Court Opinion

ID: 2698929
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-04 17:57:25.014739+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:51:26.283007
License: Public Domain

[Cite as In re A.C., 2013-Ohio-1782.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                   GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF A.C., L.B. AND               :   JUDGES:
J.B.                                          :
 DEPENDENT CHILDREN                           :
                                              :   Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
                                              :   Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                              :   Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
                                              :
                                              :   Case No. 12 CA 29 & 13 CA 1
                                              :
                                              :
                                              :
                                              :   OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                          Appeal from the Guernsey County
                                                  Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile
                                                  Division, Case No. 12JC00176

JUDGMENT:                                         Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY:                           April 12, 2013

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant M.C.:                               For Appellee Guernsey County Children
                                                  Services:
Lindsey K. Donehue
120 Southgate Parkway                             Bryan C. Conaway
P.O. Box 464                                      Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Cambridge, Ohio 43725                             139 West 8th Street
                                                  Cambridge, Ohio 43725
For Appellant C.H.:

Feisul M. Khan
P.O. Box 273
Zanesville, Ohio 43702
Baldwin, J.

       {¶1} Appellant M.C. and appellant C.H. appeal from the December 7, 2012

Journal Entry of the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division,

terminating their parental rights and granting permanent custody of A.C., L.B., and

J.B. to Guernsey County Children Services.

                       STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE

       {¶2} A.C. (DOB 12/29/06), J.B. (DOB 11/5/07), and L.B. (DOB 10/9/08) are

the children of appellant M.C. Appellant C.H. is the father of A.C. The father of the

other two children is not involved in this appeal.

       {¶3} On March 19, 2012, Guernsey County Children Services (GCCS) filed a

complaint alleging that the three children were dependent children. The agency, in its

complaint, sought emergency temporary custody of the children. On the same date,

the agency filed a Motion for Emergency Temporary Custody. Pursuant to a Journal

Entry filed on March 27, 2012, the trial court issued an ex parte order of custody to

GCCS.

       {¶4} An adjudicatory hearing was held on May 31, 2012. As memorialized in a

Journal Entry filed on June 18, 2012, the trial court found the children to be dependent

children and ordered that they remain in the custody of GCCS.

       {¶5} Subsequently, on August 24, 2012, GCCS filed a motion seeking

permanent custody of the children. A hearing on such motion was held on November

27, 2012.

       {¶6} At the hearing, Jennifer Mann, a licensed chemical dependency

counselor with Alcohol & Drug Services of Guernsey County, testified that appellant
M.C. was a current client and that appellant M.C. had been diagnosed with opiate,

cocaine and cannabis dependencies. Mann testified that appellant M.C. was assessed

on August 12, 2011 and that the diagnoses were made at that time. Mann testified that

she had seen appellant M.C. a total of 18 times since that time. According to Mann,

appellant M.C. was doing well in counseling and was open and honest about her drug

addiction.

       {¶7} Mann further testified that appellant M.C. had negative drug screens on

December 20, 2011, December 22, 2011, January 5, 2012 and January 12, 2012, but

had positive screens for marijuana on April 10, 2012, May 29, 2012, and September 5,

2012. During her drug screen on October 29, 2012, appellant M.C. tested positive for

Percocet and marijuana. Mann further testified that appellant M.C. also had had a

positive drug screen on December 28, 2011 for Suboxone. Mann also testified that

the last time she saw appellant M.C. was on October 29, 2012 and that appellant M.C.

was still an open client, but was currently incarcerated in EOCC (Eastern Ohio

Correction Center).

       {¶8} On cross-examination, Mann testified that the recommendation was

made for appellant M.C. to attend individual counseling and group therapy and that

appellant entered EOCC before starting group therapy.      Mann also testified that,

during the last six months, appellant M.C. had improved and that she thought that,

with appropriate care and therapy, appellant M.C. would be able to maintain her

sobriety.
       {¶9} On redirect, Mann testified that appellant M.C. was not tested for drugs

between January 12, 2012 and April 10, 2012 and only once between May 29, 2012

and October 29, 2012.

