In re J.H.

2011 Ohio 1077

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 9, 2011
• Docket: 10 CA 43
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as In re J.H., 2011-Ohio-1077.]

COURT OF APPEALS GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: IN THE MATTER OF: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P. J. Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J. J.H. Hon. John W. Wise, J.

J.H. Case No. 10 CA 43

Dependent/Neglected Children OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No. 09 JC 426

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 9, 2011

APPEARANCES:

For Appellant Terry Huey For Appellee Children Services Board

MICHAEL GROH AMBER D. WOOTTON 919 Wheeling Avenue ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR Cambridge, Ohio 43725 139 West 8th Street, P. O. Box 640 Cambridge, Ohio 43725 Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 2

Wise, J.

{¶1} Appellant-father Terry Huey appeals from the decision of the Guernsey

County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, granting permanent custody of his

sons, J.H. and J.H., to Appellee Guernsey County Children Services Board (“GCCSB”).

The relevant facts leading to this appeal are as follows.

{¶2} In February 2009, Monica Anthrop gave birth to J.H. and J.H., twin boys.

On May 26, 2009, Monica voluntarily relinquished physical custody of both sons to

GCCSB, via a 30-day “Voluntary Agreement for Care.” The agreement was extended

for thirty more days on June 24, 2009.

{¶3} On July 23, 2009, upon the request of GCCSB, the trial court granted

temporary custody of J.H. and J.H. to the agency. The matter proceeded to an

adjudicatory hearing on September 30, 2009, at which time the trial court found both

boys to be neglected and dependent. At about this time, paternity testing confirmed that

appellant was the father of the twin boys.

{¶4} On October 10, 2009, the trial court conducted a dispositional hearing and

maintained temporary custody with the agency

{¶5} On March 25, 2010, GCCSB filed a motion for permanent custody.

{¶6} While the aforesaid court events were transpiring, appellant was in prison

in Ohio for convictions of receiving stolen property and failing to comply with the order of

a police officer. His period of incarceration ran from July 31, 2008 to July 17, 2010.1

There was also a new misdemeanor theft charge and two charges of operating a motor

vehicle without a license pending against appellant after his July 2010 release.

1 As we will subsequently discuss, appellant had also been incarcerated for burglary and grand larceny in the State of New York from January 1999 until November 2007. Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 3

{¶7} GCCSB’s motion for permanent custody was heard on July 1, August 25,

and October 10, 2010. Via judgment entry filed October 12, 2010, the trial court granted

permanent custody to GCCSB.2

{¶8} On November 8, 2010, appellant filed a notice of appeal. He herein raises

the following three Assignments of Error:

{¶9} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT THE CHILDREN

COULD NOT BE PLACED WITH THE FATHER IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF

TIME UNDER R.C. §2151.414(B)(2).

{¶10} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT PERMANENT

CUSTODY WAS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILDREN UNDER O.R.C.

§2151.414(D).

{¶11} “III. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FINDING THAT 2 FACTORS OF

O.R.C. §2151.414(E) APPLY TO THIS CASE.”

I.

{¶12} In his First Assignment of Error, appellant challenges the trial court's

conclusion that J.H. and J.H. could not be placed with him within a reasonable time or

should not be placed with him.

{¶13} In the case sub judice, the trial court relied on R.C. 2151.414(B)(2), which

states as follows:

{¶14} “With respect to a motion made pursuant to division (D)(2) of section

2151.413 of the Revised Code, the court shall grant permanent custody of the child to

the movant if the court determines in accordance with division (E) of this section that the

2 Ms. Anthrop has not appealed the permanent custody decision to this Court. Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 4

child cannot be placed with one of the child's parents within a reasonable time or should

not be placed with either parent and determines in accordance with division (D) of this

section that permanent custody is in the child's best interest.”3

{¶15} The crux of appellant’s argument is that the trial court failed to set forth the

existence of any factors under division (E) of R.C. 2151.414 as envisioned by the

aforesaid statutory language. However, the judgment entry of October 12, 2010

includes the following conclusions rendered in implicit reference to R.C.

