[Cite as In re G.J., 2015-Ohio-266.]
COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
IN THE MATTER OF: : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. G. J. : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : : Case No. CT2014-0030 : : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, Case No. 21330257
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: January 20, 2015
APPEARANCES:
For Appellant-Mother For Appellee
ROSE M. FOX MOLLY L. MARTIN 233 Main Street 27 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 P.O. Box 189 Zanesville, OH 43702-0189 For Father Guardian Ad Litem SCOTT PATTERSON 2609 Bell Street THOMAS A. McCARTY Zanesville, OH 43701 58 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 For Sara Joseph
SCOTT T. HILLIS 401 Market Street Zanesville, OH 43701 Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 2
Farmer, J.
{¶1} On December 4, 2013, appellee, Muskingum County Children Services,
filed a complaint for temporary custody of G.J., born August 27, 2010, alleging the child
to be neglected and dependent due to domestic violence incidents within the home.
Mother of the child is appellant, Jessica Covington; father is Michael Pullie. Appellant
had legal custody of the child and they resided with appellant's husband, Andre
Covington.
{¶2} On February 5, 2014, Mr. Pullie filed a motion for legal custody of the
child.
{¶3} On February 25, 2014, the child was found to be neglected and dependent
and was placed in the temporary custody of the child's maternal aunt, Sara Joseph.
{¶4} A hearing on the legal custody motion was held on June 3, 2014. By entry
filed June 5, 2014, the trial court granted legal custody of the child to Mr. Pullie.
{¶5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for
consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
I
{¶6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT AWARDED LEGAL CUSTODY
WITHOUT MAKING A FINDING THAT REASONABLE EFFORTS HAD BEEN TAKEN
TO PREVENT THE CONTINUED REMOVAL OF G.J.".
II
{¶7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO GRANT A
CONTINUANCE OF THE PROCEEDINGS DUE TO THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM'S
REPORT NOT BEING FILED SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING." Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 3
{¶8} Appellant claims the trial court erred in awarding legal custody of the child
to her biological father without a finding of reasonable efforts by appellee to reunite
mother and child. We disagree.
{¶9} On February 5, 2014, Mr. Pullie filed a motion for legal custody of the child
while appellee's temporary custody complaint was pending. Thereafter, on February
25, 2014, the child was found to be neglected and dependent and was placed in the
temporary custody of her maternal aunt, Ms. Joseph.
{¶10} Appellant argues the trial court violated R.C. 2151.419 by failing to make a
finding on reunification efforts by appellee. Subsection (A)(1) states the following:
Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, at any hearing
held pursuant to section 2151.28, division (E) of section 2151.31, or
section 2151.314, 2151.33, or 2151.353 of the Revised Code at which the
court removes a child from the child's home or continues the removal of a
child from the child's home, the court shall determine whether the public
children services agency or private child placing agency that filed the
complaint in the case, removed the child from home, has custody of the
child, or will be given custody of the child has made reasonable efforts to
prevent the removal of the child from the child's home, to eliminate the
continued removal of the child from the child's home, or to make it
possible for the child to return safely home. The agency shall have the
burden of proving that it has made those reasonable efforts. If the agency Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 4
removed the child from home during an emergency in which the child
could not safely remain at home and the agency did not have prior contact
with the child, the court is not prohibited, solely because the agency did
not make reasonable efforts during the emergency to prevent the removal
of the child, from determining that the agency made those reasonable
efforts. In determining whether reasonable efforts were made, the child's
health and safety shall be paramount. (Emphasis added.)
{¶11} The hearing on the motion for legal custody falls squarely within R.C.
2151.353(A)(3) which states the following in pertinent part:
(A) If a child is adjudicated an abused, neglected, or dependent
child, the court may make any of the following orders of disposition:
(3) Award legal custody of the child to either parent or to any other
person who, prior to the dispositional hearing, files a motion requesting
legal custody of the child or is identified as a proposed legal custodian in a
complaint or motion filed prior to the dispositional hearing by any party to
the proceedings.
{¶12} Based upon the foregoing, a determination on reasonable efforts was
required. Prior to the adjudication of neglect and dependency, appellant was the legal
custodian of the child. The child was removed from appellant's custody and placed with Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 5
the child's maternal aunt. We find R.C. 2151.419 controls over the award of legal
custody to the biological father, a previous non-custodial party.
