Court Opinion

ID: 4667428
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-12 21:12:39.755902+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:56.769045
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re Z.C., 2021-Ohio-763.]

                             IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                                 SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                      HURON COUNTY

In re Z.C., L.C.                                 Court of Appeals Nos. H-20-020
                                                                       H-20-021

                                                 Trial Court Nos. DNA 2018 00156
                                                                  DNA 2018 00157

                                                 DECISION AND JUDGMENT

                                                 Decided: March 12, 2021

                                          *****

        Christopher S. Clark, for appellant.

        James Joel Sitterly, Huron County Prosecuting Attorney, and
        Richard H. Palau, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for appellee.

                                          *****

        OSOWIK, J.

        {¶ 1} This is an appeal from a judgment of the Huron County Court of Common

Pleas, Juvenile Division, which terminated the parental rights of appellant-mother, R.N.,

to the subject minor children, Z.C. and L.C., and granted permanent custody to appellee,
Huron County Department of Job & Family Services. The father of the minor children,

E.C., Jr., whose parental rights were also terminated, did not appeal the judgment, and we

will focus the facts relevant to appellant-mother. For the reasons set forth below, this

court affirms the judgment of the juvenile court.

                                      I. Background

       {¶ 2} On November 5, 2018, appellee filed two complaints in abuse and

dependency regarding Z.C., who was then five years old, and L.C., who was then seven

years old, respectively. Appellee alleged the father contacted local police “due to mother

* * * appearing to be under the influence of methamphetamines and demonstrating out of

control behavior.” When the police arrived at the home father shared with appellant-

mother and the minor children, the police observed drug paraphernalia accessible to the

minor children and the home was “very unkempt” and “no food located in the home.”

The police arrested father and appellant-mother for child endangering.

       {¶ 3} Due to the parents’ incarcerations, the juvenile court immediately held an

emergency shelter care hearing and granted appellee temporary custody of the minor

children, who were placed with an approved foster family related to the father.

       {¶ 4} On January 15, 2019, the juvenile court dismissed the dependency claims

regarding the minor children and, following appellant-mother’s admission to the

remaining abuse claim, adjudicated both Z.C. and L.C. abused children by clear and

convincing evidence and continued temporary custody with appellee. The juvenile court

ordered appellant-mother to submit to substance abuse and mental health assessments and

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to successfully complete the recommended treatment plans. The juvenile court further

ordered appellant-mother to submit to random substance abuse screens, obtain and

maintain adequate housing, and obtain and maintain employment sufficient for her needs

and the needs of the minor children.

       {¶ 5} After a series of pretrial hearings continuing the juvenile court’s temporary

custody order with appellee and adding a couples counseling requirement, on February 5,

2020, appellee filed a motion for permanent custody of the minor children pursuant to

R.C. 2151.413(A) and 2151.414(B)(1)(2), (D) and (E). Appellee argued that terminating

the parental rights and awarding permanent custody with appellee was in the best

interests of the children because the parents made little progress with their case plan

services, which were developed “so reunification could occur.” Appellant-mother’s case

plan included services for a history of domestic violence on appellant-mother and the

children by the father, substance abuse with fentanyl and methamphetamines, mental

health, lack of safe and stable housing and food access, and parenting decisions placing

the children at risk of harm. Appellee alleged that the minor children could not be placed

with either parent within a reasonable time.

       {¶ 6} Then on March 13, 2020, appellee filed an amended motion for permanent

custody of the minor children pursuant to R.C. 2151.413(A) and (D)(1) and 2151.414.

Appellee alleged it had temporary custody of the minor children for 12 or more months

of a consecutive 22-month period. Appellee argued that terminating the parental rights

and awarding permanent custody with appellee is in the best interests of the children

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because the parents “made little progress on their case plan goals meaning reunification is

no longer [an] option * * *.” The goal is for permanent placement with an adoptive

family, and the current foster family is interested in adopting the children.

       {¶ 7} The dispositional hearing on permanent custody was held on September 8,

2020. The transcript of the hearing is in the record.

       {¶ 8} The juvenile court heard extensive testimony from witnesses and admitted

evidence in the record, including Abby Keefer, the Intensive Supervision Probation

Officer for Norwalk Municipal Court, who supervised both parents since the minor

children were removed from the home in November 2018; Jessica Priest, the foster

mother for the past 13 months; Carrie Kimmet, the court-appointed guardian ad litem for

the children since November 2018; and Chelsea Fuller, appellee’s case worker assigned

to this family since September 2019. Appellant-mother declined to testify, present any

evidence, or to request an in-camera interview.

       {¶ 9} By judgment entries journalized on September 15, 2020, the juvenile court

granted permanent custody of Z.C. to appellee and of L.C. to appellee for adoptive

placement and made a number of findings relevant to this appeal.

