Court Opinion

ID: 2698944
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:57:40.257282+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:27.473098
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re J.H., 2013-Ohio-1423.]

                                        COURT OF APPEALS
                                   TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                              :   JUDGES:
IN THE MATTER OF:                             :   W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
                                              :   William B. Hoffman, J.
           J.H. AND J.H.                      :   Patricia A. Delaney, J.
                                              :
                                              :   Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062
                                              :
                                              :
                                              :   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                           Civil Appeal from Tuscarawas County
                                                   Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
                                                   Division, Case No. 12 JN 00383

JUDGMENT:                                          Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                            April 4, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant                                      For Appellee

 Henry Harper - #A638-859                          DAVID W. HAVERFIELD
Chillicothe Correctional Facility                  Tuscarawas County Job &
5500 State Route 104 North                         Family Services
P.O. Box 15802                                     389 – 16th Street, S.W.
Chillicothe, Ohio 45601                            New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663

For Mother                                         Guardian ad Litem

JOHN A. GARTRELL                                   GERRIT DENHEIJER
153 North Broadway                                 121 East Main Street
New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663                       Ravenna, Ohio 44266
[Cite as In re J.H., 2013-Ohio-1423.]

Delaney, J.

        {¶1}     Appellant, H. H., appeals from the September 21, 2012, Judgment Entry

of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, finding J.H. and

J.H. to be neglected and dependent children and ordering that they remain in the

temporary custody of Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services.

                                STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

        {¶2}     J.H. (DOB 11/7/97) and J.H. (DOB 6/29/01) are the children of T.H.

(mother) and appellant H.H. (father).

        {¶3}     On August 20, 2012, a shelter care hearing was held. At the time of the

hearing, appellant was incarcerated. At the hearing, Jaime Grunder, a case manager

with Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services (“TCJFS”), testified that she had

received a call during the previous weekend from the Newcomerstown Police

Department concerning the two children in this case. Grunder testified that the police

had found one of the children, who was 14 years old at the time, outside after curfew at

around 1:00 a.m. When he was asked why he was outside, the child testified that he

had gotten into a fight with his mother, who was intoxicated, and that his mother had

locked him out of the house.            When the police spoke with the mother, who was

belligerent and screaming, she indicated that she did not want the child in the house

because he was a drug dealer. There was testimony that T.H. had an extensive history

with Children’s Services in Guernsey County and that there were concerns over alcohol

and domestic violence. One of the children was on probation in Guernsey County.

Grunder testified that the 14 year old had issues with violence.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                      3

       {¶4}   Pursuant to a Judgment Entry filed on August 21, 2012, the two children

were placed in the emergency temporary custody of TCJFS. On the same date, a

complaint was filed by TCJFS alleging that the two children were neglected, abused

and/or dependent children.

       {¶5}   On August 31, 2012, appellant filed a Motion to Dismiss the Complaint,

alleging that the complaint was meritless and was based on “no facts to support the

frivolous, meritless, conduct of Jamie Grunde (sic)”.

       {¶6}   An adjudicatory hearing was held on September 19, 2012. Appellant was

not present at the hearing because he was still incarcerated. At the hearing, Crystal

Lawless testified that she was employed in the intake unit at TCFJS and investigated

allegations of child abuse and neglect. She was familiar with the two children in this

case. Lawless testified that appellant was currently serving an eight (8) year prison

sentence for weapons under disability and kidnapping and that there was a lengthy

history of domestic violence by appellant against his wife. She further testified that

appellant would be incarcerated until past the time the children reached the age of

majority.

