In re L.P.

2017 Ohio 52

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 6, 2017
• Docket: CT2016-0045
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as In re L.P., 2017-Ohio-52.]

COURT OF APPEALS MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: IN THE MATTER OF: L.P. : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. : : : Case No. CT2016-0045 : : : OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil appeal from the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No. 21430014

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 6, 2017

APPEARANCES:

For - Appellee For - Appellant

TRAFFORD DICK PETER N. CULTICE 27 North Fifth Street 58 North Fifth Street Zanesville, OH 43701 Zanesville, OH 43701 Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 2

Gwin, P.J.

{¶1} Appellant Mother appeals the July 14, 2016 Judgment Entry of the

Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, granting legal custody of

L.P. to the maternal aunt.

Facts and procedural History

{¶2} On or about January 21, 2014 a Complaint was filed with this Muskingum

County Juvenile Court alleging that L.P. was a Dependent children, as defined in R.C.

2151.04 (C) and Neglected child, as defined in R.C. 2151.03 (A)(2).

{¶3} The allegations were based on the drug use of Mother, specifically

methamphetamine. Muskingum County Children’s Services [“MCCS”] withdrew the

allegation of neglect and Mother admitted to the allegation of dependency on April 10,

2014. See, Judgment Entry dated April 10, 2014. Father was never involved.

{¶4} On or about April 10, 2014, the child was placed in the temporary custody

of a relative following a Dispositional Hearing. At the Dispositional Hearing, Mother and

Father were granted only supervised visitation with the Children at Muskingum County

Children Service's discretion.

{¶5} On or about October 20, 2014, a review hearing was held and the child was

placed in the temporary custody of the Muskingum County Children Service's. At the

hearing, the Court specifically found that Mother continued to miss required drug screens

and/or substance abuse treatment sessions, this despite her transportation issues having

been alleviated. The Court further found Mother had made little/limited progress in her

required treatment. MCCS specifically requested that the Court approve their amended Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 3

Permanency Plan, which added, in addition to Reunification, the possibility for Permanent

Custody to the Agency.

{¶6} On or about February 25, 2015, a review hearing was held. The Court found

Mother continued to miss required drug screens, drug treatment (she had at that time been

unsuccessfully discharged from Muskingum Behavioral Health on at least 2 occasions for

failing to participate), failed to regularly visit the child.

{¶7} On or about July 9, 2015, MCCS filed an Amended Motion to Modify Review

Hearing to include a Motion for Legal Custody of the Children to Maternal Aunt.

{¶8} On or about July, 16, 2015 the Court conducted a hearing on the Review

and Motion for Legal Custody. In addition to the parties, Maternal Aunt was present and

did participate at said hearing. By agreement of the parties, the child was placed in the

temporary custody of Maternal Aunt and the Legal Custody Motion was continued.

{¶9} On or about March 24, 2016, the Court conducted a Review hearing. At said

hearing, it was represented to the Court that prior to the date of the hearing the parties

had been in agreement that Maternal Aunt receive Legal Custody of the child. It was

further represented to the Court that the parties did not agree now and that the Legal

Custody Motion would need to be set for a different/new hearing date as no parties were

prepared to litigate the now contested issue of legal custody. In addition to the parties,

Maternal Aunt was present and did participate at said hearing. The matter was then set

for a contested hearing.

{¶10} A legal custody hearing took place on July 16, 2015, but temporary custody

was granted instead to Maternal Aunt, with the agreement and consent of Mother and a

review hearing then was scheduled. See Judgment Entry dated July 16, 2015. This review Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 4

hearing was scheduled for March 24, 2016, but was then continued with the consent of all

parties. See, Judgment Entry dated March 24, 2016. Mother and Maternal Aunt were

present at each hearing.

{¶11} The legal custody hearing was subsequently scheduled for July 14, 2016.

On July 7, 2016, through her attorney, Mother requested a continuance of the July 14,

2016, legal custody hearing. The court denied the request.

{¶12} Mother did not attend nor did father attend the legal custody hearing of July

14, 2016. Since Mother did not attend the legal custody hearing and neither father chose

to attend, the only witness who testified was Elizabeth Glass, MCCS ongoing caseworker.

{¶13} Mother, had enrolled in five separate substance abuse treatment programs

(both in-patient and outpatient) and has failed to successfully complete each one of them.