       {¶10} The next witness to testify was Patricia Johnson, a licensed

independent chemical dependency counselor with Alcohol & Drug Services of

Guernsey County. Johnson testified that appellant C.H, who had just gotten out of

EEOC, was her client and that, at a September 6, 2011 appointment, she diagnosed

him with opioid, cannabis and amphetamine dependencies and hallucinogen abuse. It

was recommended that appellant C.H. continue with Johnson for individual

counseling, that he attend a treatment group, that he submit to random drug testing

and that he attend at least two AA meetings a week. Johnson testified that appellant

kept only one appointment with her for individual counseling and that he cancelled an

appointment on September 30, 2012. According to Johnson, “[h]e had, by then,

missed three group sessions that I had, so I had mentioned that to him when he called

about he needed to come to group, so he kept one group appointment on October 6th,

2011.” Transcript at 44-45. Johnson testified that appellant C.H. missed four other

appointments, one an individual appointment and the others group appointments, and

that he was discharged on December 9, 2011 for non-compliance. She further testified

that she did not perform drug testing on appellant C.H. due to his lack of attendance.

       {¶11} When asked, Johnson testified that appellant C.H. had not asked to

reenroll in counseling.

       {¶12} On cross-examination, Johnson testified that appellant C.H.’s last

contact with the agency was on October 6, 2011 and that she last saw him on
September 6, 2011. According to Johnson, appellant C.H. was sentenced to prison on

October 4, 2012. On such date, appellant C.H.’s community control was revoked and

he was ordered to serve two years in prison.

       {¶13} Sylva Lawson, a caseworker with GCCS, testified that she was the

ongoing caseworker for the three children in this case. She testified that she first

became involved with the children in 2009. According to Lawson, a case was opened

on November 5, 2009 and the children were removed from appellant M.C.’s home on

November 18, 2009. The children were then placed into the temporary custody of their

grandmother on April 20, 2010 and the agency was given protective supervision while

working with the parents towards reunification. Lawson further testified that the

grandmother was granted legal custody on November 15, 2010 and the case was

closed on January 20, 2011. At that time, appellant M.C. had not successfully

completed her case plan.

       {¶14} Lawson testified that, on March 6, 2012, the grandmother contacted the

agency and requested assistance in placing the children because she was having

problems managing them and was being evicted from her home. As a result, the

agency was granted ex parte custody on March 16, 2012. Lawson testified that the

children had been in GCCS’ custody since March 16, 2012 and that they were placed

in foster care.

       {¶15} Lawson also testified that at the time the agency took custody, she

attempted to find other family members with whom to place the children, but was not

successful. She next testified that appellant M.C.’s case plan required her to maintain

safe, stable housing free of illegal drug use, of drug paraphernalia, and of impaired
people. Appellant M.C.’s case plan also required her to attend AA and NA groups, to

submit to random urine screens, and to submit to a psychological assessment .

Appellant M.C., per Lawson, had been non-compliant with her case plan. Lawson

testified that appellant M.C. was currently incarcerated in EOCC and that, prior to her

incarceration, she had been residing with her father and his girlfriend. Lawson testified

that appellant M.C. had indicated that she had been sexually abused by her father, so

that such placement was not appropriate for the children.

      {¶16} Lawson further testified that appellant M.C. had completed, or was still

attending prior to her incarceration, drug and alcohol counseling and AA and NA

groups. She indicated that she was concerned that appellant M.C.’s drug screens

were positive up until her incarceration. She testified that appellant M.C. testified

positive for marijuana and cocaine in March of 2012 and that appellant M.C. never

provided her with verification that she was attending NA or AA group meetings as

required in her case plan. Appellant M.C. also failed to show up for a scheduled

psychological evaluation on June 19, 2012. Appellant M.C. did have an evaluation

performed by a different doctor in her attempts to receive social security disability

benefits, but Lawson did not receive that assessment.

      {¶17} Lawson also testified that appellant M.C. had not seen her children for

probably two years because no visitation had been scheduled. She testified that

appellant M.C. was told that she needed to have clean drug screens and to not be in

jail to see her children. When asked whether appellant M.C. had made any effort to

see her children since the March 29th case plan, Lawson testified that appellant M.C.
had contacted the agency by phone a couple of times and that she had come by once

or twice when she did not have scheduled appointments.

       {¶18} Lawson testified that the children last had contact with appellant M.C. in

November of 2010 and that they were currently placed in the same foster home and

were doing well. She indicated that the children got along well with their foster family

and were bonded with the foster parents.