       {¶ 10} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(B)(1) and (D), the juvenile court found by clear

and convincing evidence that permanent custody with appellee is in the best interest of

Z.C. and L.C.

4.
       {¶ 11} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) and (E)(1), the juvenile court found by

clear and convincing evidence that “the children cannot be placed with either of their

parents within a reasonable period of time and should not be placed with them.”

       {¶ 12} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d) and (D)(1)(c), the juvenile court found

by clear and convincing evidence that “the children have been placed in the temporary

custody of [appellee] since 5 November 2018, or 22 months of a consecutive 22 month

period.”

       {¶ 13} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(a) and (e), the juvenile court found by

clear and convincing evidence that:

              Although the case began with a focus on parents’ substance abuse

       and unhealthy conditions of the home, [appellee] soon became aware of the

       extensive emotional trauma that the children have had to endure during

       their lives. For example, [L.C.] was forced by her father to watch her

       parents having sexual intercourse. She has described times when her

       family was on the run from “men from Mississippi.” The children

       witnessed domestic violence in their home between their parents. These

       experienced have led to aggressive behavior and emotional outbursts from

       [L.C.], and, to a lesser degree, [Z.C.]. Both children regularly attend

       mental health counseling, and [L.C.] has been prescribed medication.

              ***

5.
             [Father] and appellant-mother have unfortunately not exercised all of

      the parenting time to which they were entitled, largely due to their periods

      of incarceration and then conflicting work schedules.

      {¶ 14} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(b), the juvenile court found by clear and

convincing evidence that:

             The children’s guardian ad litem acknowledges that [Z.C.] and

      [L.C.] appear to “genuinely enjoy” visits with the parents, but would never

      wish to live with them again. The guardian ad litem does not “believe that

      reunification is in the best interest of the children or that it could ever safely

      occur,” and recommends that the permanent custody motions be granted.

      {¶ 15} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(d), the juvenile court found by clear and

convincing evidence that:

             [Z.C. and L.C.] have bonded with their foster parents, the Priests,

      and are very bonded with each other. They appear to be beginning to

      realize they are safe in the home and will not be put in traumatic situations

      such as those they experienced in their parents’ home. The structure and

      routine of the Priest foster home is beginning to lead to improved behavior

      and emotional stability for the children. The Priests have indicated they

      would be willing to adopt the children of the agency’s Motions are granted.

      {¶ 16} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(E)(1), (9) and (14), the juvenile court found by

clear and convincing evidence that both appellant-mother and father have “failed

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repeatedly and continuously to remedy the issues that led to the removal of their children

22 months ago.” The juvenile court further found:

              The children were removed from their parents’ home after [father]

       called the Willard Police Department because [appellant-mother] was under

       the influence of methamphetamines and acting out of control. The officers

       who responded discovered fail and drug paraphernalia accessible to the

       children in a homes that was unkempt and without food. Both parents were

       arrested for child endangering. [Appellee] exercised reasonable efforts to

       assist both [father] and [appellant-mother] to remedy their substance abuse

       and their lack of appropriate housing. Referrals were made for substance

       abuse counseling, and the agency provided both parents with job listings,

       housing listings and applications for government subsidized rent assistance.

       The agency even provide parents with bicycles to assist in transportation

       and looked into eligibility for an amnesty program that would lift sanctions

       for failing to pay child support. Despite these efforts, [father] and

       [appellant-mother] have still not located suitable housing and have not

       successfully completed substance abuse counseling. Both have been

       incarcerated during the course of these cases for violations of probation due

       to their use of illegal substances and failure to comply with treatment

       recommendations. Neither has successfully participated in or completed

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     the couples counseling that was required by this Court as a further

     dispositional order on 25 April 2019.

            ***

            [The children] have suffered profound emotional trauma as a direct

     result of the environment in which they lived and the experiences they were

     forced to endure. [Father] and [appellant-mother] have demonstrated an

     inability to protect the children from this trauma, and, in fact, contributed to

     it. It has taken the structure, routine and devotion of the current foster

     parents to begin [to] turn the tide for the children. While [father] and

     [appellant mother] have participated in some substance abuse counseling,

     they have not completed a program. [Appellant-mother] was terminated

     unsuccessfully from counseling as recently as August 2020. The children’s

     parents have been incarcerated for violations of probation and have suffered

     from relapses. They are currently residing with another individual who is

     on probation for a drug offense and has submitted positive drug screens for

     his probation officer. A person recently suffered from a drug overdose in

     the parents’ home. [Father] acknowledged to the assigned social worker

     that their present home was not appropriate. After 22 months of [appellee]

     exercising reasonable efforts to reunify the family, the children now have a

     need for a legally secure placement so that the progress they have made in

     the Priest home will continue.

8.
       {¶ 17} Appellant-mother timely appealed the juvenile court’s decisions, which

were assigned case nos. H-20-020 (for Z.C.) and H-20-021 (for L.C.). On November 24,

2020, this court consolidated case No. H-20-021 under case No. H-20-020.