The names of the programs are as follows; Muskingum Behavioral Health; Stanton Villa;

First Step Home; Freedom House; and Buckeye Counseling Center. The last documented

drug test of Mother occurred on December 16, 2015 and she again tested positive for

amphetamines and methamphetamines. Mother was Court ordered to submit to a hair

follicle test and MCCS caseworker Elizabeth Glass offered to transport Mother to the

facility for the testing and Mother refused.

{¶14} Mother had moved to Alabama in December 2015. Alabama is where the

Maternal Aunt lives and is where the child has been since July 16, 2015.

{¶15} The Maternal Aunt of the child did not attend the legal custody hearing, but

had signed the Statement of Understanding for Legal Custody on May 1, 2016. MCCS

had no issue with the aunt having legal custody since temporary custody had gone well

for almost a year. Legal custody was awarded to the maternal aunt on August 18, 2016. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 5

Assignments of Error

{¶16} Counsel for Mother has filed a Motion to Withdraw and a brief pursuant to

Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493(1967) asserting that

the appeal is wholly frivolous and setting forth no assignments of error.

Law and Analysis

{¶17} In Anders, the United States Supreme Court held if, after a conscientious

examination of the record, a defendant's counsel concludes the case is wholly frivolous,

then he should so advise the court and request permission to withdraw. 386 U.S. at 744.

Counsel must accompany his request with a brief identifying anything in the record that

could arguably support his client's appeal. Id. Counsel also must: (1) furnish his client with

a copy of the brief and request to withdraw; and, (2) allow his client sufficient time to raise

any matters that the client chooses. Id. Once the defendant's counsel satisfies these

requirements, the appellate court must fully examine the proceedings below to determine

if any arguably meritorious issues exist. If the appellate court also determines that the

appeal is wholly frivolous, it may grant counsel's request to withdraw and dismiss the

appeal without violating constitutional requirements, or may proceed to a decision on the

merits if state law so requires. Id.

Appellate Review

{¶18} Before awarding legal custody to a non-parent, a trial court must ordinarily make a

finding that each parent is unsuitable. In re L.M., 2nd Dist. Greene No. 2010–CA–76, 2011–Ohio–

3285, ¶ 18 citing In re Hockstock, 98 Ohio St.3d 238, 2002–Ohio–7208, 781 N.E.2d 971. This

requirement does not apply, however, in cases involving abuse, neglect, or dependency. Id. The

Ohio Supreme Court in In re C.R. held “[a] juvenile court adjudication of abuse, neglect, or Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 6

dependency is a determination about the care and condition of a child and implicitly involves a

determination of the unsuitability of the child’s custodial and/or noncustodial parents.” 108 Ohio St.3d

369, 2006–Ohio–1191, 843 N.E.2d 1188, paragraph one of syllabus. Thus, “[w]hen a juvenile court

adjudicates a child to be abused, neglected, or dependent, it has no duty to make a separate finding

at the dispositional hearing that a noncustodial parent is unsuitable before awarding legal custody to

a nonparent.” In re L.M., 2011–Ohio–3285 quoting In re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, paragraph two

of syllabus.

{¶19} Importantly, the award of legal custody is “not as drastic a remedy as permanent

custody.” In re L.D., 10th Dist. No. 12AP–985, 2013–Ohio–3214, ¶ 7. See also In re N.F., 10th Dist.

No. 08AP–1038, 2009–Ohio–2986, ¶ 9. This is because the award of legal custody does not divest

parents of their residual parental rights, privileges, and responsibilities. In re C.R. at ¶ 17. Therefore,

since the granting of legal custody does not divest a parent of his or her fundamental parental rights,

the parent can petition the court for a custody modification in the future. In re L.D. at ¶ 7.

{¶20} “A trial court has broad discretion in proceedings involving the care and custody of

children.” In re Mullen, 129 Ohio St.3d 417, 2011–Ohio–3361, ¶ 14. We review the award of legal

custody for an abuse of discretion. In re L.D. at ¶ 8; In re Gales, 10th Dist. No. 03AP–445, 2003–

Ohio–6309, ¶ 13; In re N.F., 10th Dist. No. 08AP–1038, 2009–Ohio–2986, ¶ 9, citing In re Nice, 141

Ohio App.3d 445, 455 (7th Dist.). Abuse of discretion connotes more than an error of law or

judgment; rather, it implies that the trial court’s decision was unreasonable, arbitrary or

unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 219 (1983).

