Court Opinion

ID: 4405839
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-06-12 14:54:40.899015+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:52:37.257120
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
                           SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                     FILED
In re K.K.                                                                        June 12, 2019
                                                                                EDYTHE NASH GAISER, CLERK
No. 19-0084 (Kanawha County 18-JA-525)                                          SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                                    OF WEST VIRGINIA

                               MEMORANDUM DECISION

       Petitioner Father D.K., by counsel Alan L. Pritt, appeals the Circuit Court of Kanawha
County’s December 20, 2018, order terminating his parental, custodial, and guardianship rights to
K.K.1 The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by counsel
Mindy M. Parsley, filed a response in support of the circuit court’s order. The guardian ad litem,
Paul K. Reese, filed a response on behalf of the child in support of the circuit court’s order and a
supplemental appendix. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in terminating his
parental, custodial, and guardianship rights without granting him an improvement period.

       This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these reasons,
a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21 of the
Rules of Appellate Procedure.

        In August of 2018, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition that alleged petitioner
had been arrested for numerous crimes allegedly committed during July of 2018. First, petitioner
was alleged to have traveled to Lincoln County, West Virginia, to pick up a seventeen-year-old
child that was later reported missing by her family. The DHHR alleged that petitioner knew the
child’s age before meeting her. According to the petition, when police found the child with
petitioner, she “had been with [petitioner] for several days before reaching out to a friend for help
and giving the friend her exact location.” In another incident, K.K.’s mother “reported [to law
enforcement] that [petitioner] was under the influence of methamphetamine, would not let [the
m]other and [K.K.] leave the residence, and had a loaded firearm.” It was not until police arrived

       1
         Consistent with our long-standing practice in cases with sensitive facts, we use initials
where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See In re K.H., 235 W. Va.
254, 773 S.E.2d 20 (2015); Melinda H. v. William R. II, 230 W. Va. 731, 742 S.E.2d 419 (2013);
State v. Brandon B., 218 W. Va. 324, 624 S.E.2d 761 (2005); State v. Edward Charles L., 183 W.
Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990).

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at the home that petitioner permitted the mother and child to leave. Additionally, when petitioner’s
mother contacted the police to obtain items taken from petitioner, he “could be heard in the
background threatening to kill any law enforcement officers who came to his home.” Petitioner
was arrested as a result of these incidents. Upon his release, the DHHR alleged that petitioner
“went on a ‘bender’” during which he stole a vehicle and was “on the run from law enforcement”
while armed. Petitioner was arrested again as a result of this conduct. Based on his actions, the
DHHR alleged that petitioner engaged in “extreme maltreatment” of the child.

        The parties appeared for a preliminary hearing in September of 2018, and petitioner waived
his right to that hearing. Before adjourning, the circuit court ordered petitioner, who testified that
he was unemployed at that time but possessed an active paramedic license, to pay $400 per month
in child support. Petitioner did not object to this ruling. At an adjudicatory hearing in October of
2018, the circuit court found that petitioner abused and neglected the child by virtue of his drug
use and issues with domestic violence.

        At a dispositional hearing in December of 2018, petitioner presented evidence and
argument in support of his motion for an improvement period. Petitioner testified to the steps he
had taken to correct the conditions of abuse and neglect, such as obtaining treatment for substance
abuse. He further testified that he would participate in additional services designed to remedy the
abuse and neglect, such as therapy and life skills classes. However, in response to questions
concerning future use of a computer to further inappropriate relations, petitioner “replied he did
not have that problem.” He further “denied ever being found in possession of a firearm.” Based on
the evidence, the circuit court found that petitioner “failed to accept responsibility for the domestic
violence” and was “unable to understand the seriousness and consequences of his actions.” Further,
in regard to efforts to correct the conditions of abuse and neglect, the circuit court found that
petitioner “does not sufficiently recognize, nor is he capable of undertaking, those steps.”
Ultimately, the circuit court found that “[t]he circumstances of this case are so aggravating that
[petitioner] cannot improve.” Accordingly, the circuit court terminated petitioner’s rights to the
child. The circuit court further found that petitioner’s “child support obligation of four hundred
dollars . . . per month, as ordered earlier in these proceedings, will continue.” (Emphasis added).
From the dispositional transcript, it is clear that when the circuit court ordered that “[a]ll child
support obligations will continue,” petitioner raised no objection.2 It is from the dispositional order
that petitioner appeals.3

       The Court has previously established the following standard of review:

       2
         On appeal, petitioner also sets forth an assignment of error alleging that the circuit court
erred in attributing to him income that was unavailable when calculating his child support
obligation. As noted above, in the two instances the circuit court ruled on this issue, petitioner
failed to object to this award or otherwise raise the issue he now raises on appeal. “‘Our general
rule is that nonjurisdictional questions . . . raised for the first time on appeal, will not be
considered.’ Shaffer v. Acme Limestone Co., Inc., 206 W.Va. 333, 349 n. 20, 524 S.E.2d 688, 704
n. 20 (1999).” Noble v. W. Va. Dep’t of Motor Vehicles, 223 W. Va. 818, 821, 679 S.E.2d 650,
653 (2009). Accordingly, this argument will not be addressed on appeal.
       3
           The permanency plan for the child is to remain in the custody of the nonabusing mother.
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               “Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de
       novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the
       facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
       evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether such
       child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a reviewing
       court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when, although there
       is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left
       with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed. However,
       a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply because it would have decided
       the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if the circuit court’s account of the
       evidence is plausible in light of the record viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In
       Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223, 470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W. Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). Upon review, the Court finds no
error in the proceedings below.