       {¶19} At the hearing, Lawson testified that she had concerns that appellant

M.C. had been charged with trafficking in crack cocaine. Appellant M.C. had been

granted treatment in lieu of conviction, but Lawson testified that drug abuse was the

issue that caused the children to be removed and was the reason why they could not

be reunified with their family. She indicated that she also had concerns that appellant

M.C’s boyfriend was also charged. The following testimony was adduced when she

was asked what concerns she had if the children were returned to appellant M.C.:

       I have concerns of, one, where is she going to have her children,

       housing; two , what people are going to be in her life, are they going to

       be safe people for her children to be around. [M.C.] had demonstrated

       over the past three years ongoing drug abuse issues. Her boyfriend also

       has drug abuse issues and was charged with rape recently of his

       daughter. So I’m concerned not only of the people that she brings into

       her home, their safety, but also the continued problems [M.C.] has in her

       own life.

Transcript at 77.
      {¶20} Lawson indicated that appellant M.C. had no place to take the children

and that even before she was incarcerated at EOOC, she did not have housing.

      {¶21} Lawson was next questioned about appellant C.H. She testified that he

had “zero compliance” with his case plan and was currently incarcerated in prison.

Transcript at 78. Lawson testified that he had not completed drug and alcohol

counseling, had not submitted to any drug tests, and did not attend his psychological

evaluation. She further testified that appellant C.H. had seen his daughter, A.C.,

during the case and while A.C. was visiting with her grandmother. Lawson testified

that the children could not be returned to appellant C.H. or appellant M.C. within a

reasonable time.

      {¶22} Lawson stated that she believed that it was in the best interest of the

children if permanent custody was granted to GCCS because they deserved

permanency and to be in a safe environment. She voiced concerns over the parents'

continued positive drug tests and indicated that the agency had made reasonable

efforts to reunify the family. According to Lawson, the children had no relationship with

appellant M.C.

      {¶23} On cross-examination, Lawson testified that, at a June 11, 2012

hearing, the trial court granted appellant M.C. supervised visitation on the condition

that she had clean drug screens. Lawson admitted that appellant M.C. did not have

any drug screens from June 18, 2012 until September 5, 2012.

      {¶24} At the hearing, appellant M.C. testified that she was currently

incarcerated at EOCC, a “prison slash rehab” facility, and that she had an expected

release date of May 5, 2013.       She testified that she had contacted the agency
regarding visitation four or five times and that although she left messages and her

phone number, Lawson never called her back. She further testified that she contacted

the children’s’ paternal grandmother two or three times a week when the grandmother

had custody of the children, but that the grandmother never allowed her to have

visitation.

       {¶25} The last witness to testify was the CASA/Guardian ad Litem, B.J. Yates.

She recommended that permanent custody be granted to GCCS because it was in the

children’s best interest. She testified that the children were bonded with their foster

family. On cross-examination, Yates testified that she did not talk to the children about

their wishes because of their young age. She testified that the children were on target

growth wise and that she had seen them 15 times and had interviewed them in their

foster home. According to Yates, she had not seen appellant C.H. since the agency

obtained custody of the children.

       {¶26} Pursuant to a Journal Entry filed on December 7, 2012, the trial court

terminated appellants’ parental rights and granted permanent custody of the three

children to GCCS.

       {¶27} Appellant C.H. appealed from the trial court’s December 7, 2012 Journal

Entry. His case was assigned Case No. 12 CA 29. Appellant C.H. raises the following

assignments of error on appeal :

       {¶28} “I. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN NOT

APPOINTING AN ATTORNEY FOR THE MINOR CHILD.

       {¶29} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT BY CLEAR AND

CONVINCING EVIDENCE THE CHILD COULD NOT BE PLACED WITH ONE OF
HER PARENTS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME OR SHOULD NOT BE PLACED

WITH ONE OF HER PARENTS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THIS ERROR

RESULTED IN THE WRONGFUL TERMINATION OF [C.H.’S] PARENTAL RIGHTS.”

       {¶30} Appellant M.C. also appealed from the trial court’s December 7, 2012

Journal Entry. Her case was assigned Case No. 13 CA 1. Appellant M.C. raises the

following assignment of error on appeal:

       {¶31} “I. THE TRIAL COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE GRANTED PERMANENT

CUSTODY BECAUSE THE COURT DID NOT CONSIDER THE WISHES OF THE

CHILDREN AS REQUIRED BY ORC 2151.414(D)(b).”

       {¶32} For purposes of judicial economy, we shall address the two cases

together.

                    First Assignment of Error in Case No.12 CA 29

       {¶33} Appellant C.H., in his first assignment of error, argues that the trial court

erred when it failed to appoint an attorney for A.C., his daughter.

