Court Opinion

ID: 9751155
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 16:09:50.47993+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:13:54.701733
License: Public Domain

J-A16035-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT OP 65.37

  IN THE INTEREST OF: B.W., A                  :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
  MINOR                                        :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                                               :
                                               :
  APPEAL OF: E.A., JR., FATHER                 :   No. 117 MDA 2023

               Appeal from the Order Entered March 10, 2022
  In the Court of Common Pleas of York County Juvenile Division at No(s):
                         CP-67-DP-0000191-2020

  IN THE INTEREST OF: E.A., A MINOR :              IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                    :                   PENNSYLVANIA
                                    :
                                    :
  APPEAL OF: E.A., JR., FATHER      :              No. 118 MDA 2023

               Appeal from the Order Entered March 10, 2022
  In the Court of Common Pleas of York County Juvenile Division at No(s):
                         CP-67-DP-0000188-2020

BEFORE:       PANELLA, P.J., BENDER, P.J.E., and McCAFFERY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY McCAFFERY, J.:                           FILED AUGUST 28, 2023

       In this dependency matter, following a remand by this Court, E.A. Jr.,

(Father) appeals nunc pro tunc1 from the order entered March 10, 2022, in

____________________________________________

1 Father did not initially file a notice of appeal, but on April 22, 2022, filed a

petition to reinstate his appeal rights nunc pro tunc. The trial court denied
relief. Father appealed, and appellees, the York County Offices of Children,
Youth, and Families (CYF) and the children’s guardian ad litem, agreed that
relief should be granted. On December 16, 2022, another panel of this Court
reversed the trial court’s denial order and remanded for the reinstatement of
Father’s direct appeal rights and appointment of new counsel. We note that
memorandum was prepared by this same author. See Interest of E.A., 782
& 783 MDA 2022 (unpub. memo.) (Pa. Super. Dec. 16, 2022).

(Footnote Continued Next Page)
J-A16035-23

the York County Court of Common Pleas, finding him to be a perpetrator of

child abuse2 with respect to two of his children, B.W. (born in May of 2014),

and E.A. (El.A.,3 born in August of 2019). Father presents several arguments

challenging the weight of the evidence presented.4 We affirm.

                                       I. Introduction

       In addition to B.W. and El.A., Father and Mother (collectively, the

Parents) are the parents of Ed.A. (born in June of 2015), R.A. (June of 2018),

and A.A. (June of 2021) (collectively, the Children). Both Parents have several

appeals currently pending before this Court, as follows.

       First, we summarize that on January 13, 2022, the trial court changed

the permanency goals for all five Children from reunification to adoption. The

Parents’ appeals therefrom are docketed before a different panel of this Court

at Dockets 201 through 205 MDA 2022 (Father’s appeals) and 295 through

299 MDA 2022 (Mother’s appeals). On October 12, 2022, the panel issued

____________________________________________

       As we discuss infra, the children’s mother, T.W.A. (Mother), was also
found to be a perpetrator of child abuse on March 10, 2022. Her timely appeal
to this Court was affirmed on December 28, 2022. Interest of B.W., 545 &
546 MDA 2022 (unpub. memo.) (Pa. Super. Dec. 28, 2022).

2 See 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303 (defining “perpetrator” as, inter alia, a parent who

has committed child abuse against their child).

3 As Father and Mother have two children with the initials, “E.A.,” we will refer

to the child E.A. as “El.A.” and the child, E.A., III, as “Ed.A.”

4 CYF and the Children’s guardian ad litem have filed a joint appellee’s brief in

support of affirmance.

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one order staying all of these appeals, pending the resolution of the Parents’

additional appeals.

      Meanwhile, on March 10, 2022, the trial court entered the underlying

order, finding both parents were perpetrators of abuse as to B.W. and El.A.

