Court Opinion

ID: 4239961
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-01-29 16:10:56.506978+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:16:32.142896
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
                                                                                   FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any                                     Jan 29 2018, 8:50 am

court except for the purpose of establishing                                       CLERK
                                                                               Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral                                           Court of Appeals
                                                                                    and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT                                    ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Kimberly A. Jackson                                       Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Indianapolis, Indiana                                     Attorney General of Indiana
                                                          Abigail R. Recker
                                                          Deputy Attorney General
                                                          Indianapolis, Indiana

                                           IN THE
    COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In re the Termination of the                              January 29, 2018
Parent-Child Relationship of                              Court of Appeals Case No.
L.N.R. (minor child) and A.R.                             21A01-1709-JT-2178
(Mother),                                                 Appeal from the Fayette Circuit
A.R.                                                      Court
                                                          The Honorable Hubert Branstetter,
Appellant-Respondent,
                                                          Jr., Judge
        v.                                                Trial Court Cause No.
                                                          21C01-1705-JT-161
Indiana Department of Child
Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.

Mathias, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018           Page 1 of 16
[1]   A.R. (“Mother”) appeals the order of the Fayette Circuit Court terminating her

      rights to her minor child, L.N.R. (“Son”). On appeal, Mother argues that the

      Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) presented insufficient evidence

      to support the trial court’s decision to terminate her parental rights.

[2]   We affirm.

                                  Facts and Procedural History
[3]   Son was born to Mother and J.R. (“Father”) in October 2015. On July 19,

      2016, DCS filed a petition alleging that Son was a child in need of services

      (“CHINS”) based on Mother using drugs and allowing drugs in her home.

      Specifically, Mother had tested positive for use of methamphetamine,

      amphetamine, and suboxone. The CHINS petition also noted that Mother had

      reported a history of domestic violence between her and Father. The trial court

      held an initial detention hearing the day after the petition was filed and placed

      Son in foster care.

[4]   At a hearing held on August 17, 2016, Mother and Father both admitted that

      Son was a CHINS. Mother admitted that she had tested positive for both

      marijuana and methamphetamine and was in need of substance abuse

      treatment. At a dispositional hearing held on September 30, 2016, the trial court

      ordered Mother inter alia to: (1) contact the DCS family case manager on a

      weekly basis; (2) keep all appointments; (3) maintain safe, suitable, and stable

      housing; (4) refrain from using, manufacturing, or distributing illicit drugs and

      take medications only as prescribed; (5) not allow the use of any illicit drugs in

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 2 of 16
      Mother’s home or in the presence of Son; (6) refrain from engaging in criminal

      activity; (7) submit to random drug and alcohol testing; (8) meet medical and

      mental health needs in a timely and complete manner, including following the

      directions of medical practitioners, attending all appointments, and taking

      medications as prescribed; (9) attend all scheduled visitations with Son and

      comply with the visitation rules and procedures; (10) provide Son with a safe,

      secure, and nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect, and become an

      effective caregiver who possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities

      to provide this sort of environment in the long term to provide Son with

      permanency; and (11) complete a substance abuse assessment, follow all

      recommended treatments, and successfully complete all treatment

      recommendations developed as a result of the substance abuse assessment. Ex.

      Vol., Petitioner’s Ex. 5, pp. 1–3.

[5]   Mother was referred to Sheila Martin (“Martin”) at Centerstone for case

      management and supervised visitation. Mother was given visitation twice

      weekly for two hours per session. But Mother did not consistently attend

      visitation. She was offered forty visits and attended twenty-six. When Mother

      did attend, she occasionally acted inappropriately. Mother fell asleep during

      some visits. During one visitation, Martin transported both Mother and Son to

      the visitation. But during the trip, Mother began to act paranoid and stated that

      someone was trying to take her child. Mother then took Son out of his car seat

      and began to kick the console of the car. This caused Martin to end the visit

      early. On another occasion, Martin ended a visitation early when Mother

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 3 of 16
      pulled her pants and underwear down and began to scratch herself during a visit

      in a public park.

[6]   Due to Mother’s sporadic attendance at visitation, Martin decided that Mother

      would have to arrive at visitation prior to Son being transported to the visitation

      location. When Mother subsequently missed two scheduled visitations, further

      restrictions were placed on Mother’s visitation, but Mother did not comply, and

      her visitation referral was closed in April 2017. Mother did visit Son on July 6,

      2017. As of the date of the termination hearing on August 2, 2017, Mother had

      not seen her son since July 6.