{¶13} Although the trial court's June 5, 2014 entry does not specifically address
what reasonable efforts were made, the trial court found appellant "has not completed
her case plan, is unemployed and the concerns surrounding her husband, Andre
Covington make it evident that Legal Custody to her is not appropriate."
{¶14} Appellant continues to remain with Andre Covington. T. at 21. Mr.
Covington was convicted of child abuse in Missouri. Id. He was currently facing
charges of assault and violation of a protection order stemming from an incident that
had occurred a month prior to the hearing. T. at 77. Appellant was dishonest with her
caseworker, adamantly telling her caseworker she was pregnant when in fact she
wasn't. T. at 19-20. This caused concern for the caseworker about appellant's "ability
to be honest in the future regarding domestic violence incidents between her and her
husband Andre" and therefore her ability to protect the child in the future. T. at 20. As a
result, the caseworker amended the case plan for appellant to undergo a psychological
evaluation. T. at 19. Appellant admitted to having her husband present in the home in
violation of the safety plan in place. T. at 95-96.
{¶15} We find the record supports a showing of reasonable efforts as
demonstrated by the testimony presented during the hearing, the trial court's entry, and
the report of the guardian ad litem.
{¶16} Assignment of Error I is denied. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 6
{¶17} Appellant claims the trial court erred in not granting a continuance on the
basis that the guardian ad litem filed his report less than seven days before the hearing.
We disagree.
{¶18} The grant or denial of a continuance rests in the trial court's sound
discretion. State v. Unger, 67 Ohio St.2d 65 (1981). In order to find an abuse of that
discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or
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[Cite as In re G.J., 2015-Ohio-266.]
COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
IN THE MATTER OF: : JUDGES: : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. G. J. : Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : : Case No. CT2014-0030 : : OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, Case No. 21330257
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: January 20, 2015
APPEARANCES:
For Appellant-Mother For Appellee
ROSE M. FOX MOLLY L. MARTIN 233 Main Street 27 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 P.O. Box 189 Zanesville, OH 43702-0189 For Father Guardian Ad Litem SCOTT PATTERSON 2609 Bell Street THOMAS A. McCARTY Zanesville, OH 43701 58 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 For Sara Joseph
SCOTT T. HILLIS 401 Market Street Zanesville, OH 43701 Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 2
Farmer, J.
{¶1} On December 4, 2013, appellee, Muskingum County Children Services,
filed a complaint for temporary custody of G.J., born August 27, 2010, alleging the child
to be neglected and dependent due to domestic violence incidents within the home.
Mother of the child is appellant, Jessica Covington; father is Michael Pullie. Appellant
had legal custody of the child and they resided with appellant's husband, Andre
Covington.
{¶2} On February 5, 2014, Mr. Pullie filed a motion for legal custody of the
child.
{¶3} On February 25, 2014, the child was found to be neglected and dependent
and was placed in the temporary custody of the child's maternal aunt, Sara Joseph.
{¶4} A hearing on the legal custody motion was held on June 3, 2014. By entry
filed June 5, 2014, the trial court granted legal custody of the child to Mr. Pullie.
{¶5} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for
consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
I
{¶6} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT AWARDED LEGAL CUSTODY
WITHOUT MAKING A FINDING THAT REASONABLE EFFORTS HAD BEEN TAKEN
TO PREVENT THE CONTINUED REMOVAL OF G.J.".
II
{¶7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO GRANT A
CONTINUANCE OF THE PROCEEDINGS DUE TO THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM'S
REPORT NOT BEING FILED SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING." Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 3
{¶8} Appellant claims the trial court erred in awarding legal custody of the child
to her biological father without a finding of reasonable efforts by appellee to reunite
mother and child. We disagree.
{¶9} On February 5, 2014, Mr. Pullie filed a motion for legal custody of the child
while appellee's temporary custody complaint was pending. Thereafter, on February
25, 2014, the child was found to be neglected and dependent and was placed in the
temporary custody of her maternal aunt, Ms. Joseph.
