Court Opinion

ID: 2699903
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 18:11:10.998063+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:35:04.982720
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re R.E.P., 2011-Ohio-5376.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                  TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF: R.E.P.

       JUDGES:
:      Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
:      Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J
:      Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
:
:
:      Case No. 2011AP050022
:
:
:      OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                      Civil appeal from the Tuscarawas County
                                              Court of Common Pleas, Case No.
                                              11JN00088

JUDGMENT:                                     Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                       October 14, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For-Mother                                    For Father

SHARON BUCKLEY-MIRHAIDARI                     JOHN GARTRELL, JR.
152 N. Broadway Ave., Ste. 101                153 N. Broadway
New Philadlephia, OH 44663                    New Philadelphia, OH 44663

For Job & Family Services                     Guardian Ad Litem
JEFF KIGGANS                                  KAREN DUMMERMUTH
      th
389 16 Street S.W.                            Box 494
New Philadelphia, OH 44663                    New Philadelphia, OH 44663

For Maternal Grandmother                      For Paternal Grandparents
MICHAEL JOHNSON                               SHAWN LINDSAY
117 South Broadway                            Box 272
New Philadelphia, OH 44663                    Uhrichsville, OH 44683
Gwin, P.J.

        {¶ 1} Appellant-father R.P., III1 appeals the April 26, 2011, Judgment Entry of the

Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Court Division, which terminated

his parental rights with respect to his minor child, R.E.P. and granted permanent

custody of the child to appellee, Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services (hereinafter

“TCJFS”).

                                        I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

        {¶ 2} Appellant R.P., III is the biological father of R.E.P.2 R.E.P. was born on

February 8, 2011.

        {¶ 3} On February 10, 2011, TCJFS filed a complaint alleging R.E.P. age (2 days

old) was a dependent child. The child was removed directly from the hospital. At the

time of removal, the parents had a pending dependency and neglect case with their 2

older children, I.S. and R.P. in Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile

Division Case Number 10 JN 00138.

        {¶ 4} At the shelter care hearing on February 10, 2011 the court ordered R.E.P.

to be placed in the temporary custody of TCJFS. An adjudicatory hearing was held on

March 9, 2011 and the trial court found R.E.P. to be dependent. The dispositional

hearing was scheduled for April 7, 2011 to be considered in conjunction with the

permanent custody hearing of R.E.P.’s two brothers, R.P., age 7 and I.S. age 10.

        {¶ 5} The paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. P. filed a motion to intervene, a

motion for legal custody and temporary custody and a motion for a home study on

1
  For purposes of anonymity, initials designate appellant’s name only. See, e.g., In re C.C., Franklin App.
No. 07-AP-993, 2008-Ohio-2803 at ¶ 1, n.1.
2
  The biological mother J.S. has filed a separate appeal See, Tuscarawas App. No. 2011 AP 05 0021.
February 14, 2011. An adjudicatory hearing was held on March 9, 2011. The trial court

found R.E.P. to be dependent and overruled the grandparents’ motions.

       {¶ 6} On February 18, 2011, TCJFS filed a motion for permanent custody. The

permanent custody hearing was held on April 7 and April 14, 2011 at the same time as

the permanent custody hearing of R.E.P.’s two older brothers. The trial court awarded

TCJFS permanent custody of the minor child R.E.P.

                               II. STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

       {¶ 7} TCJFS became involved with this family the most recent time on March 29,

2010, by filing a Complaint alleging that I.S. and R.P. were dependent and neglected

children.

       {¶ 8} The concerns presented were that the parents in the home were not

following through with the recommendations of TCJFS in a recently-closed diversion

case. The parents would make improvements while TCJFS was involved with hygiene,

supervision, etc., but as soon as TCJFS was no longer involved the situation devolved

again to one of neglect.

       {¶ 9} A case plan was filed for the parents with the goal of reunification. Worker

Jaime Grunder testified that the plan did not require the parents to complete services

that were very recently completed by mother and/or father, such as parenting classes.

       {¶ 10} The children were placed in a foster home with the Village Network. The

worker assigned to the children was Ms. Brandi Ankrom.         Ms. Ankrom also is the

counselor for R.P. The counselor for I.S. through the Village Network is Ms. Judy

McGill. She already had a relationship with both R.P. and I.S. due to her position as the
school social worker at New Philadelphia City Schools. The children were attending

New Philadelphia Schools while in the home of the parents.