[7]   Mother’s progress in case management was similarly unsuccessful. Martin gave

      Mother assistance in life skills, parenting skills, anger management skills, and

      aid in finding employment and housing. Mother was scheduled to meet with

      Martin on a weekly basis but failed to do so. Mother sometimes met with

      Martin only once per month. And when she did attend, Mother was frequently

      late, often as late as thirty minutes to a one-hour session. As a result, Mother

      did not successfully complete the case-management services.

[8]   Perhaps most concerning was Mother’s failure to participate in substance abuse

      treatment. Mother did complete a substance abuse assessment on August 2,

      2016, at Centerstone. Based on the assessment, Centerstone recommended that

      Mother attend “detox” and participate in inpatient treatment. Tr. p. 51.

      Centerstone referred Mother to Harbor Lights for treatment and gave her a fuel

      card so that she could travel to Harbor Lights. Mother, however, did not go and

      Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 4 of 16
       claimed she lost her fuel card. Eventually, on October 25, 2016, Mother entered

       Harbor Lights for detox and treatment. But Mother only stayed for a day and a

       half before she left and did not successfully complete the program.

[9]    On September 12, 2016, Mother was referred to intensive outpatient treatment

       at Centerstone. However, Mother only attended approximately half of the

       group sessions, delaying her progress in the curriculum. Thinking that Mother

       would do better with an individual approach to treatment, Centerstone referred

       her to a recovery coach, Julie Newbold (“Newbold”) in March 2017. Mother

       only attended recovery coaching with Newbold three times and never

       completed treatment.

[10]   On February 14, 2017, Mother entered treatment on her own at Valle Vista.

       Mother was discharged from treatment three days later, and Valle Vista

       recommended that she continue to participate in treatment at Centerstone.

       Mother also went to Recovery Works on March 11, 2017, but left after one day.

       She returned on April 10, 2017, but left after only five days. Both times Mother

       left against medical advice. On June 29, 2017, Mother was referred to Meridian

       for detox and inpatient treatment. Mother had not yet attended at the time of

       the August 2, 2017 termination hearing.

[11]   At the termination hearing, Mother, who was then twenty-four years old,

       admitted that she had been using illicit drugs since she was approximately nine

       years old, when she began to use marijuana. In addition to her admitted use of

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 5 of 16
       methamphetamine and marijuana, Mother also admitted to having used

       amphetamine, morphine, and suboxone.

[12]   Throughout the course of the CHINS proceedings, Mother tested positive for

       illicit drug use, mostly methamphetamine, eight times. Additionally, Mother

       was charged on July 6, 2017 with Level 6 felony possession of a narcotic drug,

       Level 6 felony unlawful possession of a syringe, and Class B misdemeanor

       visiting a common nuisance.1 Mother also has a prior conviction for Class B

       felony dealing in a controlled substance. As a result of the most recent charges,

       Mother was in jail and released on bond only the day before the termination

       hearing.

[13]   Mother also failed to maintain stable housing. During the CHINS proceedings,

       Mother lived “on and off” with her grandmother for approximately a year and

       a half and was frequently homeless. Tr. pp. 20, 52. Since being released from

       incarceration, Mother resided with her mother and stepfather. Mother was

       unemployed during the majority of the CHINS proceedings, and was

       unemployed at the time of the termination hearing.

[14]   After being removed from Mother’s care, Son was initially placed in a foster

       home. In October 2016, he was placed with Father for a trial home visit. After

       only a week, however, Father stated that he could not care for Son due to his

       1
         Mother notes in her brief that, according to the publicly accessible docket, her trial on these charges was set
       for December 11, 2017. As of the date of this opinion, Mother’s trial had been rescheduled for March 19,
       2018.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018              Page 6 of 16
       own poor health, and Son was returned to foster care. Almost five months prior

       to the termination hearing, Son was placed in relative foster care with his

       paternal aunt and uncle, who plan to adopt the child. Son is doing well in his

       current placement.

[15]   On May 2, 2017, DCS filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of both

       Mother and Father. The trial court held an initial hearing on the petition on

       May 31, 2017, and appointed counsel for Mother. 2 The trial court conducted an

       evidentiary hearing on the termination petition on August 2, 2017, at the

       conclusion of which it took the matter under advisement. On September 5,

       2017, the trial court entered findings of fact and conclusions of law granting

       DCS’s petition and terminating Mother’s parental rights. Mother now appeals.