{¶10} Appellant argues the trial court violated R.C. 2151.419 by failing to make a
finding on reunification efforts by appellee. Subsection (A)(1) states the following:
Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, at any hearing
held pursuant to section 2151.28, division (E) of section 2151.31, or
section 2151.314, 2151.33, or 2151.353 of the Revised Code at which the
court removes a child from the child's home or continues the removal of a
child from the child's home, the court shall determine whether the public
children services agency or private child placing agency that filed the
complaint in the case, removed the child from home, has custody of the
child, or will be given custody of the child has made reasonable efforts to
prevent the removal of the child from the child's home, to eliminate the
continued removal of the child from the child's home, or to make it
possible for the child to return safely home. The agency shall have the
burden of proving that it has made those reasonable efforts. If the agency Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 4
removed the child from home during an emergency in which the child
could not safely remain at home and the agency did not have prior contact
with the child, the court is not prohibited, solely because the agency did
not make reasonable efforts during the emergency to prevent the removal
of the child, from determining that the agency made those reasonable
efforts. In determining whether reasonable efforts were made, the child's
health and safety shall be paramount. (Emphasis added.)
{¶11} The hearing on the motion for legal custody falls squarely within R.C.
2151.353(A)(3) which states the following in pertinent part:
(A) If a child is adjudicated an abused, neglected, or dependent
child, the court may make any of the following orders of disposition:
(3) Award legal custody of the child to either parent or to any other
person who, prior to the dispositional hearing, files a motion requesting
legal custody of the child or is identified as a proposed legal custodian in a
complaint or motion filed prior to the dispositional hearing by any party to
the proceedings.
{¶12} Based upon the foregoing, a determination on reasonable efforts was
required. Prior to the adjudication of neglect and dependency, appellant was the legal
custodian of the child. The child was removed from appellant's custody and placed with Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 5
the child's maternal aunt. We find R.C. 2151.419 controls over the award of legal
custody to the biological father, a previous non-custodial party.
{¶13} Although the trial court's June 5, 2014 entry does not specifically address
what reasonable efforts were made, the trial court found appellant "has not completed
her case plan, is unemployed and the concerns surrounding her husband, Andre
Covington make it evident that Legal Custody to her is not appropriate."
{¶14} Appellant continues to remain with Andre Covington. T. at 21. Mr.
Covington was convicted of child abuse in Missouri. Id. He was currently facing
charges of assault and violation of a protection order stemming from an incident that
had occurred a month prior to the hearing. T. at 77. Appellant was dishonest with her
caseworker, adamantly telling her caseworker she was pregnant when in fact she
wasn't. T. at 19-20. This caused concern for the caseworker about appellant's "ability
to be honest in the future regarding domestic violence incidents between her and her
husband Andre" and therefore her ability to protect the child in the future. T. at 20. As a
result, the caseworker amended the case plan for appellant to undergo a psychological
evaluation. T. at 19. Appellant admitted to having her husband present in the home in
violation of the safety plan in place. T. at 95-96.
{¶15} We find the record supports a showing of reasonable efforts as
demonstrated by the testimony presented during the hearing, the trial court's entry, and
the report of the guardian ad litem.
{¶16} Assignment of Error I is denied. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 6
{¶17} Appellant claims the trial court erred in not granting a continuance on the
basis that the guardian ad litem filed his report less than seven days before the hearing.
We disagree.
{¶18} The grant or denial of a continuance rests in the trial court's sound
discretion. State v. Unger, 67 Ohio St.2d 65 (1981). In order to find an abuse of that
discretion, we must determine the trial court's decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or
unconscionable and not merely an error of law or judgment. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5
Ohio St.3d 217 (1983).
{¶19} Sup.R. 48(F)(1)(c) states a guardian ad litem shall file his/her report "no
less than seven days before the dispositional hearing." In the case sub judice, the
guardian ad litem filed his report the morning of the hearing date, June 3, 2014.
{¶20} At the commencement of the hearing, appellant's attorney requested a
continuance because of the late filing. T. at 1. The trial court denied the motion, but
granted a recess to give the parties ample time to review the report. T. at 1, 13.
Following the recess, no additional continuance requests or objections to the report
were made. The guardian ad litem was present during the hearing and participated in
questioning the witnesses. Appellant did not call the guardian ad litem to the witness
stand to cross-examine him on his report. Appellant has not demonstrated any
prejudice resulting from the late filing.
{¶21} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying
the request for a continuance.
{¶22} Assignment of Error II is denied. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2014-0030 7
{¶23} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Muskingum County, Ohio,
Juvenile Division is hereby affirmed.
By Farmer, J.
Gwin, J. and
Baldwin, J. concur.
SGF/sg 108