       {¶34} In In re Williams, 101 Ohio St.3d 398, 805 N.E.2d 1110, 2004–Ohio–1500,

the Ohio Supreme Court held that a child who is the subject of a juvenile court

proceeding to terminate parental rights is a party to that proceeding and is entitled to

independent    counsel under certain       circumstances.    “[C]ourts should   make    a

determination, on a case-by-case basis, whether the child actually needs independent

counsel, taking into account the maturity of the child and the possibility of the child's

guardian ad litem being appointed to represent the child.” Id. at ¶ 17.

       {¶35} The Williams court did not explain what circumstances might trigger the

juvenile court's duty to appoint counsel. See, In re A.T., 9th Dist. No. 23065, 2006–
Ohio–3919 at ¶ 57; In re Wylie, 2d Dist. No.2004CA0054, 2004–Ohio–7243, at ¶ 70.

The facts of Williams indicate that the child whose custody was at issue was four years

of age at the time he was initially placed in the temporary custody of the child protective

agency. Williams at ¶ 2. He was subsequently returned to his mother, removed again,

and was six years of age at the time the permanent custody hearing was conducted.

Williams at ¶ 4. The child was represented by a guardian ad litem, who was an attorney,

but was not appointed to represent the child in a dual capacity. In re Williams, 11th Dist.

Nos.2002–G2454, 2002–G–2459, 2002–Ohio–6588, at ¶ 20. The child was said to have

“repeatedly expressed a desire to remain with his mother,” and the guardian ad litem

recommended that permanent custody be granted to the agency. Williams, 2004–Ohio–

1500, at ¶ 5.

       {¶36} The appeals court in Williams emphasized that the child expressed his

wish for reunification “often,” “consistently,” and “repeatedly.” Williams, 2002–Ohio–

6588, at ¶ 17, ¶ 20, and ¶ 9. He “often did not want to let appellant out of his sight.” Id.

at ¶ 9. Significantly, the appellate court recognized that “there is no need to consider the

appointment of counsel based upon a child's occasional expression of a wish to be with

a parent or because of a statement made by an immature child.” (Emphasis added.)

Williams, 2002–Ohio–6588, at ¶ 24; In re A. T., supra.

       {¶37} In the case sub judice, there is no evidence that A.C. indicated that she

wanted to live with appellant C.H. The record does not support a conclusion that A.C.

ever affirmatively expressed a desire to return home, nor does it support a conclusion

that A.C. consistently and repeatedly expressed such a desire, as was the case with

the child in Williams. In re A. T., supra at ¶ 64. The record does not disclose any
conflict between the wishes of A.C. and the recommendations of the Guardian ad litem

in this case, who is not an attorney.

       {¶38} Based on the foregoing, and the overwhelming evidence supporting the

trial court's findings that the child’s best interests would be served by awarding custody

to GCCS, we conclude that the trial court did not err in failing to appoint independent

counsel .

       {¶39} Appellant C.H.’s first assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.

      Second Assignment of Error in Case No. 12 CA 29 and Case No. 13 CA 1

       {¶40} Appellant M.C. and appellant C.H., in their assignments of error,

challenge the trial court’s order terminating their parental rights and granting

permanent custody to GCCS. Appellant C.H. specifically argues that the trial court

erred in finding that A.C., his daughter, could not and should not be placed with one of

her parents within a reasonable time while appellant M.C. argues that the trial court

should not have granted permanent custody because it did not consider the wishes of

the children.

       {¶41} As an appellate court, we are not fact finders; 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 his or

her judgment. Cross Truck v. Jeffries, 5th Dist. No. CA–5758, 1982 WL 2911 (Feb. 10,

1982). Accordingly, judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence going

to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed as being against the

manifest weight of the evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction, 54 Ohio St.2d

279, 376 N.E.2d 578 (1978). Furthermore, it is well established that the trial court is in
the best position to determine the credibility of witnesses. See, e.g., In re Brown, 9th

Dist. No. 21004, 2002–Ohio–3405, ¶ 9, citing State v. DeHass, 10 Ohio St .2d 230, 227

N.E.2d 212 (1967).

       {¶42} R.C. 2151.414(B)(1) reads as follows: “Except as provided in division

(B)(2) of this section, the court may grant permanent custody of a child to a movant if

the court determines at the hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section, by clear

and convincing evidence, that it is in the best interest of the child to grant permanent

custody of the child to the agency that filed the motion for permanent custody and that

any of the following apply:

       (a) The child is not abandoned or orphaned, has not 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 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....