       {¶7}   At the hearing, the complaint was amended to dismiss the allegation of

abuse and T.H., the mother, stipulated to the amended complaint. The trial court, as

memorialized in a Judgment Entry filed on September 21, 2012, accepted the

stipulation and found the children to be neglected and dependent children. The trial

court also overruled appellant’s Motion to Dismiss and ordered that the children remain

in the temporary custody of TCJFS.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                4

      {¶8}   Appellant now appeals from the September 21, 2012, Judgment Entry,

raising the following assignments of error on appeal:

      {¶9}   “I. THE TUSCARAWAS COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

JUVENILE DIVISION; JUDGE LINDA A. KATE’S JUDGEMENT [SIC] IN CASE NO. J

12JN00383 WAS AN ERRONEOUS JUDGEMENT [SIC] (17c). A JUDGMENT ISSUED

BY A COURT WITH JURISDICATION [SIC] TO ISSUE IT BUT CONTAINED AN

IMPROPER APPLICATION OF LAW. THIS TYPE OF JUDGEMENT [SIC] IS NOT

VOID, BUT CAN BE CORRECTED BY A TRIAL COURT WHILE THE COURT

RETAINS PLENARY JURISDICITION [SIC] OR ON DIRECT APPEAL. THE COURT’S

OVVERULING [SIC] ON THE APPELALANT’S-DEFEDNAT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

DUE TO THE MANY O,R.C. [SIC] VIOLATIONS WAS IMPROEPR [ SIC].

      {¶10} “II. THGE [SIC] TUSCARAWAS COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

JUVENILE DIVISION; JUDGE LINDA A. KATE ABUSED THE COURT’S DISCRETION

IN REMOVING THE CHILDREN FROM THEIR MOTHER, [T.H].; O.R.C. 2151.01

CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES 2151.28(B) TEMPORARY CUSTODY 2151,29 [SIC] (L)

NO FINDINGS OF FACTS.

      {¶11} “III. THE MANY VIOLATIONS ALLOWED TO BE VIOLATED IN THE

TUSCARAWAS        COUNTY      COURT      OF   COMMON    PLEAS   JUVENIKLE   [SIC]

DIVCISION [SIC]: PRESIDING JUDGE LINDA A. KATE; O.R.C. 2151.03, O.R.C.

2151.04, O.R.C. 2151.31, 2151.31.1, O.R.C. 2151.312, O.R.C. 2151.31.2, O.R.C.

2151.14, O.R.C. 2151.28, O.R.C. 2151.314, O.R.C. 2151.419(A)(B).”
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                         5

                                                 I

       {¶12} Appellant, in his first assignment of error, appears to argue that the trial

court’s determination that the children were neglected and dependent is not supported

by clear and convincing evidence.

       {¶13} As this Court recently stated in In re Pierce, 5th Dist. No. CT2008–0019,

2008–Ohio–6716, a trial court's adjudication of a child as abused, neglected, or

dependent must be supported by clear and convincing evidence. R.C. 2151.35. Clear

and convincing evidence is that which produces “in the mind of the trier of fact a firm

belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.” In Re: Adoption of

Holcomb, 18 Ohio St.3d 361, 368, 481 N.E.2d 613 (1985), quoting Cross v. Ledford,

161 Ohio St. 469, 120 N.E.2d 118 (1954). When this Court reviews an adjudication to

determine whether the judgment is supported by clear and convincing evidence, we

must determine whether the trier of fact had sufficient evidence before it to satisfy the

clear and convincing degree of proof. In Re: Christian, 4th Dist. No. 04CA10, 2004–

Ohio–3146, citations omitted.

       {¶14} Dependency is defined by R.C. 2151.04, which provides in pertinent part:

       {¶15} “As used in this chapter, ‘dependent child’ means any child:

       {¶16} “(C) Whose condition or environment is such as to warrant the state, in the

interests of the child, in assuming the child's guardianship;

       {¶17} “(D) To whom both of the following apply:

       {¶18} “(1) The child is residing in a household in which a parent, guardian,

custodian, or other member of the household committed an act that was the basis for an
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                          6

adjudication that a sibling of the child or any other child who resides in the household is

an abused, neglected, or dependent child.

       {¶19} “(2) Because of the circumstances surrounding the abuse, neglect, or

dependency of the sibling or other child and the other conditions in the household of the

child, the child is in danger of being abused or neglected by that parent, guardian,

custodian, or member of the household.”