       {¶ 11} When the schedule of the children’s counseling was changed in late

August 2010 due to scheduling reasons to directly follow the visits between the children

and their parents, the counseling sessions for both I.S. and R.P. deteriorated

dramatically.   The visits were suspended for a brief trial period in October per the

agreement of the parties. The visits were suspended indefinitely by the Court in

February 2011 in an attempt to see if the visits were the reasons that the children had

become out of control. The behaviors of the children improved dramatically according

to all the professionals involved during the times when the visitation schedule was

suspended.

       {¶ 12} R.P. stated to Ms. Ankrom that he would get his “ass beat” in the home of

his parents regarding his toileting accidents. I.S. also told his counselor Ms. McGill that

he saw R.P. getting hit with a belt in reference to toileting issues. Ms. McGill testified

that this physical retribution for toileting accidents made toileting issues worse for R.P.

       {¶ 13} While the case was progressing with R.P. and I.S., mother gave birth to

R.E.P. on February 8, 2011.

       {¶ 14} Ms. Grunder testified that mother continued to deny that she was pregnant

and did not begin to receive prenatal care until December for her child that was born in

February. Ms. Grunder further testified both parents completed their case plan

objectives in this case.

       {¶ 15} MS. Grunder testified that the parents contacted Developmental Disability

services but they were not eligible for services because they did not have mental health
issues. Dr. Exley also recommended case management services for the parents. Ms.

Grunder testified that mother did everything within her power to try and get case

management services. The agency contacted CMH Southeast and MRDD now known

as DD and when these two agencies reported parents were not eligible for services, the

agency did nothing further to obtain case management services for the parents.

       {¶ 16} The maternal grandmother, M. B. and her husband also offered to assist

in case management services, but were denied.

       {¶ 17} Judy McGill (I.S.’s counselor), Julie McFarland (R.P.’s personal one on

one school aide) and Brandi Ankrom (Village Network Assistant Coordinator and R.P.’s

individual therapist) all testified that R.P.’s toileting issues of defecating and urinating in

his pants have continued even though he has been in foster care for almost a year.

       {¶ 18} Ms. McGill testified that she was aware of two accidents with R. P. since

his visits with his parents were suspended and she was also aware of accidents

occurring at the Village Network during counseling sessions. One of the accidents

occurred when R.P. was sick with diarrhea and the other when he had a tooth pulled

and was on antibiotics.

       {¶ 19} Ms. Ms. McGill initially had contact with the older child I. S. through her

position at New Philadelphia in the fall of 2007. At this time, he was in the care of his

parents. Ms. McGill testified that “his behavior was very aggressive, he, his hygiene,

um, very disheveled, he was often dirty, had a strong body odor”. Someone had to

intervene with I.S. because of his behaviors in the classroom every day.

       {¶ 20} R.P.’s one-on-one personal school aide, Julie McFarland testified that she

has been R.P.’s aide since January 2011 and that prior to January 2011, R. S. never
had a one-on-one personal school aide. Ms. McFarland testified that when she first

started working with R.P. in January 2011 she had to remove him from the classroom

every day. As of the date of trial Ms. McFarland still had to remove him from the

classroom two to three times a week. R.P. is still soiling his pants during the 3 ½

months that she has been his personal aide and he still wears pull ups to school every

day and wears them all day long Ms. McFarland has also had to send R.P. home to the

foster parents to clean him up for a soiling accident because it was a mess that needed

more attention than just wipes at the school.

      {¶ 21} Ms. McGill worked again with I. S. and R. P. in her position as a counselor

at The Village Network.     Ms. McGill testified that during the summer of 2010, her

counseling sessions went fairly well. However, she further testified that once her

sessions with the children directly followed the visitation the children had with their

parents, the situation drastically changed.     Ms. McGill testified that the behavior of the

child deteriorated to a degree to which she only attempted to manage his behaviors,

and there was very little counseling happening during those sessions.

      {¶ 22} It came to a point in October 2010 where Ms. McGill and Ms. Brandi

Ankrom, the counselor for R.P., asked TCJFS what could be done. It was decided, with

the approval of the parents, that the visits between the children and their parents would

be stopped for a two-week period to determine if any difference could be noted in the

children. There was indeed an improvement for that short time. However, when visits

were re-started, the problems restarted.

