In re C.I.M.

715 S.E.2d 247, 214 N.C. App. 342, 2011 N.C. App. LEXIS 1621
Court of Appeals of North Carolina·Decided August 2, 2011·No. No. COA11-223·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

HUNTER, Robert C., Judge.

Respondent-father Christopher M. appeals the trial court’s order terminating his parental rights with respect to his four children, [343] C.I.M. (“Carl”), G.H.M. (“Gary”), L.P.M. (“Lyle”), and R.D.A.M. (“Renee”).1 After careful review, we affirm.

Facts

Respondent-father and respondent-mother Ashley W. are the biological parents of the four juveniles. McDowell County Department of Social Services (“DSS”) first became involved -with the family in 2002, when DSS received a referral stating that respondent-mother, who was 17 years old at the time, was living with respondent-father, who was 33, and that she had just given birth to Carl. After respondent-mother moved out of the house, DSS closed the case. Although DSS received a report in 2003 that respondent-mother had moved back in with respondent-father, the case was closed because respondent-mother turned 18 during the investigation.

In April 2008, DSS received a report of domestic violence between respondent-father and respondent-mother. After investigation, the family was found to be in need of services and in-home family preservation services were put in place to prevent removal of the juveniles. The case was closed after the family complied with the services.

In February 2009, DSS received a report of improper supervision, alleging that respondents had left the juveniles to be watched by another child of respondent-father’s who previously had been caught performing a sexual act on Gary. The allegation was substantiated, the older child was removed from respondents’ home, and the case was closed.

On 3Ó March 2009, respondent-father filed a complaint for a domestic violence protective order, alleging that respondent-mother had chased him and threatened to hit him with a pole. During DSS1 investigation, respondents accused each other of committing acts of domestic violence. Respondent-father eventually dropped the complaint in May 2009. On 7 May 2009, respondent-father left the juveniles with their maternal grandmother while she was recovering from injuries sustained during an incident of domestic violence. When the DSS social worker visited the house on 9 May 2009, the grandmother indicated that respondent-father had not returned home, that she did not know how to get in contact with him, and that she could not take care of the juveniles as she was recovering from her injuries. The juveniles were moved to another family member’s home for the night and subsequently placed in kinship placements.

[344] On 22 May 2009, DSS filed petitions alleging that the juveniles were neglected and dependent juveniles due to their not having received proper care and supervision and their living in an environment injurious to their welfare. DSS further alleged with respect to Carl, who suffers from a medical condition similar to cerebral palsy, that he was not receiving proper medical care. In a consent order entered 8 October 2009, the juveniles were adjudicated as being dependent and neglected and DSS was granted custody of the juveniles. In addition, the trial court’s order directed respondent-father to complete a GAIN assessment; to complete a psychological assessment; to go to anger management counseling; to submit to random drug screens; to attend parenting classes; and to pay child support.

In a permanency planning order entered 9 July 2010, the trial court found that respondent-father had failed to complete a GAIN assessment or psychological evaluation; failed to enter anger management counseling or parenting classes; and failed to submit to any random drug screens. The court also found that respondent-father had visited with the juveniles only four times since May 2009 and that two of the visits had been unsupervised by DSS, in violation of the 8 October 2009 consent order.

A week later, on 13 July 2010, DSS filed a termination of parental rights (“TPR”) petition, alleging grounds existed for terminating respondents’ parental rights with respect to the four juveniles under General Statute sections 7B-llll(a)(l) (neglect), 7B-llll(a)(2) (willfully leaving juvenile in foster care), 7B-llll(a)(3) (willfully failing to pay reasonable portion of juvenile’s care), 7B-llll(a)(6) (incapacity to provide proper care or supervision), and 7B-llll(a)(7) (willful abandonment). After conducting a hearing on the TPR petition, the trial court entered an order on 10 November 2010 in which the court determined that grounds for terminating respondents’ parental rights existed under sections 7B-llll(a)(l), 7B-1111(a)(2), 7B-llll(a)(3), and 7B-llll(a)(7), but not under section 7B-llll(a)(6). The trial court further concluded that termination of respondents’ parental rights was in the best interests of the juveniles, and, consequently, terminated their parental rights with respect to Carl, Gary, Lyle, and Renee. Respondent-father timely appealed to this Court.2

[345] I

Respondent-father first contends that the trial court erred in determining that grounds existed for terminating his parental rights under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a) (2009). “The standard for appellate review of the trial court’s conclusion that grounds exist for termination of parental rights is whether the trial [court]’s findings of fact are supported by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence, and whether these findings support its conclusions of law.” In re McMillon, 143 N.C. App. 402, 408, 546 S.E.2d 169, 174, disc. review denied, 354 N.C. 218, 554 S.E.2d 341 (2001). Findings of fact supported by competent evidence are binding on appeal, despite evidence in the record that might support a contrary finding. In re Montgomery, 311 N.C. 101, 110-11, 316 S.E.2d 246, 252-53 (1984).

Here, the trial court concluded that a basis for termination existed pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(7), which provides that parental rights may be terminated when “[t]he parent has willfully abandoned the juvenile for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the filing of the [TPR] petition or motion ....” For purposes of Chapter 7B cases, “ ‘[abandonment implies conduct on the part of the parent which manifests a willful determination to forego all parental duties and relinquish all parental claims to the child.’ ” In re Young, 346 N.C. 244, 251, 485 S.E.2d 612, 617 (1997) (quoting In re Adoption of Searle, 82 N.C. App. 273, 275, 346 S.E.2d 511, 514 (1986)). Our courts have consistently held that “ ‘if a parent withholds his presence, his love, his care, the opportunity to display filial affection, and wilfully neglects to lend support and maintenance, such parent relinquishes all parental claims and abandons the child.’ ” In re J.D.L., 199 N.C. App. 182, 189-90, 681 S.E.2d 485, 491 (2009) (quoting Pratt v. Bishop, 257 N.C. 486, 501, 126 S.E.2d 597, 608 (1962)).

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

In re C.I.M., 715 S.E.2d 247, 214 N.C. App. 342, 2011 N.C. App. LEXIS 1621 (N.C. Ct. App. 2011).

715 S.E.2d 247 (In re C.I.M.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

In re: K.J.B.L.
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2025
In re: A.H. & C.H.
794 S.E.2d 866 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2016)
In re J.M.M.
Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2014
In Re Cim
715 S.E.2d 247 (Court of Appeals of North Carolina, 2011)