Court Opinion

ID: 3212888
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-06-14 15:03:26.248627+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:04:05.138930
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                  AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                     IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                 DIVISION ONE

                    MICHELLE G., DE'VON J., Appellants,

                                         v.

             DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY, S.J., Appellees.

                              No. 1 CA-JV 16-0005
                                FILED 6-14-2016

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                              No. JD27146
                The Honorable Kristin C. Hoffman, Judge

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

David W. Bell, Attorney at Law, Higley
By David W. Bell
Counsel for Appellant Mother

John L. Popilek, PC, Scottsdale
By John L. Popilek
Counsel for Appellant Father

Arizona Attorney General's Office, Phoenix
By Amber E. Pershon
Counsel for Appellee DCS
                   MICHELLE G., DE'VON J. v. DCS, S.J.
                         Decision of the Court

                       MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Andrew W. Gould delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Diane M. Johnsen and Judge Randall M. Howe joined.

G O U L D, Judge:

¶1           Michelle G. (“Mother”) and De’von J. (“Father”) appeal from
the juvenile court’s order terminating their parental rights. For the
following reasons, we affirm.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2              Mother and Father are the parents of S.J., who was born in
March 2013. Mother also has three other young children from a prior
relationship. In June 2013, Father became intoxicated and held a gun to
Mother’s head while S.J. and the other children were in the home; two of
S.J.’s older siblings witnessed the incident. Following an additional report
of neglect a few months later, DCS removed S.J. from Mother’s home. DCS
filed a dependency petition, and S.J. was found dependent as to both
parents.

¶3            In July 2015, DCS filed a petition to terminate Mother’s
parental rights on the grounds of six, nine and fifteen months’ time-in-care.
See Ariz. Rev. Stat. (“A.R.S.”) sections 8-533(B)(8)(a), (b), and (c) (2014). The
petition also moved to terminate Father’s parental rights on the grounds of
six and nine months’ time-in-care. See A.R.S. § 8-533(a) and (b). In
December 2015, the court held a contested severance hearing, and on
January 8, 2016, the court issued an order terminating Mother’s and Father’s
parental rights. Both Mother and Father timely appealed.

                                DISCUSSION

¶4             Both parents argue insufficient evidence supports the
statutory grounds for severance. Mother also asserts the court erred in its
best interests finding; Father does not contest this finding.

¶5            A juvenile court’s decision to terminate a parent’s rights must
be based on clear and convincing evidence. A.R.S. § 8–537(B) (2014); Jesus
M. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec., 203 Ariz. 278, 280, ¶ 4 (App. 2002). “[W]e will
accept the juvenile court’s findings of fact unless no reasonable evidence

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                   MICHELLE G., DE'VON J. v. DCS, S.J.
                         Decision of the Court

supports those findings, and we will affirm a severance order unless it is
clearly erroneous.” Id. As the trier of fact in a termination proceeding, the
juvenile court “is in the best position to weigh the evidence, observe the
parties, judge the credibility of witnesses, and make appropriate findings.”
Id.

I.     Mother

       a. Statutory Grounds for Severance

¶6            On appeal, Mother challenges the juvenile court’s termination
based on fifteen months’ time-in-care. See A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(8)(c).

¶7            Termination based on fifteen months’ time-in-care requires
proof that: (1) the child has been in an out-of-home placement for fifteen
months; (2) DCS has made diligent efforts to provide appropriate
reunification services; (3) the parent is unable to remedy the circumstances
causing the placement; and (4) a substantial likelihood exists that the parent
will be unable to exercise proper and effective parental care and control in
the near future. A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(8)(c).

¶8            Mother does not dispute that S.J. was in an out-of-home
placement for fifteen months or that DCS made diligent efforts to provide
reunification services. Rather, Mother contends insufficient evidence
supports the juvenile court’s finding she would be unable to safely parent
S.J.

¶9             Based on evidence from counseling that Mother has a
tendency to engage in abusive relationships, Mother’s reunification plan
focused on making her more independent, and thus less likely to rely on
abusive domestic partners. As a result, DCS provided services to assist
Mother in obtaining stable housing and employment. DCS gave Mother
information regarding GED classes and provided transportation to those
classes. However, Mother attended only two sessions before being
dropped from the class for poor attendance. Mother testified that she
understood the importance of obtaining a GED, but she never attempted to
re-enroll in the classes.

¶10            During the dependency Mother was frequently unemployed
and held eight different jobs; at the time of the hearing she had only recently
started working at a fast-food restaurant. Mother also testified that she had
difficulty finding her own apartment because of a prior eviction for non-
payment of rent, and that she was currently living with her cousin and her
cousin’s three children in a three-bedroom apartment.

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                  MICHELLE G., DE'VON J. v. DCS, S.J.
                        Decision of the Court

¶11             The record also shows that Mother continues to expose S.J. to
her abusive relationship with Father.1 Mother testified that Father’s violent
behavior, including the incident where he held a gun to her head, made her
fear for S.J.’s safety. Nonetheless, Mother believes that S.J. would be safe
with Father. Mother also admitted to having a relationship with Father as
recent as two months before the hearing. Indeed, she remains on good
terms with him, and had contact with him as recently as two days before
the severance hearing.

