Court Opinion

ID: 2686653
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-07-31 16:02:14.335181+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:14.998116
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR PUBLICATION.
     UNDER ARIZ. R. SUP. CT. 111(c), THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT
                     AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED.

                                      IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                  DIVISION ONE

                               IN RE PRISCILLA S.

                               No. 1 CA-JV 14-0067
                                FILED 07-31-2014

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Yavapai County
                         No. P1300JV201300274
                      The Honorable Anna C. Young

                                    AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, Prescott
By Mike A. Daniels
Counsel for Appellee

Law Office of Florence M. Bruemmer, P.C.
By Florence M. Bruemmer
Counsel for Appellant

                        MEMORANDUM DECISION

Judge Lawrence F. Winthrop delivered the decision of the Court, in which
Presiding Judge Patricia K. Norris and Judge Kent E. Cattani joined.

W I N T H R O P, Judge:
                          IN RE PRISCILLA S.
                        DECISION OF THE COURT

¶1            Priscilla S. (“Juvenile”) appeals the juvenile court’s
disposition order approving placement with Juvenile’s sister in Oklahoma
for the duration of her probation. Juvenile contends the juvenile court
abused its discretion by (1) placing her with a family member other than
her father (“Father”) and (2) making an inappropriate custody
determination in violation of Father’s parental rights. For the following
reasons, we affirm.

                 FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2            In February 2014, Juvenile was arrested on one count of theft,
a class one misdemeanor, in violation of Arizona Revised Statute (“A.R.S.”)
Section 13-802 (2013)1 for leaving a restaurant without paying for her food.
At the time, Juvenile was on probation for two prior offenses. After being
held in detention for several days, Juvenile was released to her sister in
Chandler.

¶3             At a March 2014 disposition hearing, the juvenile court
adjudicated Juvenile delinquent. Juvenile’s probation officer advocated
placing Juvenile with her other sister, who lives on a military base in
Oklahoma, characterizing the home in Oklahoma as “the best placement at
this point.” Juvenile objected to the proposed move, explaining she would
prefer to live with Father. Father also objected to the move, as he “want[ed]
to have her home.”

¶4            Although Juvenile’s probation officer reported Juvenile was
“doing well” in Chandler, the situation financially strained her sister.
Juvenile’s mother (“Mother”) agreed with the probation officer’s
assessment. Mother and Father were separated, and by Mother’s own
admission, she and her husband “weren’t very good parents.” Juvenile’s
sister in Chandler also expressed support for the move, as did Juvenile’s
guardian ad litem.

¶5            Further, as indicated in the disposition report considered by
the juvenile court, the Deputy County Attorney reported Father smelled of
alcohol at Juvenile’s advisory hearing in February 2014. In response, the
juvenile court ordered a Child Protective Services (“CPS”)2 investigation,

1      We cite the current versions of the relevant statutes, unless otherwise
noted, because no revisions material to this decision have since occurred.

2      Pursuant to S.B. 1001, Section 157, 51st Leg., 2nd Spec. Sess. (Ariz.
2014) (enacted), the Department of Child Safety has taken over the CPS

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                           IN RE PRISCILLA S.
                         DECISION OF THE COURT

during which Father “admitted to [CPS] that his urine would possibly be
positive for THC.” The CPS investigation was ongoing as of Juvenile’s
disposition hearing.

¶6           Juvenile was also living with Father at the time of her
previous violations. While under Father’s care, she failed to appear at a
scheduled court hearing and missed school frequently.

¶7            After reviewing the disposition addendum report and
hearing testimony, the juvenile court approved placing Juvenile with her
sister in Oklahoma for the duration of her probation. Pending the move,
the juvenile court placed Juvenile with her sister in Chandler. The juvenile
court explained: “I don’t believe either of [Juvenile’s] parents is in a
position to actually take care of [Juvenile] and give [her] what [she]
need[s].” The judge expressed hope that in Oklahoma, Juvenile would get
a “good fresh start” where she would be “able to achieve [her] potential.”

¶8            Juvenile filed a timely notice of appeal. We have appellate
jurisdiction pursuant to the Arizona Constitution, Article 6, Section 9,
A.R.S. § 8-235(A), and Rule 103(A) of the Arizona Rules of Procedure for
the Juvenile Court.

                                DISCUSSION

¶9            Juvenile contends the juvenile court abused its discretion by
(1) placing her with a family member other than Father and (2) making a
“custody” determination violating Father’s parental and due process rights.

¶10            The objective of a proceeding involving a delinquent juvenile
is rehabilitation of the child. Ariz. State Dep’t of Pub. Welfare v. Barlow, 80
Ariz. 249, 252, 296 P.2d 298, 300 (1956) (citation omitted). Once a child has
been adjudicated delinquent, the juvenile court has broad power to make a
proper disposition. Maricopa Cnty. Juv. Action No. J-72918-S, 111 Ariz. 135,
137, 524 P.2d 1310, 1312 (1974). Under A.R.S. § 8-341(A)(1), a juvenile court
may “award a juvenile delinquent, subject to the supervision of a probation
department . . . [t]o a reputable citizen of good moral character [or] . . . [t]o
maternal or paternal relatives.” A.R.S. § 8-341(A)(1)(c), (f).

investigation in this matter. See ARCAP 27. For ease of reference and
consistency with the record, however, we refer to CPS in the text of this
decision.

