent, the Court

      has reviewed all pertinent factors, including the parents' gross incomes, the

      exemptions and deductions to which the parents are otherwise entitled, and

      the relevant federal, state and local taxes rates.

      {¶31} Appellant argues in granting appellee the tax exemptions, the trial court

failed to determine the net tax savings for each party and their relative financial

circumstances or needs.

      {¶32} R.C. 3119.82 governs designation of parent who may claim children as

dependents for federal income tax purposes and states the following in pertinent part:

             If the parties agree on which parent should claim the children as

      dependents, the court shall designate that parent as the parent who may

      claim the children. If the parties do not agree, the court, in its order, may

      permit the parent who is not the residential parent and legal custodian to

      claim the children as dependents for federal income tax purposes only if the

      court determines that this furthers the best interest of the children and, with
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                       16

       respect to orders the court modifies, reviews, or reconsiders, the payments

       for child support are substantially current as ordered by the court for the

       year in which the children will be claimed as dependents. In cases in which

       the parties do not agree which parent may claim the children as

       dependents, the court shall consider, in making its determination, any net

       tax savings, the relative financial circumstances and needs of the parents

       and children, the amount of time the children spend with each parent, the

       eligibility of either or both parents for the federal earned income tax credit

       or other state or federal tax credit, and any other relevant factor concerning

       the best interest of the children.

       {¶33} It is clear that based upon appellant's decreased income, the tax

exemptions would not be a greater benefit to her in the best interest of the children.

       {¶34} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in assigning

the tax exemptions to appellee.

       {¶35} In its judgment entry filed August 4, 2015, the trial court ordered the

following on the issue of providing health insurance to the children:

              Private health insurance coverage is accessible and reasonable in

       cost through an employer provided plan available to Father.           O.R.C.

       §3119.29(A)(4), O.R.C. §3119(A)(8). Therefore, Father shall provide health

       insurance coverage for the benefit of the children. In accordance with

       O.R.C. 3119.32(D), any hospital, medical, dental, vision, orthodontia or
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                                      17

       psychological expense not covered by insurance, including co-payments

       and deductibles, shall be paid 50% by the Father and 50% by the Mother.

       While this allocation is not the Line 16 percentages, it is adjusted for the

       minimal income imputed to Mother.

       {¶36} Appellant argues evidence was not presented on the parties' respective

health insurance plans and the trial court should have permitted her to also provide health

insurance for the children.

       {¶37} Appellee testified he provides health insurance for the children through his

employment and he has been employed with the Navy for almost nineteen years. Vol. 1

T. at 123, 125. Appellant testified she does not have health insurance through her

employment, but through her husband's employment. Id. at 86. However, the children

were not on her husband's insurance. Id.

       {¶38} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in prohibiting appellee from

providing additional health insurance for the children.

       {¶39} Assignment of Error III is denied.
Stark County, Case No. 2015CA00158                                              18

      {¶40} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio, Family

Court Division is hereby affirmed.

By Farmer, P.J.

Gwin, J. and

Wise, J. concur.

SGF/sg 125