This memorandum addresses Father’s appeal from that order.            As noted

above, Mother has also appealed, and this Court affirmed on December 28,

2022. Interest of B.W., 545 & 546 MDA 2022.

      Finally, on April 18, 2022, the trial court involuntarily terminated both

Parents’ rights to all five Children.   Both parents have also appealed from

those orders, at this Court’s Dockets 683 through 687 MDA 2022 (Father) and

Dockets 755 through 759 MDA 2022 (Mother). Additionally, Counsel for El.A.

and R.A. have appealed from the termination orders, at, respectively, Dockets

740 and 741 MDA 2022. On December 8, 2022, this Court likewise stayed all

of these appeals pending resolution of, inter alia, Father’s instant appeal.

                         II. Facts & Procedural History

      In August of 2020, CYF received a referral, which alleged Parents were

using heroin and not properly supervising the four older children, B.W. (then

six years old), Ed.A. (five), R.A. (two), and El.A. (one). These children were

adjudicated dependent on September 16, 2020. The trial court established

the Children’s permanency goal as return to parent, and conducted ongoing

shelter care, status review, and permanency review hearings. A.A. was born

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in June of 2021 and was adjudicated dependent the following month, on July

12, 2021.

       Meanwhile, on December 29, 2020, CYF received a Child Protective

Services (CPS) referral as to the alleged physical abuse of B.W., then

approximately six years old, by Mother and Father. N.T., 3/10/22, at 23. At

the time, B.W. was residing in a foster home. Id. at 38-39. CYF conducted

a “minimal facts” interview,5 at which B.W. disclosed physical abuse by Mother

and Father. Id. at 26.

       On January 26, 2021, Lauren Carter, a forensic interviewer with the York

County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), conducted a forensic interview of

B.W. See N.T., 3/10/22, at 10, 26. CYF Caseworker Marshall, as well as law

enforcement, observed this forensic interview.6 N.T., 3/10/22, at 27. B.W.

disclosed he, as well as his siblings, were physically abused by both Parents.

His statements led to a referral alleging the Parents’ abuse of El.A.

       At a status review hearing on November 10, 2021, the Parents averred

the “the criminal investigation [of their alleged abuse] has been ongoing for

quite some time[, but] has gone nowhere[.]” N.T., 11/10/21, at 8-9. The

trial court directed CYF to conduct an independent investigation and to provide

____________________________________________

5 CYF Caseworker Kristen Marshall described this interview as a focus on “who,

what, when, where.” N.T., 3/10/22, at 25.

6 Caseworker Marshall explained that when CYF receives a CPS referral, CYF

must notify the police. N.T., 3/10/22, at 27.

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a finding of “indicated” or “unfounded” by the next hearing in three months’

time. Id. at 8-9; Status Review Order, 11/10/21.

        At the next permanency review hearing, on January 11, 2022, CYF

reported it found both Mother and Father indicated as perpetrators of physical

abuse against both El.A. and B.W., for causing bodily injury. N.T., 1/11/22,

at 7. Furthermore, with respect to El.A. only, both Parents were indicated for

striking a child under the age of one. Id. at 6-7. On that same day, the trial

court changed all the Children’s permanency goals to adoption with the

concurrent goals noted as return to parent or guardian.7

                  III. March 10, 2022, Finding of Abuse Hearing

        Next, on March 10, 2022, the trial court conducted a finding of abuse

hearing. Mother and Father were present and represented by counsel, but did

not testify. The Children were excused from attending the hearing, but were

represented by a guardian ad litem and separate legal counsel. N.T., 3/10/22,

at 4.     CYF called CAC forensic interviewer, Ms. Carter, as well as CYF

Caseworker Marshall, to testify about B.W.’s forensic interview.         We now

review their testimony in detail.

        First, Ms. Carter, testified to the following. B.W., who was six years old

at the time of the interview, was able to distinguish the difference between a

____________________________________________

7 As stated above, both Parents have appealed from these goal change orders.

See 201 through 205 MDA 2022 (Father); 295 through 299 MDA 2022
(Mother).

