In Re: K.S.: Appeal of: C.S.

CourtSuperior Court of Pennsylvania
DecidedAugust 10, 2023
Docket1599 MDA 2022
StatusUnpublished

This text of In Re: K.S.: Appeal of: C.S. (In Re: K.S.: Appeal of: C.S.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Superior Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re: K.S.: Appeal of: C.S., (Pa. Ct. App. 2023).

Opinion

J-A13042-23

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT O.P. 65.37

IN RE: K.S., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : APPEAL OF: C.S., FATHER : : : : : : No. 1599 MDA 2022

Appeal from the Decree Entered November 3, 2022 In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Orphans' Court at No(s): 059-ADOPT-2022, 060-ADOPT-2022

IN RE: C.S., A MINOR : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF : PENNSYLVANIA : APPEAL OF: C.S., FATHER : : : : : : No. 1600 MDA 2022

Appeal from the Decree Entered November 3, 2022 In the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County Orphans' Court at No(s): 059-Adopt-2022

BEFORE: BOWES, J., LAZARUS, J., and STEVENS, P.J.E.*

MEMORANDUM BY STEVENS, P.J.E.: FILED: AUGUST 10, 2023

C.S. (“Father”) appeals from the November 3, 2022 decrees that

involuntarily terminated his parental rights to his sons, K.S., born in February

____________________________________________

* Former Justice specially assigned to the Superior Court. J-A13042-23

2020, and C.S., born in January 2014 (collectively, “Children”).1 In addition,

Father’s appointed counsel, Joseph L. Hitchings, Esquire (“Counsel”), has filed

a petition to withdraw and accompanying brief, pursuant to Anders v.

California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and Commonwealth v. Santiago, 602 Pa.

159, 978 A.2d 349 (2009). After careful review, we grant Counsel’s petition

to withdraw and affirm the termination decrees.

We glean the following factual and procedural history of this matter from

the certified record. Cumberland County Children and Youth Services (“CYS”

or “the agency”) became involved with the family in December 2020 after

receiving a referral that C.S. had 22 unexcused absences from school. Notes

of Testimony (“N.T.”), 11/1/2022, at 39, 86-87. On December 31, 2020,

Mother obtained a temporary protection from abuse (“PFA”) order against

Father that named her and Children as protected persons.2 See CYS Exhibit

10. In January 2021, the agency received another referral alleging that Father

had violated the PFA order, noting behavioral concerns with C.S., and

asserting a lack of supervision of K.S. N.T., 11/1/2022, at 41.

1 On the same date, the court also terminated the parental rights of K.R. (“Mother”). Mother filed a timely appeal which we dispose of by separate memorandum.

2 On February 3, 2021, Mother obtained a final protection from abuse order.

See CYS Exhibit 10. However, she was the only protected person listed. See id. Due to a violation by Father, discussed infra, the PFA order does not expire until August 3, 2024. Id.

-2- J-A13042-23

Thereafter, on March 17, 2021, Mother brought C.S. to Holy Spirit

Hospital for, as best we can discern from the record, psychiatric treatment.

See CYS Exhibit 3-4. However, she did not stay with C.S. and after the

hospital could not establish contact with her on March 18, it contacted the

police to perform a welfare check on her and K.S., who remained in her care.3

Id. Around 1:00 a.m. on March 20, police found Mother sleeping in her

running car with K.S., who had just turned one year old. Id.; see also N.T.,

11/1/2022, at 41.

Due to CYS’s concerns of Father’s domestic violence and Mother’s

mental health, the agency obtained protective custody of Children on March

19, 2021. N.T., 11/1/2022 at 41-42, 87. At the shelter care hearing on March

22, 2021, Father reported that he was able to care for Children. See CYS

Exhibit 3-4. However, the agency had not seen his home or run clearances

on the individuals who reside there. Id. Additionally, there were concerns

regarding the PFA order against Father. Id. On April 6, 2021, the orphans’

court adjudicated Children dependent. N.T., 11/1/2022, at 41.

In furtherance of Children’s goal of reunification, Father was required to

perform the following objectives: (1) comply with the provisions of the PFA

3 Mother reported that C.S. has a history of physically aggressive behaviors.

See CYS Exhibit 3-4. Two inpatient beds at the hospital became available during this time, however, because the hospital could not reach Mother, C.S. was not admitted. Id.