2151.414(E)(12) and (13):

{¶16} “1. The father was incarcerated at the time of filing for permanent custody

and will not be able to care for the child for at least 18 months after the filing of the

motion for permanent custody.

{¶17} “2. The parents, both the father and the mother, are repeatedly

incarcerated and that incarceration prevents the parent from providing for the child.”

Judgment Entry at 4.

{¶18} Although the trial court mistakenly indicated that the aforesaid factors

were found in R.C. 2151.414(E)(7) through (11), we find the trial court did not commit

reversible error, as urged by appellant, in determining that J.H. and J.H. could not be

placed with appellant within a reasonable time under R.C. 2151.414(B)(2).

{¶19} Appellant's First Assignment of Error is overruled.

3 Appellant has not herein specifically challenged the trial court’s utilization of R.C. 2151.414(B)(2), which has a narrower application than R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a). See In re A.U., Montgomery App. No. 22264, 2008-Ohio-186, ¶ 17. We decline to examine this issue sua sponte. Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 5

III.

{¶20} In his Third Assignment of Error, which we will address out of sequence,

appellant contends the trial court erred in its application of R.C. 2151.414(E) in

determining that the twins could not be placed with him within a reasonable time or

should not be placed with him. We disagree.

{¶21} R.C. 2151.414(E) states, in pertinent part:

{¶22} “ *** If the court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, at a

hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section or for the purposes of division (A)(4)

of section 2151.353 of the Revised Code that one or more of the following exist as to

each of the child's parents, the court shall enter a finding that the child cannot be placed

with either parent within a reasonable time or should not be placed with either parent:

{¶23} “ ***

{¶24} “(12) The parent is incarcerated at the time of the filing of the motion for

permanent custody or the dispositional hearing of the child and will not be available to

care for the child for at least eighteen months after the filing of the motion for permanent

custody or the dispositional hearing.

{¶25} “(13) The parent is repeatedly incarcerated, and the repeated

incarceration prevents the parent from providing care for the child.

{¶26} “ *** ”

{¶27} In assessing the applicability of R.C. 2151.414(E)(12), a trial court should

examine the prison sentence of the parent(s) at issue and consider whether it is likely

that one or both of the parents will not be available to provide care for the child for at

least eighteen months. See In re Morris, Defiance App.No. 4-06-05, 2006-Ohio-3231, ¶ Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 6

25. In the case sub judice, appellant was incarcerated on March 25, 2010, when the

agency filed its permanent custody motion; however, GCCSB concedes there was no

demonstration that appellant’s incarceration would have extended eighteen months

after said filing, as anticipated by R.C. 2151.414(E)(12). See Appellee’s Brief at 7.

Furthermore, we note appellant was released from his 2008-2010 incarceration prior to

the completion of the tri-part permanent custody trial.

{¶28} Nonetheless, we are persuaded that the trial court’s decision is still

supported by its R.C. 2151.414(E)(13) finding. Certainly, at least one Ohio appellate

court has indicated that parental incarceration, standing alone, is not a basis for

granting permanent custody. See In the Matter of Ratcliff (September 2, 1981), Gallia

App.No. 80 CA 5, 1981 WL 6008.4 However, in the case sub judice, appellant had been

incarcerated for more than eight years in New York (on three counts) and two years in

Ohio (on two counts), and was facing an additional theft-related charge at the time of

the permanent custody proceedings. Moreover, although appellant completed an in-

house parenting program while in prison in Ohio, he made only one attempt during his

incarceration to contact GCCSB concerning his sons from the time paternity was

established in August/September 2009. Tr., August 25, 2010, at 15. These facts

provided sufficient grounds for the trial court to conclude, pursuant to the statutory

framework, that appellant was establishing a pattern of criminal activity and

incarceration in his life that would prevent the provision of proper care for the twins.

Appellant's Third Assignment of Error is therefore overruled.

4 We must note Ratcliff does not mention R.C. 2151.414, which at the time of the decision had been in existence less than one year. Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 7

II.