       {¶ 18} Appellant-mother set forth one assignment of error in her appeal:

              The trial court erred in finding by clear and convincing evidence that

       it is in the best interest of the children to terminate appellant-mother’s

       parental rights and to award permanent custody of the children to Huron

       County Department of Job & Family Services.

                         II. Permanent Custody Determination

       {¶ 19} In support of her assignment of error, appellant-mother argues the juvenile

court did not support the decision by clear and convincing evidence to terminate

appellant-mother’s parental rights as being in the best interests of Z.C. and L.C.

Appellant-mother argues all relevant evidence should have been considered by the trial

court, including her compliance “with both drug abuse and mental health counseling until

May 2020,” regularly attending visitations with the children from August 2019 to

February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; her return to work in September 2020,

the children’s aggressive outbursts “appeared to stem from the lack of contact between

the children and the natural parents”; and the children’s excitement to re-establish in-

person visits with the parents and the strong emotional bond between the children and

their parents. Appellant-mother argues “she should have further opportunity to comply

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with the trial court’s orders to continue to participate in the necessary personal counseling

and that (sic) in to continuing efforts to provide a safe environment for her children.”

       {¶ 20} In response, appellee argues the trial court did not err as there was clear and

convincing evidence in the record to support a finding that it is in the best interests of

Z.C. and L.C. to terminate parental rights and award permanent custody to appellee.

Appellee argued the evidence showed appellant-mother struggled to maintain drug

sobriety and mental health counseling. The evidence further showed appellant-mother

did not use the skills learned from her decision making and peer association seminar

because she continued to use drugs and to associate with others who use drugs and

alcohol. The evidence showed appellant-mother and father did not start, let alone

complete, couple’s counseling.

       {¶ 21} We review the juvenile court’s determination of permanent custody under a

manifest weight of the evidence standard. In re D.R., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-17-1240,

2018-Ohio-522, ¶ 37. We “must weigh the evidence and all reasonable inferences,

consider the credibility of the witnesses, and determine whether the trier of fact clearly

lost its way in resolving evidentiary conflicts so as to create such a manifest miscarriage

of justice that the decision must be reversed.” Id. We are mindful the juvenile court was

the trier of fact and was “in the best position to weigh evidence and evaluate testimony.”

Id.

       {¶ 22} Prior to terminating appellant-mother’s parental rights and granting

permanent custody of Z.C. and L.C. to appellee pursuant to R.C. 2151.413(A) and

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2151.353(A)(4), the juvenile court must find clear and convincing evidence of both

prongs of the permanent custody test: (1) that the child * * * cannot be placed with either

parent within a reasonable time or should not be placed with either parent, based on an

analysis under R.C. 2151.414(E); and (2) that the grant of permanent custody to appellee

is in the best interest of the child, based on an analysis under R.C. 2151.414(D). In re

B.K., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-17-1082, 2017-Ohio-7773, ¶ 16; R.C. 2151.414(B)(2).

       {¶ 23} “Clear and convincing evidence is that measure or degree of proof which is

more than a mere ‘preponderance of the evidence,’ but not to the extent of such certainty

as is required ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ in criminal cases, and which will produce in

the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be

established”. Cross v. Ledford, 161 Ohio St. 469, 471, 120 N.E.2d 118 (1954), paragraph

three of the syllabus. A judgment on permanent custody supported in the record by some

competent, credible evidence by which the court could have formed a firm belief as to all

the essential elements will not be reversed on appeal as being against the manifest weight

of the evidence. In re Denzel M., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-03-1337, 2004-Ohio-3982, ¶ 8.

                           A. R.C. 2151.414(E) Factors

       {¶ 24} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(E), in determining whether a child cannot or

should not be placed with the parents, the juvenile court “shall consider all relevant

evidence” by clear and convincing evidence, including whether one or more of the factors

described in R.C. 2151.414(E)(1)-(16) exists. The record shows the juvenile court found

clear and convincing evidence pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(E)(1), (9) and (14). Although

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the juvenile court found multiple R.C. 2151.414(E) factors to support its decision, it

needed to only find one. In re C.F., 113 Ohio St.3d 73, 2007-Ohio-1104, 862 N.E.2d

816, ¶ 50.