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truth and a lie, and he appeared to have normal cognitive functioning. N.T.,

3/10/22, at 10, 14. B.W. disclosed: he and El.A. were “being beat;” Mother

slapped him; El.A. “was slapped with a belt;” Father “beat” R.A.; and Mother

slapped both El.A. and R.A. Id. at 12. With respect to whether B.W. had

been “coached” ahead of the interview, Ms. Carter denied it was “her job to

determine if someone’s being coached[,]” and instead, she merely “gather[ed]

information.” Id. at 19. While she could not say whether B.W. had been

coached, she did not “recall anything that would [suggest] that during [B.W.’s]

interview.” Id. at 14, 19. Finally, Ms. Carter conceded she had not reviewed

the video of the interview, but confirmed her written summary of the interview

was accurate. Id. at 13, 18. Ms. Carter also stated that in Ed.A.’s separate

forensic interview that same day, Ed.A. revealed: there was “physical abuse

occurring in the home[;]” but there was no indication either parent was

slapping the children or hitting them with belts. Id. at 14.

      CYF Caseworker Marshall, who observed the forensic interview,

testified:

      [B.W.] disclose[d] that [he] and his siblings were being punished
      with . . . a black belt with little spikes on it. He reported that it
      was hurtful. [B.W.] actually stated it hurt more than a gun. He
      stated . . . the spikes were sharp and caused him to bleed. He
      stated he would cry and . . . and he was hit over and over. The
      very red marks like — were left like it was bleeding, but it wasn’t.
      And he stated that both parents would hit him. . . .

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N.T., 3/10/22, at 28-29. Caseworker Marshall sought, but did not receive,

medical records that might show physical injury to B.W. See id. at 31; Trial

Ct. Op., 6/6/22, at 10.

       With respect to El.A., Caseworker Marshall testified that B.W. stated

Mother and Father “sometimes . . . slapped [El.A.], so there was blood under

his tongue, and that [El.A.] would cry a lot and neighbors would hear.” N.T.,

3/10/22, at 29.       “An investigation revealed [El.A. was] taken to the York

Hospital emergency room for bleeding from the mouth in August 2019 when

he was less than a month old.” Trial Ct. Op., 3/4/22, at 3-4. Caseworker

Marshall “attempted multiple times” to schedule an interview with Mother and

Father, but was unsuccessful. N.T., 3/10/22, at 31-32.

       CYF entered into evidence the forensic interview summary 8 and a DVD

video of B.W.’s forensic interview. However, the trial court declined to play

the video, stating,

       . . . I don’t see any reason to play it in open court. That’s not
       going to accomplish anything. Counsel have already seen it,

____________________________________________

8 Ms. Carter described a forensic interview summary as including:

       basic demographic information, [who was] present for the
       interview, who brought the child to the center, as well as who
       observed the interview. It includes who the alleged perpetrators
       are, a brief section about the child’s functioning during the
       interview, and then a brief summary of what was said in the
       interview.

N.T., 3/10/22, at 11.

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       they’ve asked their questions, we have the summary [of the
       forensic interview.9]

N.T., 3/10/22, at 21-22.

       Finally, relevant to Father’s arguments in this appeal, we note that a

forensic interview of another sibling, Ed.A. was conducted on the same day as

B.W.’s interview, January 26, 2021. This interview did not reveal any physical

abuse against Ed.A., although there was “indication that physical abuse was

occurring in the home[.]” N.T., 3/10/22, at 15. Neither this interview nor the

ensuing summary report was presented as evidence at the finding of abuse

hearing.

       At the conclusion of the hearing, the trial court rendered a finding that

both Father and Mother were perpetrators of abuse against B.W. and El.A.

N.T., 3/10/22, at 53-54.

       As noted above, the trial court initially denied Father’s petition to

reinstate his appeal rights nunc pro tunc. However, on appeal, another panel

of this Court reversed, remanding the case and directing the reinstatement of

Father’s appeal rights and appointment of new counsel. Interest of E.A.,

____________________________________________

9 In its opinion, the trial court stated it subsequently viewed the video, “within

the period when orders may be modified or rescinded.” Trial Ct. Op., 2/16/23,
at 9 n.1. The court, however, determined “no modification of the order was
necessary.” Id.

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782 & 783 MDA 2022. Father has filed separate notices of appeal10 and the

trial court issued a new opinion on February 16, 2023.