        On appeal, petitioner argues that he was entitled to an improvement period because he
voluntarily participated in services designed to correct the issues of abuse and neglect and
established he was likely to fully participate in an improvement period. The record, however, does
not support petitioner’s argument.

        The decision to grant or deny an improvement period rests in the sound discretion of the
circuit court. See In re M.M., 236 W. Va. 108, 115, 778 S.E.2d 338, 345 (2015) (“West Virginia
law allows the circuit court discretion in deciding whether to grant a parent an improvement
period.”); syl. pt. 6, in part, In re Katie S., 198 W. Va. 79, 479 S.E.2d 589 (1996) (“It is within the
court’s discretion to grant an improvement period within the applicable statutory requirements . .
. .”). We have also held that a parent’s “entitlement to an improvement period is conditioned upon
the ability of the parent/respondent to demonstrate ‘by clear and convincing evidence, that the
respondent is likely to fully participate in the improvement period.’” In re: Charity H., 215 W. Va.
208, 215, 599 S.E.2d 631, 638 (2004). Petitioner failed to satisfy this burden.

        Although the circuit court recognized that petitioner acknowledged certain aspects of his
conduct, it found that he failed to fully acknowledge his abuse and neglect and its impact on the
child. As the circuit court found, petitioner’s actions constituted “extreme circumstances” that
included violence, firearms, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Based on petitioner’s
testimony, the circuit court found that he failed “to accept responsibility for the domestic
violence.” This included petitioner calling into question the veracity of a statement an eyewitness
to petitioner’s domestic violence gave to law enforcement and his assertion that he “really was
never found in possession of a firearm.” Further, due to petitioner’s extreme conduct, the circuit
court found that petitioner did not “sufficiently recognize, nor [was] he capable of undertaking,”
the steps necessary to remedy the problems that necessitated the petition’s filing.

       This Court has previously held that

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       [i]n order to remedy the abuse and/or neglect problem, the problem must first be
       acknowledged. Failure to acknowledge the existence of the problem, i.e., the truth
       of the basic allegation pertaining to the alleged abuse and neglect or the perpetrator
       of said abuse and neglect, results in making the problem untreatable and in making
       an improvement period an exercise in futility at the child’s expense.

In re Timber M., 231 W. Va. 44, 55, 743 S.E.2d 352, 363 (2013) (quoting In re: Charity H., 215
W. Va. at 217, 599 S.E.2d at 640). While it is true that petitioner testified extensively that he
recognized the issues of abuse and neglect in this matter and wished to correct them, the circuit
court made a credibility determination and, in conjunction with the other evidence offered,
ultimately found that petitioner’s testimony did not amount to a true acknowledgment of the
underlying problems. As this Court has held, “[a] reviewing court cannot assess witness credibility
through a record. The trier of fact is uniquely situated to make such determinations and this Court
is not in a position to, and will not, second guess such determinations.” Michael D.C. v. Wanda
L.C., 201 W. Va. 381, 388, 497 S.E.2d 531, 538 (1997). As such, it is clear that the circuit court
did not err in denying petitioner an improvement period.

        Further, the record is clear that the circuit court did not err in terminating petitioner’s
parental rights. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court’s finding that there was no
reasonable likelihood that he could correct the conditions of abuse in the near future was erroneous.
In support of this argument, petitioner relies on the same assertions that he set forth in support of
his argument that denial of an improvement period was error. As noted above, these arguments are
not compelling.

        Pursuant to West Virginia Code § 49-4-604(c), “‘[n]o reasonable likelihood that conditions
of neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected’ means that, based upon the evidence before the
court, the abusing adult . . . [has] demonstrated an inadequate capacity to solve the problems of
abuse or neglect on their own or with help.” The circuit court found that there was no reasonable
likelihood that petitioner could substantially correct the conditions of abuse and neglect because
he did not “sufficiently recognize, nor is he capable of undertaking” the steps necessary to remedy
the issues. Additionally, the circuit court found that “[t]he circumstances of [petitioner’s] case are
so aggravating [petitioner] cannot improve.” As such, it is clear that the circuit court was presented
with sufficient evidence upon which to find there was no reasonable likelihood petitioner could
substantially correct the conditions of abuse and neglect and that termination of his parental,
custodial, and guardianship rights was in the child’s best interests. According to West Virginia
Code § 49-4-604(b)(6), circuit courts may terminate these rights upon such findings. Further, this
Court has held as follows:

              “Termination of parental rights, the most drastic remedy under the statutory
       provision covering the disposition of neglected children, [West Virginia Code § 49-
       4-604] may be employed without the use of intervening less restrictive alternatives
       when it is found that there is no reasonable likelihood under [West Virginia Code
       § 49-4-604(c)] that conditions of neglect or abuse can be substantially corrected.”
       Syllabus point 2, In re R.J.M., 164 W.Va. 496, 266 S.E.2d 114 (1980).

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Syl. Pt. 5, In re Kristin Y., 227 W. Va. 558, 712 S.E.2d 55 (2011). Given the evidence set forth
above, it is clear that the circuit court did not err in terminating petitioner’s parental, custodial, and
guardianship rights.

     For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its
December 20, 2018, order is hereby affirmed.

                                                                                               Affirmed.

ISSUED: June 12, 2019

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Tim Armstead
Justice Evan H. Jenkins
Justice John A. Hutchison

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