Court Opinion

ID: 4170720
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-05-22 15:24:45.413112+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:24:43.424227
License: Public Domain

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

                            SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

                                                                                   FILED
In re: I.J.-1, I.J.-2, and T.J.                                                  May 22, 2017
                                                                                 RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
                                                                               SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
No. 16-1005 (Mingo County 13-JA-73, 13-JA-74, & 13-JA-75)                          OF WEST VIRGINIA

                                  MEMORANDUM DECISION
        Petitioner Mother R.J. (now R.C.), by counsel Paul R. Sheridan, appeals the Circuit Court
of Mingo County’s September 16, 2016, order denying her an award of child support for six­
year-old I.J.-1, nine-year-old I.J.-2, and ten-year-old T.J.1 The West Virginia Department of
Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by counsel S.L. Evans, filed its response in support of
petitioner’s appeal. The guardian ad litem (“guardian”), Jim Pajarillo, filed a response on behalf
of the children also in support of petitioner’s appeal. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit
court erred in denying child support.2

        The Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. This case satisfies the “limited circumstances” requirement of Rule 21(d) of
the Rules of Appellate Procedure and is appropriate for a memorandum decision rather than an
opinion. For the reasons expressed below, the September 16, 2016, decision of the circuit court is
affirmed, in part, and reversed, in part, and remanded to the circuit court with directions to
appropriately address child support for I.J.-1, I.J.-2, and T.J. pursuant to this Court’s holding in
In re Ryan B., 224 W.Va. 461, 686 S.E.2d 601 (2009).

        In October of 2013, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition against J.J., the
children’s father, alleging that he sexually abused children in the home. Several days later, the
DHHR filed an amended petition adding petitioner as a non-offending parent. Thereafter, the
circuit court held a series of adjudicatory hearings during which it heard testimony from multiple

        1
         Consistent with our long-standing practice in cases with sensitive facts, we use initials
where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See In re K.H., 235 W.Va.
254, 773 S.E.2d 20 (2015); Melinda H. v. William R. II, 230 W.Va. 731, 742 S.E.2d 419 (2013);
State v. Brandon B., 218 W.Va. 324, 624 S.E.2d 761 (2005); State v. Edward Charles L., 183
W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990). Additionally, because two children share the same initials,
we will refer to them as I.J.-1 and I.J.-2 throughout this memorandum decision
        2
         We note that West Virginia Code §§ 49-1-1 through 49-11-10 were repealed and
recodified during the 2015 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature. The new
enactment, West Virginia Code §§ 49-1-101 through 49-7-304, has minor stylistic changes and
became effective on May 20, 2015. In this memorandum decision, we apply the statutes as they
existed during the pendency of the proceedings below. It is important to note, however, that the
abuse and neglect statutes underwent minor stylistic revisions and the applicable changes have
no impact on the Court’s decision herein.

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individuals. After considering the parties’ arguments, the circuit court found that J.J. “committed
sexually inappropriate acts against” a child. As such, the circuit court adjudicated J.J. as an
abusive and neglectful parent.

        In 2016, the circuit court held a status hearing during which J.J. indicated his willingness
to voluntarily relinquish his parental rights to the children. As such, by order entered on
September 16, 2016, the circuit court accepted J.J.’s voluntarily relinquishment, and terminated
his parental rights to the children.3 However, the circuit court denied petitioner’s motion for child
support without explanation. This appeal followed.

       The Court has previously established the following standard of review:

               “Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de
       novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the
       facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
       evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether
       such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a
       reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
       although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire
       evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
       committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply
       because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if
       the circuit court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record
       viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223,
       470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).

Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011). On appeal, petitioner argues that
the circuit court failed to order J.J. to pay child support.

       In regard to child support, this Court has held that,

               [a] circuit court terminating a parent’s parental rights pursuant to W.Va.
       Code, § 49–6–5(a)(6) [now West Virginia Code § 49-4-604], must ordinarily
       require that the terminated parent continue paying child support for the child,
       pursuant to the Guidelines for Child Support Awards found in W.Va. Code, § 48–
       13–101, et seq. [2001]. If the circuit court finds, in a rare instance, that it is not in
       the child’s best interest to order the parent to pay child support pursuant to the
       Guidelines in a specific case, it may disregard the Guidelines to accommodate the
       needs of the child if the court makes that finding on the record and explains its
       reasons for deviating from the Guidelines pursuant to W.Va. Code, § 48–13–702,
       [2001].

       3
       The children’s father voluntarily relinquished his parental rights. I.J.-1, I.J.-2, and T.J.
were placed with their non-offending mother at the outset of these proceedings with a
permanency plan to remain in her care.

                                                  2
In re Ryan B., at 462, 686 S.E.2d at 602-03, Syl. Pt. 2. Importantly, “[t]his holding is applicable
to both voluntary and involuntary terminations. (emphasis added) Id at 469, 686 S.E.2d at 605,
n.3. In this case, the record is clear that J.J voluntarily relinquished his parental rights to his
children. As such, he may be required to pay child support absent the “rare instance” that such
payment is not in the child[ren]’s interests.” The record on appeal is devoid of any testimony or
evidence showing any “rare instance” with regard to the child support guidelines. Upon our
review, the Court finds that the circuit court failed to adequately address whether J.J. was
required to provide child support for the children. For these reasons, we reverse and remand with
directions for the circuit court to address the issue of child support, in accordance with this
Court’s holding as set forth in Syllabus Point two of In re Ryan B., Id.

        For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the circuit court’s September 9, 2016, order in
which the circuit court accepted J.J.’s voluntary relinquishment of his parental rights to the
children. However, this Court reverses the circuit court’s order, in part, with regard to the denial
of child support, and remands the case with instructions to address child support, in accordance
with our holding as set forth in Syllabus Point Two of In re Ryan B., Id.

                            Affirmed, in part, and reversed and remanded, in part, with directions.

ISSUED: May 22, 2017

CONCURRED IN BY:

Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker

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