      {¶ 23} Maternal grandmother Ms. B. testified that prior to the current case being

filed, she was unaware that the children were having difficulty in school even though
they were having contact with the children. She further referred to her daughter J.S. as

a “good mom,” and that they got good physical care from their parents.

       {¶ 24} Paternal grandmother Ms. T. P. stated that she did not have any concerns

about the children’s mother and her son’s ability to parent the children.

       {¶ 25} Ms. Grunder testified that she did not think that either set of grandparents

would protect the children from their parents.

       {¶ 26} By an entry filed April 26, 2011, the court granted TCJFS’ request for a

permanent commitment of R.E.P. to the agency.

       {¶ 27} It is from this entry that the appellant-father has appealed.

                                 III. ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR

       {¶ 28} On appeal, father asserts the following assignment of error:

       {¶ 29} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN AWARDING

PERMANENT CUSTODY TO JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES AS JOB AND FAMILY

SERVICES FAILED TO PROVE BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT

THE CHILDREN COULD NOT BE PLACED WITH FATHER AND MOTHER IN A

REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THAT AN AWARD OF PERMANENT

CUSTODY WAS IN THE CHILDREN’S BEST INTEREST.”

                                        A. Burden of Proof

       {¶ 30} “[T]he right to raise a child is an ‘essential’ and ‘basic’ civil right.” In re

Murray (1990), 52 Ohio St.3d 155, 157, 556 N.E.2d 1169, quoting Stanley v. Illinois

(1972), 405 U.S. 645, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551. A parent's interest in the care,

custody and management of his or her child is “fundamental.” Id.; Santosky v. Kramer

(1982), 455 U.S. 745, 753, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 71 L.Ed.2d 599. The permanent termination
of a parent's rights has been described as, “* * * the family law equivalent to the death

penalty in a criminal case.” In re Smith (1991), 77 Ohio App.3d 1, 16, 601 N.E.2d 45.

Therefore, parents “must be afforded every procedural and substantive protection the

law allows.” Id.

       {¶ 31} An award of permanent custody must be based upon clear and convincing

evidence, R.C. 2151.414(B) (1). The Ohio Supreme Court has defined “clear and

convincing evidence” as “[t]he measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind

of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be

established. It is intermediate, being more than a mere preponderance, but not to the

extent of such certainty as required beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases. It

does not mean clear and unequivocal.” In re Estate of Haynes (1986), 25 Ohio St.3d

101, 103-104, 495 N.E.2d 23.

                                    B. Standard of Review

       {¶ 32} Even under the clear and convincing standard, our review is deferential. If

some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case

supports the trial court’s judgment, an appellate court must affirm the judgment and not

substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. In re Myers III, Athens App. No.

03CA23, 2004-Ohio-657, ¶ 7, citing State v. Schiebel (1990), 55 Ohio St.3d 71, 74, 564

N.E.2d 54. The credibility of witnesses and weight of the evidence are issues primarily

for the trial court, as the trier of fact. In re Ohler, Hocking App. No. 04CA8, 2005-Ohio-

1583, ¶ 15, citing Seasons Coal Co. v. Cleveland (1984), 10 Ohio St.3d 77, 80, 461

N.E.2d 1273.
                        IV. Requirements for Permanent Custody Awards

       {¶ 33} R.C. 2151.414 sets forth the guidelines a trial court must follow when

deciding a motion for permanent custody. R.C. 2151.414(A)(1) mandates the trial court

must schedule a hearing, and provide notice, upon filing of a motion for permanent

custody of a child by a public children services agency or private child placing agency

that has temporary custody of the child or has placed the child in long-term foster care.

       {¶ 34} Following the hearing, R.C. 2151.414(B) authorizes the juvenile court to

grant permanent custody of the child to the public or private agency if the court

determines, by clear and convincing evidence, it is in the best interest of the child to

grant permanent custody to the agency, and that any of the following apply: (a) the child

is not abandoned or orphaned, and the child cannot be placed with either of the child’s

parents within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the child’s parents; (b) the

child is abandoned and the parents cannot be located; (c) the child is orphaned and

there are no relatives of the child who are able to take permanent custody; or (d) the

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

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

consecutive twenty-two month period ending on or after March 18, 1999.

       {¶ 35} Therefore, R.C. 2151.414(B) establishes a two-pronged analysis the trial

court must apply when ruling on a motion for permanent custody. In practice, the trial

court will usually determine whether one of the four circumstances delineated in R.C.