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                           IN RE PRISCILLA S.
                         DECISION OF THE COURT

¶11           We will not disturb the juvenile court’s disposition absent a
clear abuse of discretion. Maricopa Cnty Juv. Action No. JV-110720, 156 Ariz.
430, 431, 752 P.2d 519, 520 (App. 1988).

       I. Placement with a Family Member Other than Father

¶12           Juvenile asserts that the juvenile court should have placed her
with Father based on her preference, her lack of ties to Oklahoma, and
Father’s willingness to have her live with him.3

¶13               Under A.R.S. § 8-341(A)(1)(f), in considering how best to serve
the goal of rehabilitating a delinquent child, the juvenile court is explicitly
authorized to award Juvenile to a maternal or paternal family member,
including her sister in Oklahoma and her sister in Chandler in the interim.
The juvenile court considered testimony from Mother, Father, Juvenile’s
probation officer, and the guardian ad litem. Mother and the guardian ad
litem’s testimony, as detailed above, favored Juvenile’s placement in
Oklahoma over placement with Father. Mother, Juvenile’s probation
officer, and Juvenile’s sister in Chandler also testified that Juvenile’s sister
in Oklahoma is responsible and able to provide Juvenile with a stable home
environment. Furthermore, the record reflects Juvenile has been living with
her sister in Chandler since February as a result of the CPS investigation of
Father. Juvenile does not dispute the accuracy of these facts. Juvenile also
acknowledges the juvenile court was “concerned, and properly so, with
. . . the fact that the [J]uvenile did not do [so] well at Father’s home [after
her] . . . first offense.”

¶14           Citing In re Melissa K., 197 Ariz. 491, 4 P.3d 1034 (App. 2000),
Juvenile further contends the court abused its discretion by placing Juvenile
with her sister in Oklahoma because “a less restrictive placement” — i.e.
placement with Father — was available, making placement in Oklahoma
an inappropriate means of “treating” Juvenile. Juvenile’s reliance on
Melissa K. is misplaced. In Melissa K., the issue was whether the juvenile
court had abused its discretion in awarding a juvenile offender to the
custody of Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (“ADJC”) without
first examining “less secure” options and determining that no such option
was viable. In that case, the appellate court determined the juvenile court
deviated substantially from ADJC commitment guidelines under A.R.S.
§ 41-2816. Id. “Less secure” in that case, however, solely referred to the

3      Juvenile does not challenge the status of either sister as a “reputable
citizen of good moral character” or a “maternal or paternal relative.” A.R.S.
§ 8-341(A)(1)(c), (f).

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                          IN RE PRISCILLA S.
                        DECISION OF THE COURT

consideration of alternatives to ADJC commitment, Melissa K. 197 Ariz. at
495 ¶ 13, 4 P.3d at 1038, not a “less restrictive placement” along the lines of
a custody determination. In the instant case, Juvenile has not been
committed to ADJC, nor has that possibility ever arisen. On this record, we
find no abuse of judicial discretion. See J-110720, 156 Ariz. at 431, 752 P.2d
at 520.

       II. “Custody” Determination

¶15            Juvenile also contends that the juvenile court made an
improper “custody” determination.4 Specifically, Juvenile argues that the
juvenile court erred in failing to find ”grave reasons” why Juvenile should
not live with Father, given his willingness to have her at home. The right
of parents to the custody of a minor child is both a natural and a legal right.
Anguis v. Superior Court, 6 Ariz. App. 68, 429 P.2d 702 (1967) (citation
omitted). A court should not transfer a child from her natural parents
except for “the gravest reasons.” Id. at 74, 429 P.2d at 708 (citation omitted).
Once a child has been adjudicated delinquent, however, the juvenile court
has broad power to make a proper disposition. See J-72918-S, 111 Ariz. at
137, 524 P.2d at 1312. This broad power includes the discretion to place
Juvenile with adults other than her biological parents, pursuant to A.R.S.
§ 8-341(A)(1)(c), (f). We find no abuse of discretion.

                               CONCLUSION

¶16            We affirm the juvenile court’s disposition order directing that
Juvenile be placed with her sister in Oklahoma and placing Juvenile with
her sister in Chandler in the interim.

                                      :gsh

4       We note Juvenile appears to argue in favor of Father’s legal right to
custody. This argument is predicated on the assertion of Father’s legal
right; however Father is not an aggrieved party in this case. See A.R.S. § 8-
235(A) (providing that any “aggrieved party” may appeal from a final order
of the juvenile court), Matter of Pima Cnty. Delinquency Action No. 90101-1,
154 Ariz. 493, 494, 744 P.2d 20, 21 (App. 1987) (holding the parents of a
minor child are not “aggrieved parties” to a delinquency proceeding).
Therefore, we will not consider these arguments as they relate to an
assertion of Father’s rights.

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