                                  Termination of Parental Rights
[16]   We have often noted that the purpose of terminating parental rights is not to

       punish parents but instead to protect their children. In re S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d
874, 880 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). Although parental rights have a constitutional

       dimension, the law allows for the termination of such rights when the parents

       are unable or unwilling to meet their responsibilities as parents. Id. Indeed, the

       parents’ interests must be subordinated to the child’s interests in determining

       2
        Father subsequently consented to the termination of his parental rights and does not participate in this
       appeal.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018           Page 7 of 16
       the proper disposition of a petition to terminate parental rights. In re G.Y., 904
N.E.2d 1257, 1259 (Ind. 2009).

[17]   The termination of parental rights is controlled by Indiana Code section 31-35-

       2-4(b)(2), which provides that a petition to terminate parental rights must allege:

                    (B) that one (1) of the following is true:
                          (i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions
                          that resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for
                          placement outside the home of the parents will not be
                          remedied.
                          (ii) There is a reasonable probability that the
                          continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a
                          threat to the well-being of the child.
                          (iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
                          adjudicated a child in need of services;
                    (C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and
                    (D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment
                    of the child.

[18]   The burden is on DCS to prove each element by clear and convincing evidence.

       Ind. Code § 31-37-14-2; G.Y., 904 N.E.2d at 1261. As Indiana Code section 31-

       35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive, the trial court is required to find that

       only one prong of that subsection has been established by clear and convincing

       evidence. In re A.K., 924 N.E.2d 212, 220 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). If the court

       finds the allegations in a petition are true, the court shall terminate the parent-

       child relationship. I.C. § 31-35-2-8(a). If the court does not find that the

       allegations in the petition are true, it shall dismiss the petition. Id. at § 8(b).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 8 of 16
[19]   We have long had a highly deferential standard of review in cases involving the

       termination of parental rights. In re D.B., 942 N.E.2d 867, 871 (Ind. Ct. App.

       2011). We neither reweigh the evidence nor assess witness credibility. Id. We

       consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences favorable to the trial

       court’s judgment. Id. In deference to the trial court’s unique position to assess

       the evidence, we will set aside a judgment terminating a parent-child

       relationship only if it is clearly erroneous. Id. Clear error is that which leaves us

       with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. J.M. v. Marion

       Cnty. Office of Family & Children, 802 N.E.2d 40, 44 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans.

       denied.

[20]   Indiana Code section 31-35-2-8(c) now3 provides that the trial court “shall enter

       findings of fact that support the entry of the conclusions required by subsections

       (a) and (b)” to either terminate a parent-child relationship or to dismiss the

       termination petition. See Ind. Code § 31-35-2-8(c) (emphasis added). When the

       trial court enters such findings and conclusions of law, we apply a two-tiered

       standard of review. A.D.S. v. Indiana Dep’t of Child Servs., 987 N.E.2d 1150, 1156

       (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), trans. denied. We first determine whether the evidence

       supports the findings, and second we determine whether the findings support

       the judgment. Id. “Findings are clearly erroneous only when the record contains

       3
         Indiana Code section 31-35-2-8 was amended in 2012 to add the requirement that the trial court enter
       findings of fact. See Pub. L. No. 128-2012; see also In re N.G., 61 N.E.3d 1263, 1265 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016)
       (noting 2012 amendment to require findings of fact supporting trial court’s decision to either grant or dismiss
       a petition to terminate parental rights).

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018            Page 9 of 16
       no facts to support them either directly or by inference.” Id. (quoting Quillen v.

       Quillen, 671 N.E.2d 98, 102 (Ind. 1996)). If the evidence and inferences support

       the trial court’s decision, we must affirm. Id.

                                      Discussion and Decision
[21]   On appeal, Mother challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the

       trial court’s decision to terminate her parental rights. Specifically, Mother

       claims that there is insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s conclusions

       that there was a reasonable probability that the conditions which led to the

       child’s removal from Mother’s care would not be remedied, that the

       continuation of the parent-child relationship posed a threat to the well-being of

       the child, and that termination of Mother’s parental rights was in the child’s

       best interests.

[22]   Before we address Mother’s arguments regarding the statutory factors DCS was

       required to prove, we first address Mother’s argument that the trial court’s

       finding of fact 8 (“Finding 8”) is clearly erroneous. Finding 8 states that the

       dispositional order was issued on “March 30, 2016.” Appellant’s App. p. 69. As

       DCS admits, the dispositional order was actually issued on September 30, 2016.

