Court Opinion

ID: 1062289
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 19:09:09.144775+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:30.936649
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present: Judges McClanahan, Haley and Senior Judge Willis

TONYA ANNETTE TAYLOR
                                                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION *
v.     Record No. 0700-10-3                                          PER CURIAM
                                                                   DECEMBER 7, 2010
CITY OF ROANOKE DEPARTMENT
 OF SOCIAL SERVICES

                   FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF ROANOKE
                                Jonathan M. Apgar, Judge

                 (L. Brad Braford, on brief), for appellant. Appellant submitting on
                 brief.

                 (William M. Hackworth, City Attorney; Heather P. Ferguson,
                 Assistant City Attorney; Lora A. Keller, Guardian ad litem for the
                 minor children, on brief), for appellee. Appellee and Guardian
                 ad litem submitting on brief.

       On March 18, 2010, the trial court entered an order terminating the parental rights of

Tonya Annette Taylor (appellant) to her son, D.T., and daughter, L.T., pursuant to Code

§ 16.1-283(B) and 16.1-283(C)(2). On appeal, appellant contends the evidence was insufficient to

support the termination. Finding no error, we affirm the trial court’s decision.

                                          BACKGROUND

       On appeal, we view the evidence in the “‘light most favorable’ to the prevailing party in

the circuit court and grant to that party the benefit of ‘all reasonable inferences fairly deducible

therefrom.’” Toms v. Hanover Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 46 Va. App. 257, 262, 616 S.E.2d 765, 767

(2005) (quoting Logan v. Fairfax County Dep’t of Human Dev., 13 Va. App. 123, 128, 409
S.E.2d 460, 463 (1991)).

       *
           Pursuant to Code § 17.1-413, this opinion is not designated for publication.
       D.T. was born to appellant and her husband, Roman Lee Taylor (Taylor), on March 26,

2001. L.T. was born to appellant and Taylor on October 1, 2004.

       The City of Roanoke Department of Social Services (DSS) had contact with appellant’s

family regarding a report of physical abuse of D.T. by Taylor on December 4, 2006. Angela

Mitchell, a DSS social worker, then met with appellant and Taylor on February 23, 2007 to assess

the family situation. Taylor reported having a history of anger management issues, depression,

borderline schizophrenia, and ADHD. Taylor admitted that he used marijuana and that D.T. had

witnessed him viewing pornography. Appellant reported major depression, post-traumatic stress

disorder, panic attacks, and anxiety disorder. Appellant also had been diagnosed with diabetes.

DSS developed a service plan that included a variety of therapeutic services for appellant, Taylor,

and the children. Appellant and Taylor, however, declined the services offered by DSS.

       On June 5, 2007, the juvenile and domestic relations district court entered a protective order

requiring appellant and Taylor to cooperate with the services offered by DSS. Afterward, appellant

and Taylor completed psychological evaluations and permitted therapy in the home.

       D.T. was diagnosed with ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, reactive attachment

disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. D.T. suffered from violent outbursts during which he

was aggressive and harmed himself. L.T. had been diagnosed with asthma and had behavioral

issues involving protracted temper tantrums.

       Through therapy from June to October 2007, D.T.’s behavior showed signs of improvement.

However, the therapy was terminated abruptly because Taylor threatened Mitchell and the therapist

while they were in appellant and Taylor’s home.

       During her visitations to the home, Mitchell found it to be foul smelling and infested by

rodents. There were holes in the structure D.T. had caused during his violent outbursts. Taylor

                                                -2-
reported that D.T. had made holes in his mattress with a knife. During Mitchell’s visits, L.T.

usually wore nothing but a large t-shirt.

        In 2006 and 2007, there were two founded complaints of child abuse and neglect against

Taylor. Appellant also had a founded complaint of child abuse and neglect.

        During a psychological evaluation completed in August 2007, appellant stated that D.T. was

“mischievous, evil, and mean” and that he “had to be whooped” because it was the only punishment

he understood. Appellant refused to acknowledge that there were any problematic behaviors in the

home and denied a history of domestic violence in the family. The evaluator concluded that

appellant’s significant level of depression and her dependent personality style negatively impacted

her ability to provide her children with the protection they required from their father’s aggressive

and violent tendencies.

        Pursuant to an emergency protective order, D.T. and L.T. were removed from the home on

October 10, 2007 because of Taylor’s continued physical abuse of the children, his refusal to

participate in services, and his substance abuse. The removal was further based upon the children’s

behavioral issues and appellant’s inability to protect them from abuse and neglect.

        The foster care plan approved on December 20, 2007 required both appellant and Taylor to

obtain treatment from a psychiatrist, obtain appropriate medications for their depression and mental

health conditions, and complete marriage counseling. They were required to attend individual

therapy, parenting classes, and anger management classes. Appellant was to complete substance

abuse screening and maintain her health. Appellant and Taylor also were expected to maintain

stable employment and suitable housing.

        Appellant and Taylor were referred to Tony Leger for individual and marital counseling in

2008. Neither appellant nor Taylor completed individual counseling. They did not begin marital

                                                 -3-
counseling until July 2009, after the termination proceedings began. Appellant and Taylor did not

obtain psychiatric care.

        Appellant and Taylor were offered biweekly supervised visitation with D.T. and L.T. D.T.

often began the visits by kicking or punching Taylor. During the visits, appellant appeared distant

and frequently would not participate in play with the children. Both D.T. and L.T. exhibited severe

behavioral reactions to visits with appellant and Taylor. In April 2009, D.T.’s visitation with

appellant and Taylor was suspended because of his troubling behavior before and after the visits.