-3- J-A13042-23

order and complete the AMEND program;4 (2) obtain and maintain adequate

housing; (3) attend and participate in school meetings; (4) submit to a drug

and alcohol evaluation and follow any recommendations made; (5) cooperate

with the agency; and (6) attend visitation. Id. at 90-107.

However, Father was unable to make meaningful progress. Primarily,

on June 21, 2021, Father violated the PFA order. See CYS Exhibit 10. On

this date, police arrived at Mother’s home around 2:40 a.m. and found Father

in the house. Id. He pled guilty to indirect criminal contempt for the violation

on June 29, 2021. See id. Thereafter, on August 17, 2021, a bench warrant

was issued for Father as his whereabouts were unknown to the probation

office. Id. On August 26, 2021, Father again violated the PFA order. Id.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were dispatched to

Mother’s residence because Father yelled at Mother from her back porch about

Children being in foster care, called Mother obscenities, and, while fleeing after

finding out the police had been called, threatened that he would be back. Id.

Father was apprehended by the police as he attempted to leave the area, and

he later pled guilty to indirect criminal contempt for the violation on

September 21, 2021. Id. Due to these violations, Father was incarcerated

4 As best we can discern from the record, the AMEND program is utilized to

address issues of domestic violence.

-4- J-A13042-23

from August 2021, until just one week prior to the termination hearing in

November 2022.

On October 11, 2022, CYS filed a petition for the involuntary termination

of Father’s parental rights to Children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A § 2511(a)(1),

(2), (5), (8), and (b). The orphans’ court conducted an evidentiary hearing

on November 1, 2022, at which time Children were eight and two,

respectively. Children were represented by a guardian ad litem (“GAL”) and

separate legal counsel.5

The agency presented the testimony of Trevor Donovan, outpatient

health therapist for C.S. at Laurel Life; Kelly Felix, foster care case manager

at Merakey Foster Care; J.R., pre-adoptive foster parent of Children; and

Ashley Vilkas, CYS caseworker. Father was represented by Counsel and

testified on his own behalf.

By decrees entered November 3, 2022, the orphans’ court involuntarily

terminated Father’s parental rights to Children pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A §

2511(a)(2), (5), (8), and (b). Father, through counsel, timely filed notices of

appeal and concise statements of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to

5 In lieu of a brief, the GAL submitted a letter in support of Counsel’s petition

to withdraw because Father’s appeal is wholly frivolous. Legal counsel did not file a brief, but at the close of the hearing on November 1, 2022, she proffered C.S.’s preference that he and his brother remain with foster parents. N.T., 11/1/2022, at 184.

-5- J-A13042-23

Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b), which this Court consolidated sua sponte.

The orphans’ court filed a Rule 1925(a) opinion on January 24, 2023.

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

Related

Anders v. California
386 U.S. 738 (Supreme Court, 1967)
In Re Adoption of M.E.P.
825 A.2d 1266 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2003)
In Re Adoption of R.J.S.
901 A.2d 502 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2006)
Commonwealth v. Santiago
978 A.2d 349 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2009)
In Re: Adoption of C.D.R., Appeal of: R.R.
111 A.3d 1212 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2015)
Adoption of: M.A.B., A Minor, Appeal of: Erie OCY
166 A.3d 434 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2017)
In re B.L.W.
843 A.2d 380 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2004)
Commonwealth v. Millisock
873 A.2d 748 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2005)
In re Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights to E.A.P.
944 A.2d 79 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2008)
In the Interest of K.Z.S.
946 A.2d 753 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2008)
In re Adoption of S.P.
47 A.3d 817 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2012)
In re T.S.M.
71 A.3d 251 (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2013)
Commonwealth v. Flowers
113 A.3d 1246 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2015)
In re V.E.
611 A.2d 1267 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 1992)
Adoption of: B.G.S., Appeal of: S.S.
2020 Pa. Super. 243 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2020)
In the Interest of: S.C., Appeal of CYS
2021 Pa. Super. 41 (Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2021)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
In Re: K.S.: Appeal of: C.S., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ks-appeal-of-cs-pasuperct-2023.