       See Ex. Vol., Petitioner’s Ex. 5. Mother, however, makes no argument as to

       how she was prejudiced by this relatively minor error. Indeed, she admits that

       the statutory time requirements were met. See Appellant’s Br. at 18. We

       therefore can see no reversible error in the trial court’s erroneous finding. See

       Barker v. City of W. Lafayette, 894 N.E.2d 1004, 1010 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008)

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 10 of 16
       (holding that trial court’s use of the word “unreasonable” instead of

       “reasonable” was a harmless scrivener’s error), trans. denied.

[23]   Mother also claims that Finding 8 is clearly erroneous in that it states that the

       dispositional decree required her to “[e]nroll in all programs recommended by

       the DCS Family Case Manger and/or service providers within a reasonable

       time, not to exceed thirty days,” and “[e]nsure the Child is properly clothed, fed

       and supervised.” Appellant’s App. p. 69. DCS admits that the trial court’s

       dispositional order did not include this language. DCS argues, and we agree,

       that the trial court’s error in this regard does not affect the trial court’s ultimate

       conclusions regarding the termination of Mother’s parental rights. And again,

       Mother makes no argument that she was prejudiced by these factually incorrect

       findings.

       A. Conditions Which Led to Child’s Removal

[24]   Mother claims that the trial court erred in determining that the conditions

       which led to Son’s removal from Mother or his placement outside Mother’s

       home will not be remedied. In deciding whether there is a reasonable

       probability that the conditions resulting in a child’s removal or continued

       placement outside of a parent’s care will not be remedied, the trial court must

       determine a parent’s fitness to care for the child at the time of the termination

       hearing while also taking into consideration evidence of changed

       circumstances. A.D.S., 987 N.E.2d 1150, 1156–57. However, the trial court may

       disregard efforts made only shortly before termination and weigh more heavily

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 11 of 16
       a parent’s history of conduct prior to those efforts. In re K.T.K., 989 N.E.2d
1225, 1234 (Ind. 2013).

[25]   Mother claims that, although she has struggled with addiction, at the time of

       the termination hearing she was “turning her life around.” Appellant’s Br. at

       16. However, Mother refers almost exclusively to evidence which does not

       favor the trial court’s judgment, specifically her own testimony, which the trial

       court was under no obligation to credit.4 The facts most favorable to the trial

       court’s judgment show that Son was removed from Mother’s care due to her

       use of and addiction to illicit drugs. Throughout the CHINS proceedings,

       Mother continued to test positive for illicit drug use and never completed the

       substance abuse treatment that she was referred to. Although Mother claimed

       to have completed detox at Valle Vista, she continued to test positive for drug

       use after she left Valle Vista. Thus, her treatment there was obviously not

       entirely successful. Indeed, Mother was arrested and charged with crimes

       relating to her drug activity on July 6, 2017.5

[26]   Under these facts and circumstances, we cannot say that the trial court clearly

       erred in concluding that there was a reasonable probability that the conditions

       that resulted in Son’s removal from Mother’s care, or the reasons for Son’s

       4
        For example, citing only her own testimony, Mother claims that she completed the detox program at Valle
       Vista in February 2017 and earlier completed a six-month recovery program at Crossroads Recovery.
       5
         Mother claims that these charges are “erroneous” and that she was criminally charged when she assisted
       her sister during a drug overdose. Tr. pp. 82, 88, 91. Again, the trial court was within its role as the finder of
       fact to discredit Mother’s explanation for the criminal charges against her.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018              Page 12 of 16
       continued placement outside Mother’s home, i.e., Mother’s use of illicit drugs,

       would not be remedied.

       B. Continuation of Parent-Child Relationship

[27]   Mother also argues that the trial court erred in determining that the

       continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to Son’s well-being.

       Because we conclude that DCS proved that there was a reasonable probability

       that the conditions which resulted in Son’s removal from Mother’s care would

       not be remedied, we need not address Mother’s arguments directed at the threat

       prong of Indiana Code section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B). See In re A.K., 924 N.E.3d at