          IV. Statement of Question Involved & Standard of Review

       On appeal, Father presents the following issue for our review:

       Whether or not the lower court erred when it entered a finding of
       abuse against [Father] without clear and convincing evidence.

Father’s Brief at 4.

       At this juncture, we note the applicable standard of review:

       [T]he standard of review in dependency cases requires an
       appellate court to accept the findings of fact and credibility
       determinations of the trial court if they are supported by the
       record[] but does not require the appellate court to accept the
       lower court’s inferences or conclusions of law. Accordingly, we
       review for an abuse of discretion.

Interest of R.J.T., 9 A.3d 1179, 1190 (Pa. 2010) (citations omitted).

       We are bound by the findings of the trial court which have
       adequate support in the record so long as the findings do not
       evidence capricious disregard for competent and credible
       evidence. The trial court is free to believe all, part, or none of the
       evidence presented, and is likewise free to make all credibility
       determinations and resolve conflicts in the evidence. Though we
       are not bound by the trial court’s inferences and deductions, we
____________________________________________

10 Although the trial court entered a single order containing separate captions

for B.W. and El.A., Father filed separate notices of appeal. He has thus
complied with Commonwealth v. Walker, 185 A.3d 969 (Pa. 2018) (when
a single order resolves issues arising on more than one trial court docket,
separate notices of appeal must be filed for each case), overruled in part,
Commonwealth v. Young, 265 A.3d 462, 477 (Pa. Dec. 2021) (reaffirming
that Pa.R.A.P. 341 requires separate notices of appeal when single order
resolves issues under more than one docket, but holding Pa.R.A.P. 902
permits appellate court to consider appellant’s request to remediate error
when notice of appeal is timely filed).

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      may reject its conclusions only if they involve errors of law or are
      clearly unreasonable in light of the trial court’s sustainable
      findings.

In re M.G., 855 A.2d 68, 73-74 (Pa. Super. 2004) (citation omitted).

      [W]e must defer to the trial judges who see and hear the parties
      and can determine the credibility to be placed on each witness
      and, premised thereon. . . . Even if an appellate court would have
      made a different conclusion based on the cold record, we are not
      in a position to reweigh the evidence and the credibility
      determinations of the trial court. . . .

Interest of R.J.T., 9 A.3d at 1190.

                       V. Father’s Issue: Finding of Abuse

      On appeal, Father avers the trial court erred in finding he is a perpetrator

of abuse, where there was no clear and convincing evidence. Father maintains

that “[a]n indicated finding must be based on substantial evidence supported

by   an   admission,   corroborating    medical   evidence,   or   the   Agency’s

investigation.”   Father’s Brief at 13. He provides the following evidentiary

arguments. First, with respect to B.W., CYF pursued a finding of abuse based

solely on the disclosures B.W. made, when he was six years old. Id. However,

the finding of abuse hearing was not conducted until 13 months later, and the

forensic interview was not played in court. Id. CYF presented no medical

evidence as to B.W., any admission by the parents, photographs, nor,

“importantly, [any] consistent and credible statements by” B.W. Id. at 14.

Furthermore, Caseworker Marshall testified that B.W. told her “both parents

would hit him, but Daddy would do less hits[.]” Id. at 8.

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      With respect to El.A., Father acknowledges CYF did introduce a medical

report, but emphasizes it indicated a “low suspicion of child abuse.” Father’s

Brief at 14. El.A. did not testify at the hearing. Id. Although B.W. stated in

his interview that El.A. was bleeding from the mouth, when Ms. Carter asked

B.W. who caused this injury, the response was merely, “[T]hey beat” El.A.

Id. at 7. Finally, Father recounts that while Ed.A. also underwent a forensic

interview, “there was no disclosure regarding Mother of Father slapping the

children.” Id. After careful review, we determine no relief is due.

      This Court has explained:

      While dependency proceedings are governed by the Juvenile
      Act . . . the Child Protective Services Law . . . pertains to a court’s
      finding of “child abuse,” which must be supported by clear and
      convincing evidence. [A]s “part of [a] dependency adjudication,
      a court may find a parent to be the perpetrator of child abuse,” as
      defined by the CPSL.