2151.414(B) (1) (a) through (d) is present before proceeding to a determination

regarding the best interest of the child.
          A. Parental Placement within a Reasonable Time-R.C. 2151.414(B) (1) (a).

       {¶ 36} The court must consider all relevant evidence before determining the child

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

with the parents. R.C. 2151.414(E). The statute also indicates that if the court makes a

finding under R.C. 2151.414(E) (1) – (15), the court shall determine the children cannot

or should not be placed with the parent. A trial court may base its decision that a child

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

parent upon the existence of any one of the R.C. 2151.414(E) factors. The existence of

one factor alone will support a finding that the child cannot be placed with the parent

within a reasonable time. See In re: William S., 75 Ohio St.3d 95, 1996-Ohio-182, 661

N.E.2d 738; In re: Hurlow (Sept. 21, 1998), Gallia App. No. 98 CA 6, 1997 WL 701328;

In re: Butcher (Apr. 10, 1991), Athens App. No. 1470, 1991 WL 62145.

       {¶ 37} R.C. 2151.414(E) sets forth factors a trial court is to consider in

determining whether a child cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable

period of time or should not be placed with the parents. Specifically, Section (E)

provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

       {¶ 38} “(E) In determining at a hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section

or for the purposes of division (A)(4) of section 2151.353 of the Revised Code 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, at a hearing held pursuant to division (A)

of this section or for the purposes of division (A)(4) of section 2151.353 of the Revised

Code 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:

       {¶ 39} “(1) Following the placement of the child outside 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 parent has 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 changing parental conduct to allow them to resume and maintain parental duties.

       {¶ 40} “***

       {¶ 41} “(16) Any other factor the court considers relevant.”

       {¶ 42} R.C. 2151.414(D) requires the trial court to consider all relevant factors in

determining whether the child's best interests would be served by granting the

permanent custody motion. These factors include but are not limited to: (1) the

interrelationship of the child with others; (2) the wishes of the child; (3) the custodial

history of the child; (4) the child's need for a legally secure placement and whether such

a placement can be achieved without permanent custody; and (5) whether any of the

factors in divisions (E) (7) to (11) apply.

       {¶ 43} In this case, the trial court made its permanent custody findings pursuant

to R.C. 2151.414(B) (1) (a). The trial court found that the evidence established that
R.E.P. could not be placed with appellant-father within a reasonable period and should

not be placed with him.

       {¶ 44} Appellant-father argues that he demonstrated ongoing, good-faith

compliance with case plan services and TCJFS recommendations throughout the

pendency of this case. He contends in his sole Assignment of Error that TCJFS did not

make diligent efforts throughout the pendency of this action to reunify appellant-father

with R.E.P.

       {¶ 45} The Supreme Court of Ohio in In re C.F. (2007), 113 Ohio St.3d 73, 78,

862 N.E.2d 816, 821, noted

       {¶ 46} "[N]o one section of the Revised Code addresses the concept of

reasonable efforts. Overall, Ohio's child-welfare laws are designed to care for and

protect children, 'whenever possible, in a family environment, separating the child from

the child's parents only when necessary for the child's welfare or in the interests of

public safety.' R.C. 2151.01(A). To that end, various sections of the Revised Code refer

to the agency's duty to make reasonable efforts to preserve or reunify the family unit.

For example, R.C. 2151.412 requires the agency to prepare and maintain a case plan

for children in temporary custody with the goal 'to eliminate with all due speed the need

for the out-of-home placement so that the child can safely return home.' Under R.C.

2151.413(D)(3)(b), an agency may not file for permanent custody under R.C.

2151.413(D)--the '12 months out of 22 rule'--'[i]f reasonable efforts to return the child to

the child's home are required under section 2151.419' and the agency has not provided

the services required by the case plan." Id.
       {¶ 47} "By its terms, R.C. 2151.419 applies only at hearings held pursuant to

R.C. 2151.28, 2151.31(E), 2151.314, 2151.33, or 2151.353. * * * These sections involve

adjudication,   emergency    detention,   and    temporary-dispositional   hearings,    and

dispositional hearings for abused, neglected, or dependent children, all of which occur

prior to a decision transferring permanent custody to the state. The statute makes no

reference to a hearing on a motion for permanent custody. Therefore, '[b]y its plain

terms, the statute does not apply to motions for permanent custody brought pursuant to

R.C. 2151.413, or to hearings held on such motions pursuant to R.C. 2151.414.' “In re

C.F., 113 Ohio St.3d 73, 81, 2007-Ohio-1104, 862 N.E.2d 816, citing In re A.C.,

Clermont App. No. CA2004-05-041, 2004-Ohio-5531.