       {¶ 25} R.C. 2151.414(E)(1) states:

              In determining at a hearing held pursuant to [R.C. 2151.414(A)]

       * * * whether a child cannot be placed with either parent within a

       reasonable period of time or should not be placed with the parents, the court

       shall consider all relevant evidence. If the court determines, by clear and

       convincing evidence, * * * that one or more of the following exist as to

       each of the child’s parents, the court shall enter a finding that the child

       cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable time or should not

       be placed with either parent: (1) following the placement of the child

       outside of the child’s home and notwithstanding reasonable case planning

       and diligent efforts by the agency to assist the parents to remedy the

       problems that initially caused the child to be placed outside the home, the

       parents failed continuously and repeatedly to substantially remedy the

       conditions causing the child to be placed outside the child’s home. In

       determining whether the parents have substantially remedied those

       conditions, the court shall consider parental utilization of medical,

       psychiatric, psychological, and other social and rehabilitative services and

       material resources that were made available to the parents for the purpose

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       of changing parental conduct to allow them to resume and maintain

       parental duties.

       {¶ 26} The record indicates the juvenile court’s orders approving appellant-

mother’s individualized case plans consistently contained the goal of reunification. R.C.

2151.412(E). Appellant-mother was bound by the terms of the case plans, and she

admitted being offered her case plan services and, at times, being non-compliant with

those services. R.C. 2151.412(F)(1). The record shows appellant-mother’s non-

compliance for drug abuse, domestic violence, mental health, and couple’s counseling

services. Although appellant-mother completed her decision making and peer association

class, she failed to use those skills because she continued to associate with people who

used drugs and alcohol.

       {¶ 27} We reviewed the record and find the juvenile court’s findings pursuant to

R.C. 2151.414(E)(1) satisfied the requirements of the first prong for determining

permanent custody. We do not find the juvenile court abused its discretion with those

findings. We find there was some competent, credible evidence by which the juvenile

court could form a firm belief as to the first prong of a permanent custody determination.

                              B. Best Interests of the Child

       {¶ 28} For the second prong, the juvenile court must consider “all relevant factors,

including, but not limited to” the five enumerated factors described in R.C.

2151.414(D)(1)(a)-(e). In re C.F., 113 Ohio St.3d 73, 2007-Ohio-1104, 862 N.E.2d 816,

at ¶ 52. “The statute is written broadly to allow a free-ranging inquiry by the juvenile

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court judge. All relevant best-interests factors are to be considered to allow the judge to

make a fully informed decision before terminating parental rights, privileges and

responsibilities.” In re Tiffany Y., 6th Dist. Sandusky No. S-03-004, 2003-Ohio-6203,

¶ 13-14. The juvenile court’s discretion in determining the best interests of Z.C. and L.C.

with an order of permanent custody is accorded the utmost respect due to the nature of

the proceeding and the impact on the lives of the parties concerned. In re D.R., 6th Dist.

Lucas No. L-17-1240, 2018-Ohio-522, at ¶ 37.

       {¶ 29} The juvenile court determined the best interests of Z.C. and L.C. after

considering R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(a) through (e), which state:

              In determining the best interest of a child at a hearing held pursuant

       to [R.C. 2151.414(A)] or for the purposes of [R.C. 2151.353(A)(4) or (5)]

       or [R.C. 2151.415(C)], the court shall consider all relevant factors,

       including, but not limited to, the following:

              (a) The interaction and interrelationship of a child with the child’s

       parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home providers, and

       any other person who may significantly affect the child;

              (b) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child or

       through the child’s guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of

       the child;

              (c) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has

       been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services

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       agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a

       consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the child has been in the

       temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or

       private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive

       twenty two-month period and, as described in [R.C. 2151.413(D)(1)], the

       child was previously in the temporary custody of an equivalent agency in

       another state;

              (d) The child’s need for a legally secure permanent placement and

       whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant of

       permanent custody to the agency;

              (e) Whether any of the factors in [R.C. 2151.414(E)(7) to (11)] apply

       in relation to the parents and child.

       {¶ 30} Although the juvenile court’s finding under R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(a)

satisfied the requirements of R.C. 2151.414(D)(1), the court made further findings in the

record by clear and convincing evidence pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(b) through (e).

We will not disturb those findings. We find there was some competent, credible evidence

by which the juvenile court could form a firm belief as to the second prong of a

permanent custody determination. We do not find the juvenile court clearly lost its way

to create such a manifest miscarriage of justice as to require reversal of the judgment

regarding the permanent custody of Z.C. and L.C.

       {¶ 31} Appellant-mother’s assignment of error is not well-taken.

15.
                                     III. Conclusion

       {¶ 32} On consideration whereof, we find the judgment of the juvenile court

terminating appellant-mother’s parental rights and granting permanent custody of Z.C.

and L.C. to appellee was not against the manifest weight of the evidence.

       {¶ 33} The judgment of the Huron County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division, is affirmed. Appellant is ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to

App.R. 24.

                                                                        Judgment affirmed.

       A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.

Mark L. Pietrykowski, J.                       _______________________________
                                                           JUDGE
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
                                               _______________________________
Christine E. Mayle, J.                                     JUDGE
CONCUR.
                                               _______________________________
                                                           JUDGE

           This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
      Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
           version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
                    http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/ROD/docs/.

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