Interest of X.P., 248 A.3d 1274, 1276 (Pa. Super. 2021) (citations omitted).

      The CPSL defines child abuse, in relevant part, as follows:

           (b.1) Child abuse. The term “child abuse” shall mean
      intentionally, knowingly or recklessly doing any of the following:

               (1) Causing bodily injury to a child through any recent
          act or failure to act.

                                   *     *      *

              [(8)(iv)] Forcefully slapping or otherwise striking a child
          under one year of age. . . .

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23 Pa.C.S. § 6303(b.1)(1), (8)(iv).            Bodily injury, in turn, is defined as

“[i]mpairment of physical condition or substantial pain.”11             23 Pa.C.S.

§ 6303(a).

       In its latest opinion, issued after the remand by this Court, the trial court

addressed Father’s issues. First, with respect to the passage of 13 months

____________________________________________

11 Furthermore, with respect to the definitions of intentionally, knowingly, and

recklessly, the definitional section of the CPSL refers to 18 Pa.C.S. § 302(b),
which provides:

           (1) A person acts intentionally with respect to a material
       element of an offense when:

                 (i) . . . it is his conscious object to engage in conduct of
            that nature or to cause such a result; and

                (ii) . . . he is aware of the existence of such circumstances
            or he believes or hopes that they exist.

            (2) A person acts knowingly . . . when:

                 (i) . . . he is aware that his conduct is of that nature or
            that such circumstances exist; and

                (ii) . . . he is aware that it is practically certain that his
            conduct will cause such a result.

            (3) A person acts recklessly . . .when he consciously
       disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the material
       element exists or will result from his conduct. The risk must be
       of such a nature and degree that, considering the nature and
       intent of the actor’s conduct and the circumstances known to him,
       its disregard involves a gross deviation from the standard of
       conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the actor’s
       situation.

See 18 Pa.C.S. § 302(b)(1)-(3); 23 Pa.C.S. § 6303(a).

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from B.W.’s forensic interview to the finding of abuse hearing, the trial court

noted “there were delays with the law enforcement investigation [of] the

abuse allegations,” related to the question of where the Children were living

at the time of the alleged abuse or allegations, and the fact the family had

moved. Trial Ct. Op., 2/16/23, at 3. “These delays impacted CYF, who works

in conjunction with law enforcement when referrals involve criminal

allegations[, and both CYF] and the parties complained about reaching out to

police departments and not receiving updates.” Id. The trial court directed

CYF to schedule a meeting with the District Attorney’s Office and law

enforcement, while increasing visitation for the Parents while the investigation

was pending. Id. at 4. In October of 2021, a York Regional Police Detective

“reached out to Mother and Father to schedule” and interview, but they were

“unresponsive.” Id.

      Father’s remaining arguments go to the weight of the evidence

presented by CYF. The trial court noted that “at the hearing, Father proceeded

on a theory that B.W.’s disclosures were not credible because he was

coached.” Trial Ct. Op., 2/16/23, at 9. The court, who bore the responsibility

of weighing the evidence, “did not find that B.W. had been coached.” Id. The

court considered:

      The CAC summary . . . indicated that B.W. disclosed that his mom
      and dad beat him and his siblings and had slapped them, including
      El.A. B.W. reported being beat with a belt with spikes on it. B.W.
      reported witnessing El.A. being slapped and that this caused
      bleeding in El.A.’s mouth. B.W. further disclosed finding pills,
      witnessing drug use, and that his mommy and daddy did drugs.

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      The testimony regarding drug use was deemed credible as a
      referral had been made to CYF as a result of Father’s overdose.

Id. at 10 (record citations omitted).

      With respect to El.A.’s medical report, the trial court summarized:

      [The report] revealed that EI.A. had been seen in the hospital for
      bleeding from the mouth when only twenty-two days old. The
      Court noted that a hospital child protection team inpatient
      consultation report listed a low suspicion of abuse “with the
      information available to date,” but the final diagnosis was listed
      as unexplained. As such, the Court did not find this dispositive as
      to whether abuse occurred.