{¶29} In his Second Assignment of Error, appellant contends the trial court erred

in determining that permanent custody of J.H. and J.H. was in their best interests. We

disagree.

{¶30} In determining the best interest of a child for purposes of a permanent

custody disposition, the trial court is required to consider the factors contained in R.C.

2151.414(D). These factors are as follows:

{¶31} “(1) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's

parents, siblings, relatives, foster care givers and out-of-home providers, and any other

person who may significantly affect the child;

{¶32} “(2) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child or through

the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of the child;

{¶33} “(3) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has been

in the temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or private

child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two month

period * * *;

{¶34} “(4) The child's need for a legally secure permanent placement and

whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant of permanent custody

to the agency;

{¶35} “(5) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this section

apply in relation to the parents and child.”

{¶36} As an appellate court, we are not fact finders; we neither weigh the

evidence nor judge the credibility of witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 8

relevant, competent and credible evidence upon which the fact finder could base its

judgment. Cross Truck v. Jeffries (Feb. 10, 1982), Stark App.No. CA-5758. Accordingly,

judgments supported by some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential

elements of the case will not be reversed as being against the manifest weight of the

evidence. C.E. Morris Co. v. Foley Construction (1978), 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d

578. It is well-established that the trial court is in the best position to determine the

credibility of witnesses. See, e.g., In re Brown, Summit App.No. 21004, 2002-Ohio-

3405, ¶ 9, citing State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212.

Furthermore, “[t]he discretion which the juvenile court enjoys in determining whether an

order of permanent custody is in the best interest of a child should be accorded the

utmost respect, given the nature of the proceeding and the impact the court's

determination will have on the lives of the parties concerned.” In re Mauzy Children

(Nov. 13, 2000), Stark App.No. 2000CA00244, quoting In re Awkal (1994), 95 Ohio

App.3d 309, 316, 642 N.E.2d 424.

{¶37} In the case sub judice, although some of their recommendations changed

as the case progressed, the guardian ad litem, the CASA advisor, and the GCCSB

caseworker all ultimately recommended the granting of permanent custody to GCCSB.

The CASA advisor also recounted that she had encountered repeated problems with

making direct or telephone contact with appellant. The GCCSB caseworker testified that

appellant has a girlfriend with whom he has had another child; however, the agency has

had previous involvement with the girlfriend. At the time of the August 25, 2010 hearing,

the caseworker also noted that appellant had no income and was “living off of the

generosity of relatives.” Tr. at 30. According to the foster mother for J.H. and J.H., the Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 9

boys were faring well in her home, although the foster family has had to work with the

boys’ motor skills development issues.

{¶38} Upon review of the record and the findings of fact and conclusions of law

therein, we are not inclined to overturn the decision of the trier of fact, and we conclude

the grant of permanent custody of J.H. and J.H. was made in the consideration of the

children's best interests and did not constitute an error or an abuse of discretion.

{¶39} Appellant's Second Assignment of Error is therefore overruled.

{¶40} For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the Court

of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Guernsey County, Ohio, is affirmed.

By: Wise, J.

Farmer, J., concurs.

Hoffman, P. J., concurs separately.

___________________________________

JUDGES JWW/d 0223 Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 10

Hoffman, P.J., concurring

{¶41} I concur in the majority’s analysis and disposition of Appellant’s three

assignments of error.

{¶42} I write separately only with respect to the third assignment of error wherein

the majority notes Appellant was facing an additional theft-related charge at the time of

the permanent custody proceedings. While accurate, I want to clarify I do not believe

such pending charge should be considered in determining whether Appellant has been

repeatedly incarcerated under R.C. 2151.414(E)(13).

________________________________ HON. WILLIAM B. HOFFMAN Guernsey County, Case No. 10 CA 43 11

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

IN THE MATTER OF: : : J.H. : JUDGMENT ENTRY : J.H. : : Dependent/Neglected Children : Case No. 10 CA 43

For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the

judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Guernsey County, Ohio, is

affirmed.

Costs assessed to appellant.

JUDGES