¶12         Accordingly, we affirm the juvenile court’s decision to
terminate Mother’s rights based on fifteen months’ time-in-care.

       b. Best Interests

¶13           Mother also contends insufficient evidence showed that
severance was in the best interests of S.J. “To prove that the termination of
parental rights would be in a child’s best interests, [DCS] must present
credible evidence demonstrating ‘how the child would benefit from a
severance or be harmed by the continuation of the relationship.’“ Lawrence
R. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec., 217 Ariz. 585, 587, ¶ 8 (App. 2008) (quoting
Mary Lou C. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec., 207 Ariz. 43, 50, ¶ 19 (App. 2004)).
Evidence showing a child is adoptable is sufficient to satisfy a finding that
the child would benefit from the termination of parental rights. Maricopa
County Juv. Action No. JS–501904, 180 Ariz. 348, 352 (App. 1994). In
addition, the juvenile court may also consider whether the child’s existing
placement is meeting the child’s needs. Audra T. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec.,
194 Ariz. 376, 377, ¶ 5 (App. 1998).

¶14            During the hearing, the DCS caseworker testified S.J. is
adoptable. She also testified that the maternal grandmother was meeting
S.J.’s needs and was willing to adopt her. The caseworker further stated
that S.J. has been with her maternal grandmother since she was six months
old, that she is with her siblings, and that she is able to maintain family
relationships in that placement. We find no error.

II.    Father

¶15         Father contends insufficient evidence supported his
severance based on six and nine months’ time-in-care. See A.R.S. § 8-

1 This has been a longstanding problem for Mother. For example, in 2008
Mother’s former boyfriend broke the arm and ribs of her child A.T. when
she was an infant. Although this led to a DCS investigation, Mother went
on to have two more children with A.T.’s father.

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                   MICHELLE G., DE'VON J. v. DCS, S.J.
                         Decision of the Court

533(B)(8)(a), (b). Although Father’s parental rights were terminated on
multiple grounds, if sufficient evidence supports termination on any one
ground, we need not consider his arguments on any other grounds. Michael
J. v Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec., 196 Ariz. 246, 251, ¶ 27 (2000).

¶16            Section 8-533(B)(8)(b) provides for termination of parental
rights when: (1) a child under three years of age has been in an out-of-home
placement for six months; (2) DCS has made diligent efforts to provide
appropriate reunification services; and (3) the parent has substantially
neglected or willfully refused to remedy the circumstances causing the
child to be in an out-of-home placement. In providing reunification
services, DCS must provide a parent “with the time and opportunity to
participate in programs designed to help [him] become an effective parent.”
JS–501904, 180 Ariz. at 353.

¶17           Termination based on six months’ time-in-care “focuses on
the level of the parent’s effort to cure the circumstances rather than the
parent’s success in actually doing so.” Marina P. v. Ariz. Dep’t of Econ. Sec.,
214 Ariz. 326, 329, ¶ 20 (App. 2007). However, “[t]ermination is not limited
to those who have completely neglected or willfully refused to remedy such
circumstances.” Maricopa County Juv. Action No. JS–501568, 177 Ariz. 571,
576 (App. 1994) (construing A.R.S. § 8–533(B)(6)(a), the predecessor to
A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(8)(b)) (emphasis in original). Parents are required to
“make appreciable, good faith efforts to comply with remedial programs
outlined by [DCS]” to remedy the circumstances that caused the out-of-
home placement. Id.

¶18           Father does not challenge the juvenile court’s findings that S.J.
was under three years of age or that she was in an out-of-home placement
for a period of six months or longer. Rather, Father asserts DCS did not
prove he willfully refused or was substantially negligent in addressing the
circumstances causing S.J. to be dependent; namely, incarceration,2
substance abuse, and domestic violence.

¶19           The record supports the juvenile court’s determination.
While it is true Father is no longer incarcerated, the record shows that
Father substantially neglected or willfully refused to remedy his problems
with alcohol and domestic violence.

2 At the time the petition was filed, Father was incarcerated on an unrelated
charge of misconduct involving weapons. He was released from prison in
October 2014.

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                   MICHELLE G., DE'VON J. v. DCS, S.J.
                         Decision of the Court

¶20           Father has not addressed his alcohol problem. Father asserted
he no longer drinks, but refused to submit to any urinalysis tests after his
release from parole in April 2015. Father testified that he knew he was
required to complete the tests, but chose not to because he felt it was
“unnecessary,” as he had already completed negative tests while on parole.
Further, although Father claims he participated in alcohol treatment while
in prison, he did not provide any documentation to DCS.

¶21           Father’s unwillingness to address his alcohol problems also
impeded his ability to remedy his domestic violence issues. Mother
testified that when Father drank, he often became violent and erratic.
Father acknowledged that drinking makes it difficult for him to control his
anger.

¶22           Although Father ultimately completed counseling, he did not
attend the required domestic violence, anger management, or parenting
classes. Further, the record shows that Father sent harassing text messages
to Mother as late as November 2015, and engaged in aggressive and
intimidating behavior towards DCS employees.

¶23             The juvenile court also noted concerns regarding Father’s
participation in his visitations with S.J. DCS closed out Father’s first parent
aide referral because he failed to contact the parent aide. DCS then referred
Father for parent aide services a second time, but Father’s first four
scheduled visits were cancelled because he failed to confirm them. When
Father did finally participate in a visit, it had to be terminated early due to
Father’s inappropriate behavior. Specifically, the parent aide reported that
during this parenting session Father had bloodshot eyes and erratic
behavior and had tried to intimidate her by insinuating he had a gun. As a
result of this incident, the court suspended Father’s visitation.

¶24           Accordingly, we conclude the record supports the juvenile
court’s termination of Father’s rights.

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                MICHELLE G., DE'VON J. v. DCS, S.J.
                      Decision of the Court

                          CONCLUSION

¶25          For the reasons above, we affirm the juvenile court’s
termination of Mother’s and Father’s parental rights to S.J.

                              :AA

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