Visitation between L.T. and her parents likewise was suspended temporarily due to her lengthy

temper tantrums. Once visitation resumed between L.T. and her parents in July 2009, her violent

behavior began to escalate again.

        In August 2008, appellant and Taylor moved out of their home because the utilities had been

disconnected. They moved in with appellant’s mother. Subsequently, appellant and Taylor twice

obtained an apartment of their own, but were unable to pay the rent and were forced to return to the

residence of appellant’s mother. The home was small and could not accommodate D.T. and L.T.

        At the time of the termination hearing on December 16, 2009, appellant had been

unemployed for several months. She was fired from her last job at Bojangles because her cash

register came up short. Appellant had failed to complete domestic violence counseling to which she

was referred. However, she did complete a series of parenting classes.

        Wesley Bell, the DSS social worker who was assigned to the matter in June 2008,

concluded that both D.T. and L.T. require “an extremely high level of stability and structure in their

lives in order to be successful” and that they were receiving that stability in their foster homes. D.T.

had been assigned a behavioral specialist at school to keep him properly engaged and was having

more success at school. Nonetheless, D.T. had been hospitalized twice for homicidal and suicidal

                                                 -4-
ideations. L.T.’s behavior had improved dramatically while she was in foster care. She has

adjusted well to her foster home, which provides her with a structured environment.

       Appellant testified that she was willing to see a psychiatrist, but she had been unable to find

one to treat her. She said she was willing to separate from her husband if it would mean that she

could be reunited with her children. Appellant denied that Taylor had ever abused the children or

that there had been domestic violence in the household. The parties stipulated that D.T. had

expressed his desire to return home to appellant and Taylor.

                                             ANALYSIS

       Appellant argues that DSS did not prove by clear and convincing evidence the factors

required for termination under Code § 16.1-283(B) and 16.1-283(C)(2). Subsections (B) and (C)(2)

of Code § 16.1-283 provide “‘individual bases upon which a petitioner may seek to terminate

residual parental rights.’” Toms, 46 Va. App. at 269, 616 S.E.2d at 771 (quoting City of Newport

News Dep’t of Soc. Servs. v. Winslow, 40 Va. App. 556, 563, 580 S.E.2d 463, 466 (2003)).

Satisfactory proof under either subsection, standing alone, sustains a termination decision. See

Fields v. Dinwiddie County Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 46 Va. App. 1, 8, 614 S.E.2d 656, 659 (2005).

       In determining whether the evidence was sufficient to support a termination, we presume

the trial court “‘thoroughly weighed all the evidence, considered the statutory requirements, and

made its determination based on the child’s best interests.’” Id. at 7, 614 S.E.2d at 659 (quoting

Farley v. Farley, 9 Va. App. 326, 329, 387 S.E.2d 794, 796 (1990)). “The trial court’s judgment,

‘when based on evidence heard ore tenus, will not be disturbed on appeal unless plainly wrong

or without evidence to support it.’” Id. (quoting Logan, 13 Va. App. at 128, 409 S.E.2d at 463).

In its capacity as fact finder, therefore, the circuit court retains “broad discretion in making the

decisions necessary to guard and to foster a child’s best interests.” Farley, 9 Va. App. at 328,

387 S.E.2d at 795.

                                                 -5-
       Termination pursuant to Code § 16.1-283(C)(2) requires proof, by clear and convincing

evidence, that termination is in the child’s best interests and the parent, “without good cause,

ha[s] been unwilling or unable within a reasonable period of time not to exceed twelve months

from the date the child was placed in foster care to remedy substantially the conditions which led

to or required continuation of the child’s foster care placement,” notwithstanding reasonable and

appropriate efforts of services agencies.

       The evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to DSS, was clear and convincing that

appellant, without good cause, failed “to substantially remedy” the conditions which led to or

required continuation of the children’s foster care placement within a reasonable period of time.

One reason D.T. and L.T. were removed from the home in October 2007 was the concern that

appellant could not protect the children from the violent situation present in the home. At no

point thereafter did appellant acknowledge that Taylor, with whom she continued to live at the

time of the termination hearing in December 2009, posed a threat to D.T. and L.T. Appellant

had not maintained employment or obtained a suitable residence for the children. Although

appellant had completed parenting classes, she had failed to obtain individual counseling or

domestic violence counseling, as DSS had required.

       In determining what is in the best interests of a child, this Court has stated:

               a court must evaluate and consider many factors, including the age
               and physical and mental condition of the child or children; the age
               and physical and mental condition of the parents; the relationship
               existing between each parent and each child; the needs of the child
               or children; the role which each parent has played, and will play in
               the future, in the upbringing and care of the child or children; and
               such other factors as are necessary in determining the best interests
               of the child or children.

Barkey v. Commonwealth, 2 Va. App. 662, 668, 347 S.E.2d 188, 191 (1986).

       The special needs of D.T. and L.T. require that they be placed in a structured

environment like that found in their foster homes. Moreover, D.T. and L.T.’s continued contact
                                                -6-
with their parents clearly was detrimental to their progress in managing their behavioral issues.

Notwithstanding D.T.’s stated desire to return home to appellant, the record supports the trial

court’s conclusion that termination of appellant’s parental rights was in the best interests of the

children.

       Considering all the facts and circumstances, there was clear and convincing evidence to

prove the factors required for termination of appellant’s parental rights pursuant to Code

§ 16.1-283(C)(2). In light of this conclusion, we need not consider whether the evidence was

sufficient to support a termination under Code § 16.1-283(B). See Fields, 46 Va. App. at 8, 614

S.E.2d at 659.

                                          CONCLUSION

       For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court.

                                                                                     Affirmed.

                                                -7-