       {¶20} The focus of a charge that a child is dependent under R.C. 2151.04(C) is

on the child and his condition and not on the faults of the parents.” In Re Bishop, 36

Ohio App.3d 123, 521 N.E.2d 838 (5th Dist. 1987); In re: Bibb, 70 Ohio App.2d 117, 435

N.E.2d 96 (1st Dist. 1980); In re: Riddle, 79 Ohio St.3d 259, 680 N.E.2d 1227 (1977).

       {¶21} Neglect is defined by R.C. 2151.03, which provides in pertinent part:

       {¶22} “As used in this chapter, ‘neglected child’ includes any child:

       {¶23} “(2) Who lacks adequate parental care because of the faults or habits of

the child's parents, guardian, or custodian;”

       {¶24} We find that the judgment finding the children to be dependent and

neglected is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. As is stated above, at the

September 19, 2012, the mother stipulated to the findings in the complaint, with the

exception of paragraph one which was dismissed. She thus stipulated to the following

findings:

       {¶25} “2. [T.H.] has neglected and or failed to appropriately supervise her minor

children and the same is neglect. [J.H.] and her older son who is in the custody of the

Guernsey County Juvenile Court have engaged and continued to engage in significant
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                          7

criminal behavior. [T.H.] has failed to provide any appropriate supervision for these

children and the same is neglect.

       {¶26} “3. There is a significant history of involvement with these children in

Guernsey County involving numerous complaints to children services and involvement

with that entity. Despite the provision of services from Guernsey County Children

Services, [T.H.] has failed to address ongoing concerns related to alcohol abuse and

supervision.

       {¶27} “4. [H.H.], the father of the children, is currently serving an eight year

prison sentence for kidnapping and having a weapon under disability. He will not be

released until after all of the children have reached the age of majority. His current

incarceration deprives the minor children of adequate and necessary parental care and

is neglect.

       {¶28} “5. The condition and environment of the children, as outlined above, is

such that the State in their best interest is warranted in intervening in their care and

custody.”

       {¶29} At hearing, Crystal Lawless testified that appellant was incarcerated and

was serving an eight year sentence for weapons under disability and kidnapping. She

further testified that appellant would not be released until after the children reached the

age of majority.

       {¶30} Based on the foregoing, we find sufficient, credible evidence existed to

support the trial court's adjudication of the children as neglected and dependent

children.

       {¶31} Appellant's first assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                          8

                                                 II

       {¶32} Appellant, in his second assignment of error, contends that the trial court

abused its discretion in placing the children in the temporary custody of the agency.

       {¶33} Appellant argues, in part, that the trial court erred in failing to follow the

requisites of R.C. 2151.28(B)(1).

       {¶34} R.C. 2151.28 states in relevant part, as follows:

       {¶35} “(B) At an adjudicatory hearing held pursuant to division (A)(2) of this

section, the court, in addition to determining whether the child is an abused, neglected,

or dependent child, shall determine whether the child should remain or be placed in

shelter care until the dispositional hearing. When the court makes the shelter care

determination, all of the following apply:

       {¶36} “(1) The court shall determine whether there are any relatives of the child

who are willing to be temporary custodians of the child. If any relative is willing to be a

temporary custodian, the child otherwise would remain or be placed in shelter care, and

the appointment is appropriate, the court shall appoint the relative as temporary

custodian of the child, unless the court appoints another relative as custodian. If it

determines that the appointment of a relative as custodian would not be appropriate, it

shall issue a written opinion setting forth the reasons for its determination and give a

copy of the opinion to all parties and the guardian ad litem of the child.”

       {¶37} As noted by the court in In re A.V., 4th Dist. No. No. 08CA31, 2009-Ohio-

886, “[t]hus, R.C. 2151.28(B)(1) requires a trial court to determine whether there are any

‘appropriate’ relatives of an abused, neglected, or dependent child who are willing to be

temporary custodians until the time of the dispositional hearing. Moreover, if there is a
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                             9

willing relative, the child would otherwise remain in shelter care, and the appointment is

appropriate, the court is required to appoint a relative. R.C. 2151.28(B)(1). However, if

the court determines that placement with a relative would not be appropriate, the court

must issue a written opinion setting forth the reasons for its determination. Id.” Id at ¶ 7.