       {¶ 48} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(E) (1), a child may be permanently placed with

the agency when, notwithstanding reasonable case planning and diligent efforts by the

agency, the parent or parents fail to remedy the problems that caused the removal of

the child. A "reasonable effort" is " * * * an honest, purposeful effort, free of malice and

the design to defraud or to seek an unconscionable advantage." In re Weaver (1992),

79 Ohio App.3d 59, 63, 606 N.E.2d 1011.

       {¶ 49} When a trial court is considering whether the agency made reasonable

efforts to prevent the removal, the issue is not whether the agency could have done

more, but whether it did enough to satisfy the reasonableness standard under the

statute. In re Brewer (Feb. 12, 1996), Belmont App. No. 94-B-28. "In determining

whether reasonable efforts were made, the child's health and safety shall be

paramount." R.C. 2151.419(A)(1).
       {¶ 50} However, the record reflects that the trial court made reasonable-efforts

findings when the children were committed to the emergency custody of the agency and

again when they were adjudicated neglected and committed to the temporary custody of

the agency after the adjudication hearings. (See, Judgment Entry Filed March 10, 2011,

Case No. 11 JN 00088; Judgment Entry filed June 1, 2010, Case No. 10 JN 00183).

       {¶ 51} The trial court decided that there was clear and convincing evidence that

following the placement of the children outside of the home and notwithstanding

reasonable case planning and diligent efforts by the agency to assist the parents to

remedy the problems that initially caused the children to be placed outside the home,

the parents have failed continuously and repeatedly to substantially remedy the

conditions causing the children to be placed outside the home. R.C. 2151.414(E)(1).

       {¶ 52} In this case, the trial court made its permanent custody findings pursuant

to R.C. 2151.414(B) (1) (a). The trial court found that the evidence established that

R.E.P. could not be placed with appellant-father within a reasonable period and should

not be placed with him.

       {¶ 53} As set forth in our Statement of Facts, supra, the trial court’s findings are

based upon competent credible evidence. The record includes testimony of the

witnesses at trial. The trial court was in the best position to determine the credibility of

the witnesses.

       {¶ 54} The evidence demonstrated the successful efforts appellant-father had

made in the case to regain custody of his children. On that point, the evidence

demonstrates that any improvement the appellant-father has made in his life is tentative

and, perhaps, temporary, and that he is at risk of relapse. The trial court found that,
regardless of appellant’s compliance with aspects of his case plan, he was still not able

to be a successful parent to R.E.P.

       {¶ 55} In the case of In re: Summerfield, Stark App. No. 2005CA00139, 2005-

Ohio-5523, this court found where, despite marginal compliance with some aspects of

the case plan, the exact problems that led to the initial removal remained in existence, a

court does not err in finding the child cannot be placed with the parent within a

reasonable time.

       {¶ 56} Further, substantial compliance with a case plan, in and of itself, does not

prove that a grant of permanent custody to an agency is erroneous. In re Watkins v.

Harris (Aug. 30, 1995), 9th Dist. No. 17068, at 9. The dispositive issue is not whether

the parent has substantially complied with the case plan, but rather, whether the parent

has substantially remedied the conditions that caused the child's removal. See, e.g., In

re McKenzie (Oct. 18, 1995), 9th Dist. No. 95CA0015, at 7-8; In re Pittman, Summit

App. No. 20894, 2002-Ohio-2208 at ¶ 60.

       {¶ 57} Based upon the foregoing, as well as the entire record in this case, the

Court properly found R.E.P. could not or should not be returned to the appellant-father

within a reasonable time. Despite offering numerous services, the appellant-father was

unable to mitigate the concerns that led to the child's removal.

                                 B. The Best Interest of the Child.

       {¶ 58} In determining the best interest of the child at a permanent custody

hearing, R.C. 2151.414(D) mandates the trial court must consider all relevant factors,

including, but not limited to, the following: (1) the interaction and interrelationship of the

child with the child's parents, siblings, relatives, foster parents and out-of-home
providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the child; (2) 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; (3) the custodial history of the child; and (4) 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.