Id. (record citations omitted).

      The trial court also reviewed the testimony of Ms. Carter and Caseworker

Marshall, as summarized above, including Ms. Carter’s opinion that B.W. could

distinguish the truth from a lie. Trial Ct. Op., 2/16/23, 10-15. Finally, the

court considered the statement of B.W.’s guardian ad litem, that “[he] fully

believe[d] that [ B.W.] was credible, and . . . that his testimony in that

interview support[ed]” CYF’s petitions. Id. at 15, citing N.T., 3/10/22, at 53.

      Upon review, we find no abuse of discretion.          Father’s arguments

essentially seek to have this Court re-weigh the evidence and supplant the

trial court’s credibility determinations with our own. This we cannot do. See

Interest of R.J.T., 9 A.3d at 1190; In re M.G., 855 A.2d at 73-74. As the

record supports the trial court’s finding of abuse, we do not disturb the court’s

credibility determinations and determinations as to weight of the evidence.

      Lastly, we consider Father’s reliance on the Commonwealth Court’s

unreported decision in Lackawanna Co. Children & Youth Servs. v. Dep’t

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of Pub. Welfare, 1441 C.D. 2011 (unpub. memo.) (Pa. Cmwlth. April 27,

2012) (Lackawanna Co), for the propositions that a child may be found not

credible   “based     on   [their]    conflicting   statements    and   lack   of   any

corroboration.”12      Father’s Brief at 15.        We determine this decision is

distinguishable.

       First, as Father notes, Lackawanna Co. addressed a petitioner’s-

request to expunge an indicated report of child sexual abuse against him.

Lackawanna Co., 1441 C.D. 2011 (unpub. memo. at 1). An administrative

law judge (ADJ) conducted an evidentiary hearing, where the 15 year old child

victim — the daughter of the petitioner’s live-in girlfriend — testified the

perpetrator abused her from the age of 11 to 14.                 Id. at 4.   On cross-

examination, the child was confronted with a handwritten recantation, which

she had previously signed, of the allegations the petitioner had abused her.

Id. at 4-5. The child explained she signed the statement in a police station in

Haiti, under her mother’s threat to leave her there if she did not agree. Id.

at 5. The ADJ weighed this evidence and found the child was not credible

because of the inconsistency between her testimony and the written

statement. Id. at 10. The ADJ thus recommended expunction of the indicated

report of child abuse, and the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare,

____________________________________________

12 See Pa.R.A.P. 126(b)(1)-(1) (an unreported memorandum opinion of the

Commonwealth Court, filed after January 15, 2008, may be cited for its
persuasive value).

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Bureau of Hearings and Appeals adopted this recommendation. Id. at 1. On

appeal by the County Children and Youth Services agency, the Commonwealth

Court affirmed, reasoning it was the function of the fact finder to resolve

conflicts in testimony. Id. at 13.

      First, we point out that Lackawanna Co. addressed a different type of

proceeding — the expunction of an indicated report of child abuse — from that

presented in the case sub judice. The Commonwealth Court considered the

burden of proof in an expunction case, which is whether the county agency

“present[ed] evidence, which outweighs any contrary evidence, that the

alleged perpetrator’s actions constituted child abuse.”     Lackawanna Co.,

1441 C.D. 2011 (unpub. memo. at 12). That burden of proof is not relevant

here. See Interest of X.P., 248 A.3d at 1276 (a court’s finding of child abuse

must be supported by clear and convincing evidence).

      More importantly, the salient factor in the above discussion is not

present here — inconsistent statements made by the child. Father does not

point to any part of the evidence showing either B.W. or El.A. gave

inconsistent statements about the abuse.        Accordingly, the Commonwealth

Court’s decision does not support Father’s argument for relief.

                                     VI. Conclusion

      For the foregoing reasons, affirm the trial court’s March 10, 2022, order

finding Father was a perpetrator of abuse with regard to B.W. and El.A.

      Order affirmed.

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Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 08/28/2023

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