Department of Children & Families v. P.F.

107 So. 3d 1123, 2013 WL 645321
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedFebruary 18, 2012
DocketNo. 5D12-4296
StatusPublished

This text of 107 So. 3d 1123 (Department of Children & Families v. P.F.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Department of Children & Families v. P.F., 107 So. 3d 1123, 2013 WL 645321 (Fla. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

GRIFFIN, J.

Petitioners, Department of Children and Families [“DCF”] and J.A., the father, seek certiorari review of the trial court’s order on the October 1 and 5, 2012 Keeping Children Safe Act1 [“KCSA”] hearing [1125]*1125that granted the maternal grandfather access to the child, K.A. DCF is correct that the statutory procedure was not followed. Accordingly, we grant the petition, quash the order of the trial court, and remand for a new hearing.

In July 2012, the child was removed from her mother and placed in protective custody. It was alleged that the mother and her paramour used drugs in front of the child. The paramour died in front of the child from a drug overdose. At the shelter hearing, the child was placed with a maternal aunt, and the mother was granted supervised visitation. The father was granted unsupervised visits, and the maternal grandfather was granted supervised visits over DCF’s objection. D.K., the maternal grandfather’s long-term companion, was allowed to supervise the mother’s visitation.

At the August 20, 2012, disposition hearing, D.K. requested a homestudy and custody of the child. DCF advised that a homestudy would be denied because of the maternal grandfather’s prior child abuse registry history. The comprehensive behavioral health assessment [“CBHA”] filed with the court noted that, one year earlier, there was a verified finding of sexual abuse of the child by the maternal grandfather.

At a September 10, 2012 status hearing, DCF advised that the grandfather’s record reflected a criminal charge that subjected him to the KCSA even though the charge [1126]*1126was subsequently dismissed. In the announcement of no information, the state attorney had explained:

The evidence available is insufficient to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. Because of the child’s young age she is not likely to be considered a competent witness. Further the defendant denies any improper conduct and persons who were reported to have potential William’s Rule evidence deny any misconduct by the defendant. A conviction is not reasonably likely and thus the case must be declined....

Shortly thereafter, the aunt reported that she could no longer care for the child. On September 21, 2012, an emergency motion to modify placement from the aunt to foster care was filed and a hearing was held the same day. The court ordered a non-relative placement with D.K. The court ordered the grandfather to leave the residence until a KCSA hearing could be held. DCF and the Guardian Ad Litem [“GAL”] objected to the placement because there was not an approved home-study. The grandfather was permitted to have supervised visitation.

A KCSA hearing was held October 1 and 5, 2012. The court noted that “a rebuttable presumption of detriment to a child is created when ... a court of competent jurisdiction has found probable cause exists that a parent or caregiver has sexually abused a child as defined in 39.01.” The court correctly explained that in a KCSA hearing pursuant to section 39.0139, Florida Statutes, a person seeking contact must present clear and convincing evidence that the safety, wellbeing, physical, mental, or emotional health of the child is not endangered.

The hearing began with DCF calling the child protective investigator [“CPI”], who investigated the allegations of sexual abuse by the grandfather. The CPI testified that the child disclosed that the grandfather touched her vaginal area. The child was taken for a Child Protection Team [“CPT”] interview and medical exam, at which the child disclosed that the grandfather stuck his penis in her mouth. DCF also called a member of the CPT to testify. The CPT member verified that the child indicated on an anatomical drawing that her grandfather put his penis in her mouth. The CPT member also determined that the child had information that a four-year-old child would not typically have. The child also informed the CPT member that her grandfather kissed her privates. The CPT made verified findings of abuse.

Detective Chris Ball testified that the foregoing was part of what he used to make his determination that probable cause existed to arrest the grandfather. In addition to that information, the child informed him that she was no longer allowed to see her grandfather because he touched her privates. When interviewed, the grandfather denied the allegations, but the detective concluded that he displayed “obvious signs of deception through all the interviews.” The detective also testified that the mother informed him that she had heard that the grandfather also inappropriately touched the mother’s sister and step-brother. The detective testified that he spoke with the maternal grandmother who informed the detective that she witnessed the grandfather kissing the breasts of her daughter who was seven years old at the time. The mother’s sister told the detective that she did not remember the alleged incident.

During the KCSA hearing, the mother’s attorney informed the court that the mother and grandfather wished to testify to rebut the presumption, and the hearing was continued. At the October 5, 2012, hearing, the court indicated that it would [1127]*1127watch the DVDs of the CPT interviews first. After doing so, the court announced that it did not need to hear anything else, found no probable cause, and advised the grandfather that he could return home.

On October 30, 2012, DCF moved to stay the trial court’s order so it could appeal as soon as the order was rendered. The trial court held a hearing and denied the emergency notice of stay. At the hearing, the court said:

[ A]ll you got to do is look at the tapes and I think I kind of, even though you mentioned in your motion, Ms. Antrim, that there was probable cause found in 2011-CF-1363, I was the judge that did that and all we have to do is find probable cause for the detainment.
That was undisputed, unchallenged statements by a law enforcement officer. Based upon that, and that alone, that’s— we have a finding of probable cause for detainment. Whether or not there’s probable cause for the prosecutor to file charges is a different story.
[[Image here]]
And I can tell you and I’m looking at my notes, the child in an initial — which I felt was kind of coached, but — he touched and — he kissed and touched my vagina. One time she said she had no clothes on, another time she says, “Yeah, I had clothes on.” And then she says, “Only dad can touch the private parts. No one else does, no one else does.” And then she says, to even clarify with dad, “Dad touched with a car on her private area. Nobody else touches but daddy.” Okay, so—
[[Image here]]
And I’m supposed to find probable cause based upon that and I, and I do not.
[[Image here]]
MS. ANTRIM: You did the first appearance.
THE COURT: Okay. Now, and after listening, you know, probable cause is challenged in that case. So whenever you’re looking at a cold, hard piece of paper, you take for granted everything that’s said and you say: Based upon what I’m reading here, probable cause exists. Just upon that, yes.

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Related

Perry v. State
842 So. 2d 301 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 2003)

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Bluebook (online)
107 So. 3d 1123, 2013 WL 645321, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/department-of-children-families-v-pf-fladistctapp-2012.