In re J.K.C.

721 S.E.2d 264, 218 N.C. App. 22, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 67
CourtCourt of Appeals of North Carolina
DecidedJanuary 17, 2012
DocketNo. COA11-783
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 721 S.E.2d 264 (In re J.K.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re J.K.C., 721 S.E.2d 264, 218 N.C. App. 22, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 67 (N.C. Ct. App. 2012).

Opinion

STROUD, Judge.

The guardian ad litem, on behalf of the minor children, appeals the dismissal of the petition to terminate respondent’s parental rights. For the following reasons, we affirm the trial court’s order.

I. Background

Respondent and the mother1 are the parents of J.K.C. (“Jack”), born November 2002, and J.D.K. (“Jasmine”)2, born October 2004. The Guilford County Department of Social Services (“GCDSS”) has been involved with the family since May 2003 when GCDSS filed a juvenile petition alleging that Jack was a neglected and dependent child based upon drug abuse and domestic violence issues. The trial court adjudicated Jack a neglected juvenile and placed Jack in the legal and physical custody of GCDSS. About two years later, Jack was placed back in the custody of his mother who was living in New Hanover County

On 23 January 2006, the New Hanover County Department of Social Services took Jack, age 3, and Jasmine, age 1, into custody based upon the mother’s drug relapse and a domestic violence incident between respondent and the mother, which resulted in respondent’s arrest. Jack and Jasmine were adjudicated neglected on 16 March [25]*252006. However, by 11 January 2007, the trial court returned custody to their mother based in part on her compliance with her substance abuse treatment.

On 20 February 2008, GCDSS filed a juvenile petition alleging Jack and Jasmine were neglected and dependent juveniles. The petition alleged that the mother was continuing to have substance abuse issues and that respondent was serving a nine-year prison sentence. The trial court adjudicated Jack and Jasmine neglected and dependent juveniles.

The trial court held a permanency planning review hearing in June 2008 and ordered a concurrent plan of adoption and reunification. At the September 2008 permanency planning hearing, the trial court suspended any visitation between respondent and the children because of his incarceration. After holding a permanency planning hearing on 15 January 2009, the trial court suspended the children’s visitation with the mother and ordered GCDSS to proceed with termination of parental rights within sixty days.

On 27 April 2009, GCDSS filed a Motion for Review “requestfing] the Court to reconsider Termination of Parental Rights in this matter.” By order filed 2 June 2009, the trial court relieved GCDSS of its duty to file the termination action and ordered the Guardian ad Litem program, who accepted responsibility for prosecuting the termination of parental rights, to proceed with filing the action.

On 13 August 2009, the guardian ad litem filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of the mother, respondent, and any unknown father. As to respondent, the petition alleged that grounds existed to terminate his parental rights under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(l) (neglect); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(2)(failure to make reasonable progress); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(3)(failure to pay reasonable cost of care); N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(5)(failure to legitimate the juveniles); and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7B-llll(a)(6) (incapable of providing care and supervision). The mother subsequently relinquished her parental rights to Jack and Jasmine. A hearing was held on the termination petition in November 2009. By order filed 22 March 2011, the trial court concluded that the guardian ad litem failed to show by clear, cogent, and convincing evidence that grounds existed to terminate the parental rights of respondent, and dismissed the petition. The guardian ad litem appeals.

[26]*26II. Standard of Review

We have stated that “[t]he standard of review in termination of parental rights cases is whether the findings of fact are supported by clear, cogent and convincing evidence and whether these findings, in turn, support the conclusions of law.” In re Shepard, 162 N.C. App. 215, 221-22, 591 S.E.2d 1, 6 (citations and quotation marks omitted), disc. review denied sub nom. In re D.S., 358 N.C. 543, 599 S.E.2d 42 (2004). The burden is on the petitioner to prove the facts justifying termination by clear and convincing evidence. In re Nolen, 117 N.C. App. 693, 698, 453 S.E.2d 220, 223 (1995).

We first note that the guardian ad litem challenges only the trial court’s finding of fact 18 as not being supported by competent evidence. Respondent challenges finding of fact 17 based on N.C.R. App. P. 28(c). The trial court’s remaining unchallenged findings of fact are presumed to be supported by competent evidence and binding on appeal. Koufman v. Koufman, 330 N.C. 93, 97, 408 S.E.2d 729, 731 (1991). The trial court made the following unchallenged findings of fact in support of its conclusion that the guardian ad litem did not meet its burden as to respondent:

9. The minor children were adjudicated to be neglected on March 16, 2006. The Court order found that both parents have substantial problems of substance abuse and that the relationships of the parents “have been marred by domestic violence.”
10. At the time the children' were taken into custody of [New Hanover Department of Social Services (“NHDSS”)], [respondent] was in jail in New Hanover County with charges of felony assault on [the mother]. It was ordered that [respondent] have supervised visitation upon his release from custody contingent upon clean drug screens and his being substance free. It was also concluded, but not ordered, that reunification efforts be discontinued with [respondent].
11. [Respondent] remained in the custody of the New Hanover County Sheriff until his conviction on Second Degree Kidnapping and Habitual Misdemeanor Assault on August 7, 2006. He .was and remains incarcerated in North Carolina Department of Corrections [sic] with a projected release date of January 4, 2013.
12. The minor children were returned to the legal and physical custody of their mother in January of 2007.
[27]*2713. On February 20, 2008, the children were placed in the legal and physical custody of GCDSS pursuant to non secure custody order. On March 20, 2008, the minor children were adjudicated to be neglected and dependent pursuant to a stipulation by [the mother]. [Respondent] was not brought in from prison for the hearing.
14. [Respondent] was not provided a case plan but as noted in the September 11, 2008 [order] he had nine classes while incarcerated, was working to improve himself. He was also contacting the social worker. A case plan was mailed to [respondent] on August 22, 2008 and it was signed and returned in November of 2008. The components of the case plan and [respondent’s] compliance is as follows:
a. maintain contact with GCDSS: [Respondent] is in compliance and has regularly sent letters to social worker inquiring about the children, requesting pictures and provided updates regarding location and programs completed:
b. address substance abuse: attend Narcotics Anonymous and Alcohol Anonymous; attend classes as available: .

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Bluebook (online)
721 S.E.2d 264, 218 N.C. App. 22, 2012 N.C. App. LEXIS 67, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-jkc-ncctapp-2012.