       {¶ 59} The focus of the “best interest” determination is upon the child, not the

parent, as R.C. 2151.414(C) specifically prohibits the court from considering the effect a

grant of permanent custody would have upon the parents. In re: Awkal (1994), 95 Ohio

App.3d 309, 315. A finding that it is in the best interest of a child to terminate the

parental rights of one parent is not dependent upon the court making a similar finding

with respect to the other parent. The trial court would necessarily make a separate

determination concerning the best interest of the child with respect to the rights of the

mother and the rights of the father.

       {¶ 60} The trial court made findings of fact regarding the child’s best interest. It is

well-established that “[t]he discretion which the juvenile court enjoys in determining

whether an order of permanent custody is in the best interest of a child should be

accorded the utmost respect, given the nature of the proceeding and the impact the

court's determination will have on the lives of the parties concerned.” In re: Mauzy

Children (Nov. 13, 2000), Stark App. No. 2000CA00244, quoting In re Awkal (1994), 95

Ohio App.3d 309, 316, 642 N.E.2d 424.

       {¶ 61} As an appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the

credibility of witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent

and credible evidence upon which the fact finder could base its judgment. Cross Truck
v. Jeffries (February 10, 1982), Stark App. No. CA-5758.         “A fundamental premise of

our criminal trial system is that ‘the jury is the lie detector.’ United States v. Barnard, 490

F.2d 907, 912 (C.A.9 1973) (emphasis added), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 959, 94 S.Ct.

1976, 40 L.Ed.2d 310 (1974). Determining the weight and credibility of witness

testimony, therefore, has long been held to be the ‘part of every case [that] belongs to

the jury, who are presumed to be fitted for it by their natural intelligence and their

practical knowledge of men and the ways of men.’ Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Ward, 140 U.S.

76, 88, 11 S.Ct. 720, 724-725, 35 L.Ed. 371 (1891)”. United States v. Scheffer (1997),

523 U.S. 303, 313, 118 S.Ct. 1261, 1266-1267. Reviewing courts should accord

deference to the trial court’s decision because the trial court has had the opportunity to

observe the witnesses’ demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections that cannot be

conveyed to us through the written record. Trickey v. Trickey [1952], 158 Ohio St. 9, 13-

14,106 N.E.2d 772, 774; Bechtol v. Bechtol (1990) 49 Ohio St.3d 21, 21, 550 N.E.2d

178, 179.

       {¶ 62} In the case at bar, the judgment entry granting permanent custody

specifically included a statement that the trial court had considered all the factors listed

in R.C. 2151.414. “The fact that the trial court did not specifically mention each of the

factors listed in R.C. §2151.414(D) does not mean that the trial court did not consider

such factors.” In re Schupbach Children (July 6, 2000), Tuscarawas App. 2000 AP

010005.

       {¶ 63} The Guardian ad Litem also indicated that it was in the children’s best

interest to be placed in the permanent custody of TCJFS.

       {¶ 64} 1). Relative Placement.
       {¶ 65} The child's best interests are served by the child being placed in a

permanent situation that fosters growth, stability, and security. In re Adoption of

Ridenour (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 319, 324, 574 N.E.2d 1055. Accordingly, a court is not

required to favor a relative if, after considering all the factors, it is in the child's best

interest for the agency to be granted permanent custody. In re A.C., 12th Dist. No. CA

2006-12-105, 2007-Ohio-3350 at ¶17; In re Turner, 5th Dist. No. 2006CA00062, 2006-

Ohio-4906 at ¶ 35; In re Perry, 4th Dist. Nos. 06 CA 648, 06 CA 649, 2006-Ohio-6128 at

¶62.

       {¶ 66} During the permanent custody hearing, the court received testimony

concerning the relative placement. TCJFS Worker Jaime Grunder testified to the long

history that maternal grandmother Ms. B. has with TCJFS. This included more than one

substantiated abuse and a substantiated neglect. Ms. Grunder stated that while these

incidences are now nearly twenty years old, they are still relevant because “these were

children that she raised and these things happened when they were in her care.” (Id.)