       220 (noting that section 4(b)(2)(B) is written in the disjunctive and that the trial

       court is required to find that only one prong of subsection (b)(2)(B) has been

       established).6

       C. Best Interests of the Child

[28]   Mother lastly claims that the trial court clearly erred in concluding that

       termination of her parental rights was in the best interests of Son. In

       6
          Even if we did consider Mother’s argument under the threat prong, she would not prevail. In addressing
       the “threat” prong of section 4(b)(2)(B), the trial court must consider the parent’s habitual patterns of conduct
       to determine the probability of future neglect or deprivation of the child. A.D.S., 987 N.E.2d at 1157. The
       trial court may consider evidence of a parent’s prior history of neglect, failure to provide support, and lack of
       adequate housing and employment. Id. DCS is not required to provide evidence ruling out all possibilities of
       change. Id. Instead it needs to establish only that a reasonable probability exists that the parent’s behavior
       will not change. Id. Here, despite her claim that there was no indication that she was using drugs in the
       presence of her child, Mother displayed bizarre behavior during at least two visitations. Mother repeatedly
       tested positive for the use of drugs, and she never established stable housing or employment, nor did she
       successfully complete any of the services DCS offered to her. Accordingly, the trial court did not clearly err in
       concluding that there was a reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent-child relationship
       posed a threat to the well-being of the child.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018            Page 13 of 16
       determining what is in the best interests of the child, the trial court must look

       beyond the factors identified by DCS and look to the totality of the evidence.

       A.D.S., 987 N.E.2d at 1158. The trial court must subordinate the interests of the

       parent to those of the child, and the court need not wait until the child is

       irreversibly harmed before terminating the parent-child relationship. Id.

[29]   Here, we note that Mother failed to complete any of the services offered to her.

       She repeatedly tested positive for use of illicit drugs. She did not complete any

       of the substance abuse programs to which she was referred. She did not

       consistently attend supervised visitation and, at on at least two occasions, acted

       in a bizarre manner during the visitation. Mother was also arrested for

       possession of illegal drugs and was still awaiting trial on these charges at the

       time of the termination hearing. Mother also failed to maintain stable housing

       or employment. And Son was doing well in relative foster care, and his foster

       parents intended to adopt him. In light of these facts, we cannot say that the

       trial court clearly erred in determining that termination of Mother’s parental

       rights was in the best interests of Son.

[30]   Still, Mother cites several cases in which Indiana appellate courts have reversed

       a trial court’s decision to terminate parental rights, arguing that the trial court

       should have given her more time to prove herself to be a worthy parent. Mother

       relies heavily on In re M.W., 943 N.E.2d 848 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011), trans. denied.

       In that case, the child was removed from his mother’s care due to mother’s

       incarceration, and while his father was also incarcerated. Although the father

       had not completed all the services offered to him, he did substantially comply

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 14 of 16
       with the DCS case plan. He also maintained a relationship with his child

       despite his incarceration, and was due to be released from incarceration shortly

       after the date of the termination hearing. On appeal, we acknowledged that the

       father might be unable to quickly establish a stable life. But given his progress in

       complying with the case plan and the finality of the termination of parental

       rights, we concluded that not all reasonable efforts had been employed to

       reunite the father with his child and that DCS failed to carry its burden of

       showing that the reasons for placement of the child outside of the father’s home

       would not be remedied. Id. 856.

[31]   Mother argues that the same is true here. We disagree. Here, the reason for

       Son’s placement outside of Mother’s home was her use of drugs, not her

       incarceration. Mother was in jail for a period of the CHINS case—she was

       arrested on July 6, 2017 and released on bond on August 1, 2017. But for the

       majority of the CHINS proceedings she was not incarcerated and still made

       little progress in her participation in the offered services. To the contrary, she

       repeatedly tested positive for illicit drug use. Accordingly, we do not think

       M.W. is controlling here.7

[32]   In short, the trial court did not clearly err in concluding that termination of

       Mother’s parental rights was in the best interests of her child.

       7
           We find Mother’s citations to cases similar to M.W. unavailing for the same reasons.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018    Page 15 of 16
                                                   Conclusion

[33]   Nearly all cases involving the termination of parental rights are tragic. This case

       is no different. We have no reason to doubt Mother’s claims that she and Son

       love one another and are bonded. But that does not make the termination of her

       parental rights improper; it merely makes it all the more heartbreaking that

       Mother has proven herself incapable of conquering her substance abuse

       problem. Mother’s argument on appeal is little more than a request that we

       consider the evidence in her favor and come to a conclusion other than that

       reached by the trial court. This, of course, we cannot do. Considering the facts

       favorable to the trial court’s decision, and the reasonable inferences that may be

       drawn therefrom, we cannot say that the trial court clearly erred in terminating

       Mother’s parental rights.

[34]   Affirmed.

       Najam, J., and Barnes, J., concur.

       Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 21A01-1709-JT-2178 | January 29, 2018   Page 16 of 16