{¶21} Unlike in a permanent custody proceeding where a juvenile court’s standard of

review is by clear and convincing evidence, the standard of review in legal custody proceedings is a

preponderance of the evidence. In re S.D., 5th Dist. Stark Nos. 2013CA0081, 2013CA0082, 2013- Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 7

Ohio-5752, ¶ 32; In re A.C., 12th Dist. No. CA2006–12–105, 2007–Ohio–3350 at ¶ 14; In re Nice,

141 Ohio App.3d 445, 455, 751 N.E.2d 552 (7th Dist.2001).

{¶22} In this type of dispositional hearing, the focus is on the best interest of the child. In

re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, 2006–Ohio–1191, 843 N.E.2d 1188; In re P.S., 5th Dist.

No.2012CA00007, 2012–Ohio–3431. Despite the differences between a disposition of permanent

custody and legal custody, some Ohio courts have recognized “the statutory best interest test

designed for the permanent custody situation may provide some ‘guidance’ for trial courts making

legal custody decisions.” In re A.F., 9th Dist. No. 24317, 2009–Ohio–333 at ¶ 7, citing In re T.A., 9th

Dist. No. 22954, 2006–Ohio–4468 at ¶ 17; In re S.D. 5th Dist. Stark Nos. 2013CA0081,

2013CA0082, 2013-Ohio-5752, ¶ 33 . R.C. 2151.414(D) sets forth factors to be considered in

making a determination regarding the best interest of the child.

{¶23} Concerning the best interest of the child, the trial court found,

The Children have lived exclusively in the home of Maternal Aunt for a

significant period of time and have been incorporated as part of her family.

Maternal Aunt's source of income consists of tax return preparation and

selling of antiques. Maternal Aunt has sufficient resources to provide for all of the

Children's special and ordinary needs.

Maternal Aunt has worked with special needs individuals, she has identified

legitimate concerns about the Children's development; and had the Children

evaluated by experts, and then took the necessary steps to ensure the Children

received therapy and/or special education services as needed.

Maternal Aunt has done an excellent job of providing for the Children's needs

while in her care and/or custody. She has enrolled [L.P.] in pre-school and, has her Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 8

prepared to be enrolled in kindergarten next school year. She has enrolled [M.P.] in

a special needs pre-school which has been providing him with speech therapy.

Muskingum County Children Services Caseworker, Elizabeth Glass, opined that

[M.P.’s] speech has improved since went to live with Maternal Aunt.

The home of Maternal Aunt was inspected and was approved by a

home study conducted by Ms. Carolyn Blackwood, of Muskingum County

Children Service's which has been previously filed with this Court. The

Court finds that Ms. Ingram has resided in this home for fourteen years and

that it has adequate facilities to provide for the children's needs and that

they are adjusted to the home, the surrounding environment and the family

members in the home.

The Mother has relocated her residence to the same county in

Alabama as where Maternal Aunt resides so as to facilitate visitation with

the Children.

The Mother has had visitation in Alabama with the Children under

the supervision and by arrangements of Maternal Aunt.

***

The Guardian ad Litem believes that it is in the best interests of the

Children that Legal Custody of the minor children [L.P.] and [M.P.] be

granted to Maternal Aunt. The guardian ad Litem has submitted a written

report in accordance with the Rules of Superintendence of the Ohio

Supreme Court. Muskingum County, Case No. CT2016-0045 9

Muskingum County Children Service's Caseworker, Elizabeth Glass,

recommends as being in the best interest of the Children that the Children

remain in the care and custody of the Maternal Aunt.

{¶24} Counsel in this matter has followed the procedure in Anders v. California,

386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493(1967), we find the appeal to be wholly

frivolous and grant counsel's motion to withdraw.

{¶25} After independently reviewing the record, we agree with counsel's

conclusion that no arguably meritorious claims exist upon which to base an appeal.

Hence, we find the appeal to be wholly frivolous under Anders, grant counsel's request to

withdraw, and affirm the judgment of the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Division.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Delaney, J., and

Baldwin, J., concur