       {¶43} The trial court determined that the children could not be placed with

either parent within a reasonable time nor should the children be placed with either

parent. 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, a trial court is to

consider the existence of one or more factors under R.C. 2151.414(E), including

whether or not “[f]ollowing 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 the purpose of changing parental conduct to allow them to resume and maintain

parental duties.” See R.C. 2151.414(E)(1).

       {¶44} In the case sub judice, there was testimony that the agency initially

became involved with the family in 2009. There was testimony that appellant M.C. had a

drug problem and, at the time of the hearing, was incarcerated after initially being

charged with drug trafficking and was not due to be released until May 5, 2013. At the

hearing, testimony was adduced that appellant M.C. had not seen the children for

approximately two years. Moreover, Lawson testified that appellant did not have

housing for the children.

       {¶45} In addition, there was testimony that appellant C.H., who also has drug

problems, was incarcerated and had never been part of the children’s lives. As is stated

above, Lawson testified that he completely failed to comply with his case plan. The

Guardian ad Litem recommended that permanent custody be granted to the agency

       {¶46} We find, based on the foregoing, that the trial court did not err in finding

that the children could not and should not be placed with one of their parents within a

reasonable time.

       {¶47} The trial court next determined it was in the children's best interests to be

placed in the permanent custody of GCCS. 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, 5th Dist. No.2000CA00244, 2000 WL

1700073 (Nov. 13, 2000), quoting In re Awkal, 95 Ohio App .3d 309, 316, 642 N.E.2d

424 (1994).

       {¶48} In determining the best interest of a child for purposes of permanent

custody disposition, the trial court is required to consider the factors contained in R.C.

2151.414(D). These factors are as follows:

       {¶49} “(1) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's

parents, siblings, relatives, foster care givers and out-of-home providers, and any other

person who may significantly affect the child;

       {¶50} “(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;

       {¶51} “(3) The custodial history of the child, including whether 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 * * *;

       {¶52} “(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

to the agency;

       {¶53} “(5) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this section

apply in relation to the parents and child.”
       {¶54} As is stated above, testimony was adduced that the children had been in

the same foster home since March of 2012 and were doing well. While the children

were bonded with their foster parents, there was testimony that they had limited contact

with their parents and had been in and out of custody since 2009. The Guardian ad

Litem recommended that permanent custody be granted because it was in their best

interest due to their need for permanency. In addition, there was testimony that both

appellants in this case were incarcerated and were unable to care to their children.

       {¶55} While appellant M.C. argues that the trial court erred in granting

permanent custody to the agency because the trial court did not consider the wishes of

the children as required by R.C, 2151.414(D)(b), at the hearing, the Guardian ad Litem

testified that she did not discuss their wishes with the children because of their young

ages. At the time of the hearing, the children were four, five and nearly six years old.

This Court, in In the Matter of Turner, 5th Dist. No. 2006-CA-45, 2006-Ohio-45, indicted

that the trial court could not consider the wishes of the children due to their ages. The

children in Turner were eight, seven and three years old. Moreover, the Guardian ad

Litem, in the case sub judice, did testify, that she had visited with the children 15 times

and that she had interviewed the children at their foster home. She was subject to

cross-examination at the November 27, 2012 hearing. The trial court, in its Journal

Entry, found that the wishes of the children, as expressed through the Guardian ad

Litem, was for permanent custody to be awarded.

       {¶56} Based on the foregoing, we find that the trial court did not err in finding

that it was in the children’s best interest for permanent custody to be granted to

GCCS.
       {¶57} The second assignment of error in Case No. 12 CA 29 and the sole

assignment of error in Case No. 13 CA 1 are, therefore, overruled.

       {¶58} Accordingly, the judgment of the Guernsey County Court of Common

Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.

By: Baldwin, J.

Gwin, P.J. and

Wise, J. concur.

                                         HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN

                                         HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                         HON. JOHN W. WISE

CRB
         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO

                          FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF: A.C., L.B. AND    :
J.B.                                :
DEPENDENT CHILDREN                  :
                                    :       JUDGMENT ENTRY
                                    :
                                    :
                                    :
                                    :       Case No. 12 CA 29 & 13 CA 1
                                    :
                                    :
                                    :
                                    :

   For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the

Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, is affirmed.      Costs

assessed to appellants.

                                    HON. CRAIG R. BALDWIN

                                    HON. W. SCOTT GWIN

                                    HON. JOHN W. WISE