       {¶38} At the September 19, 2012 hearing, the Guardian ad Litem asked that

both children remain in the agency’s temporary custody. He indicated that they were

sending out two interstate home studies to West Virginia, where relatives were located,

and that “[w]e have two relatives interested in the youngest child.” Transcript at 15.

Thus, there were no appropriate relatives for placement at such time. The trial court,

therefore, did not violate R.C. 2151.28(B)(1).

       {¶39} Appellant also asserts that the trial court failed to comply with R.C.

2151.28(L) when issuing its decision.

       {¶40} R.C. 2151.28(L) provides:

       {¶41} “(L) If the court, at an adjudicatory hearing held pursuant to division (A) of

this section upon a complaint alleging that a child is an abused, neglected, dependent,

delinquent, or unruly child or a juvenile traffic offender, determines that the child is a

dependent child, the court shall incorporate that determination into written findings of

fact and conclusions of law and enter those findings of fact and conclusions of law in the

record of the case. The court shall include in those findings of fact and conclusions of

law specific findings as to the existence of any danger to the child and any underlying

family problems that are the basis for the court's determination that the child is a

dependent child.”
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                           10

      {¶42} In the case sub judice, the trial court found the children to be neglected

and dependent children. As noted by appellee, there is no requirement in the above

statute that the trial court include the specific findings upon which it based its

determination that the children were neglected, as opposed to dependent, children.

Moreover, as is stated above, the mother stipulated to the amended complaint and the

trial court accepted her stipulation. Thus, the trial court accepted the facts as set forth

paragraphs two through five of the same.

      {¶43} Appellant’s second assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

                                                 III

      {¶44} Appellant, in his third and final assignment of error, argues that the trial

court violated numerous provisions in Revised Code Chapter 2151.

      {¶45} Appellant     initially   contends   that   there   was   insufficient   evidence

establishing that the children were neglected and/or dependent. However, as is stated

above, the children’s mother stipulated to the facts in the amended complaint and,

based upon such stipulation and the testimony of Crystal Lawless, the trial court found

the children to be neglected and dependent.

      {¶46} Appellant also seems to argue that the Newcomerstown Police illegally

placed the children with a neighbor. Appellant notes that, at the August 20 2012

hearing, Jaime Grunder testified that the police called the agency around 1:00 a.m. on

Sunday morning, August 19, 2012, that one of the children was already at a friend’s

house, and that “they just agreed to keep him. Keep the children until Monday morning.”

T. at 7. Grunder further testified that the agency had gone and secured custody of the
Tuscarawas County App. Case No. 2012 AP 10 0062                                         11

children on the date of the hearing. There is nothing in the record establishing that the

agency or police did anything illegal.

       {¶47} Appellant next contends that Grunder committed perjury based on the

allegation of abuse in the complaint. There is nothing in the record supporting his

assertion. Moreover, the allegation of abuse was dismissed.

       {¶48} Finally, appellant, as noted by appellee, refers to sections regarding

written findings of fact regarding a reasonable efforts determination.         Appellant,

however, does not indicate if, and how, he believes that such sections were violated.

       {¶49} Appellant’s third assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

       {¶50} Accordingly, the judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common

Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.

By: Delaney, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Hoffman, J. concur

                                                    ______________________________

                                                    ______________________________

                                                    ______________________________

                                                                JUDGES
[Cite as In re J.H., 2013-Ohio-1423.]

           IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO

                                    FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF:                              :
                                               :
          J.H. AND J.H.                        :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :       CASE NO. 2012 AP 10 0062

    For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion on file, the

judgment of the Tuscarawas County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is

affirmed. Costs assessed to Appellant.

                                                   _________________________________

                                                   _________________________________

                                                   _________________________________

                                                                JUDGES