Court Opinion

ID: 9395027
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-05-16 19:11:48.55055+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:04.858356
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                                   May 16, 2023
                                                                                EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK

                             STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA                             SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                     OF WEST VIRGINIA
                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

In re C.B. and M.B.

No. 22-662 (Jackson County 21-JA-90 and 21-JA-91)

                              MEMORANDUM DECISION

       Petitioner Father D.B.1 appeals the Circuit Court of Jackson County’s July 25, 2022, order
terminating his parental rights to C.B. and M.B.2 Upon our review, we determine that oral
argument is unnecessary and that a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is
appropriate. See W. Va. R. App. P. 21.

        In August of 2021, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition alleging that petitioner
neglected the children by virtue of his substance abuse and that he sexually abused M.B. Prior to
the petition’s filing, then-eleven-year-old M.B. participated in two Child Advocacy Center
(“CAC”) interviews. During the first interview, the child made disclosures concerning petitioner,
including that petitioner had shown him pornographic material, but denied that anyone had touched
him inappropriately. During the second interview, conducted roughly two weeks after the first,
M.B. was clear that petitioner had, in fact, attempted to touch him inappropriately. According to
M.B., he was “freaked out to tell” the interviewer about the attempted touching during the first
interview because “it’s really weird” and he struggled “saying that to people [he didn’t] know real
well.”

        Prior to the adjudicatory hearing, petitioner moved for M.B. to provide in camera
testimony. Petitioner alleged that the child’s mother “exercised undue influence over M.B. to get
him to fabricate the alleged touching incident after the initial interview.” The circuit court held a
hearing on the motion in January 2022. Critically, at no time did petitioner present any evidence
that M.B. testifying would not psychologically harm the child or that the testimony’s necessity
outweighed such harm. Ultimately, the court denied petitioner’s motion upon finding that the
potential psychological harm to the child outweighed the need for the child’s testimony.

       1
        Petitioner appears by counsel Roger L. Lambert. The West Virginia Department of Health
and Human Resources (“DHHR”) appears by counsel Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and
Assistant Attorney General Lee Niezgoda. Rebecca Stollar Johnson appears as the children’s
guardian ad litem.
       2
       We use initials where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See
W. Va. R. App. P. 40(e).
                                                 1
        As petitioner challenges only the denial of his motion for in camera testimony of M.B., it
is unnecessary to belabor the procedural history of this matter. Instead, it is sufficient to note that
the court adjudicated petitioner of abuse and neglect following a hearing in February 2022. The
court then terminated petitioner’s parental rights to the children following a dispositional hearing
in June 2022.3 It is from the dispositional order that petitioner appeals.4

        On appeal from a final order in an abuse and neglect proceeding, this Court reviews the
circuit court’s findings of fact for clear error and its conclusions of law de novo. Syl. Pt. 1, In re
Cecil T., 228 W. Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). Before this Court, petitioner raises only one
assignment of error in which he argues that it was error to deny his motion for in camera testimony
of M.B. Petitioner correctly notes our following holding:

               In a child abuse and neglect civil proceeding held pursuant to West Virginia
       Code § [49-4-601], a party does not have a procedural due process right to confront
       and cross-examine a child. Under Rule 8(a) of the West Virginia Rules of Procedure
       for Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings, there is a rebuttable presumption that the
       potential psychological harm to the child outweighs the necessity of the child’s
       testimony. The circuit court shall exclude this testimony if it finds the potential
       psychological harm to the child outweighs the necessity of the child’s testimony.

Syl. Pt. 7, In re J.S., 233 W. Va. 394, 758 S.E.2d 747 (2014). Despite recognizing this prior
holding, petitioner nonetheless argues that M.B.’s “prior inconsistent statement created a
deficiency in the fact-finding process” such that in camera testimony was required. This argument
is unavailing. Petitioner failed to rebut the presumption that the potential psychological harm to
the child from testifying outweighs the necessity of that testimony. Because petitioner has failed
to rebut this presumption, we find no error in the court’s denial of his motion.

       For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its July
25, 2022, order is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                            Affirmed.

ISSUED: May 16, 2023

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Tim Armstead
Justice John A. Hutchison
Justice William R. Wooton
Justice C. Haley Bunn

       3
           The children remain in the sole custody of the nonabusing mother.
       4
           Petitioner raises no assignment of error concerning the termination of his parental rights.
                                                   2