       {¶ 67} Ms. B. testified that prior to the current case being filed, she was unaware

that the children were having difficulty in school even though they were having contact

with the children. She further referred to her daughter J. S. as a “good mom,” and that

they got good physical care from their parents. However, the trial court found that based

upon her entire testimony Ms. B did in fact know about many of the instances of issues

concerning the children as they occurred.

       {¶ 68} Paternal grandmother Ms. T. P. stated that she did not have any concerns

about J. S. and her son’s ability to parent the children. Case Worker Grunder also

testified that in her opinion Mr. and Mrs. P. had little insight about what the concerns
were regarding the children. The trial court found that the couple was aware of the filthy

living conditions with animal feces and roaches and they did nothing to actively

intervene.

       {¶ 69} The willingness of a relative to care for the child does not alter what a

court considers in determining permanent custody. In re Patterson (1999), 134 Ohio

App.3d 119, 129-130, 730 N.E.2d 439, 446-447. (Citing In re Mastin (Dec. 17, 1997),

Lorain App. Nos. 97CA006743 and 97CA006746 at 7). The child being placed in a

permanent situation that fosters growth, stability, and security serves the child's best

interests. In re Adoption of Ridenour (1991), 61 Ohio St.3d 319, 324, 574 N.E.2d 1055.

Accordingly, a court is not required to favor a relative if, after considering all the factors,

it is in the child's best interest for the agency to be granted permanent custody. In re

A.C., 12th Dist. No. CA 2006-12-105, 2007-Ohio-3350 at ¶ 17; In Re Dylan B., Luna B,

Stark App. No.2007-CA-00362, 2008-Ohio-2283 at ¶ 66; In re Turner, 5th Dist.

No.2006CA00062, 2006-Ohio-4906 at ¶ 35; In re Perry, 4th Dist. Nos. 06 CA 648, 06

CA 649, 2006-Ohio-6128 at ¶ 62.

       {¶ 70} The court must consider all of the elements in R.C. 2151.414(D) as well as

other relevant factors. There is not one element that is given greater weight than the

others pursuant to the statute. In re Schafer, 11 Ohio St.3d 498, 2006-Ohio-5513 at ¶

56. Schafer made it clear that a trial court's statutory duty, when determining whether it

is in the best interest of a child to grant permanent custody to an agency, did not include

finding by clear and convincing evidence that no suitable relative was available for

placement. “The statute requires a weighing of all relevant factors, and the trial court did

that in this case. R.C. 2151.414 requires the court to find the best option for the child
once a determination has been made pursuant to R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) through (d).

The statute does not make the availability of a placement that would not require a

termination of parental rights an all-controlling factor. The statute does not even require

the court to weigh that factor more heavily than other factors.” Schaeffer at 111 Ohio

St.3d, 498, 857 N.E.2d 532, 2006-Ohio-5513, at ¶ 64; In Re Dylan B., Luna B, supra at

¶ 67; In re Avon, 5th Dist. No.2006-AP-09-0051, 2007-Ohio-1431 at ¶ 26.

       {¶ 71} Based on the evidence submitted at trial, the court properly determined

the best interest of R.E.P. would be served by the grant of permanent custody to TCJFS

rather than to be placed with either the maternal or paternal grandparents. There was

sufficient evidence submitted at the hearing to call into question, the relatives' ability to

provide a long term, stable placement for the children.

                                          V. Conclusion

       {¶ 72} For these reasons, we find that the trial court’s determination that

appellant-father had failed to remedy the issues that caused the initial removal and

therefore R.E.P. could not be placed with him within a reasonable time or should not be

placed with him was not against the manifest weight or sufficiency of the evidence. We

further find that the trial court’s decision that permanent custody to TCJFS was in

R.E.P.’s best interest was not against the manifest weight or sufficiency of the evidence.

       {¶ 73} Appellant's sole assignment of error is overruled.

       {¶ 74} The judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Court Division is affirmed.
       {¶ 75} The judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Court Division is affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Edwards, J., and

Delaney, J., concur

                                       _________________________________
                                       HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                       _________________________________
                                       HON. JULIE A. EDWARDS

                                       _________________________________
                                       HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
            IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO

                           FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF: R.E.P.                  :
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :
                                          :       CASE NO. 2011AP050022

   For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the judgment of

the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Court Division is affirmed.

Costs to appellant.

                                              _________________________________
                                              HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                              _________________________________
                                              HON. JULIE A. EDWARDS

                                              _________________________________
                                              HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY