In Re M a Thomas Minor

CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 14, 2026
Docket377023
StatusUnpublished

This text of In Re M a Thomas Minor (In Re M a Thomas Minor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re M a Thomas Minor, (Mich. Ct. App. 2026).

Opinion

If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports.

STATE OF MICHIGAN

COURT OF APPEALS

UNPUBLISHED April 14, 2026 10:52 AM In re M. A. THOMAS, Minor.

No. 377023 Wayne Circuit Court Family Division LC No. 2025-000265-NA

Before: KOROBKIN, P.J., and YOUNG and BAZZI, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

Respondent-father appeals as of right the initial order of disposition regarding his son, MT.1 Respondent-father further contests the trial court’s earlier order removing MT from his care and custody. We affirm the trial court’s adjudication with respect to respondent-father and reverse the order removing MT from respondent-father’s care.

I. BASIC FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This appeal arises out of the trial court’s assertion of jurisdiction over and removal of MT on the basis of a history of domestic violence between respondent-father and respondent-mother and an altercation with a neighbor involving a gun. On March 19, 2025, petitioner, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, filed a temporary custody petition seeking jurisdiction over MT and his removal from respondents’ home. At respondents’ preliminary hearing, Children’s Protective Services (CPS) specialist Mary Campbell-Williams testified that it was contrary to MT’s welfare to remain in respondents’ care because of domestic violence, untreated mental health concerns, and criminality. She explained that in January 2025, CPS learned of allegations that respondent-father hit respondent-mother in the stomach so hard that she dropped MT in the snow. The allegation, however, could not be substantiated. As that investigation was

1 The order pertained to both respondent-father and respondent-mother of MT; however, respondent-mother is not party to this appeal, nor any other appeal pending in this Court.

-1- being closed, CPS received information about another incident during which a weapon was purportedly brandished in MT’s presence.

The resulting investigation revealed that respondents were at a gas station on March 10, 2025, with MT in the back seat, when they encountered their neighbor. Respondent-mother got out of her vehicle and instigated a verbal altercation with the neighbor. Respondent-father got involved to defend respondent-mother, but both respondents eventually returned to their vehicle before the altercation became physical. Respondents’ neighbor allegedly told CPS investigators that respondent-mother said she “had a bullet with his name on it.” He further claimed that respondent-mother brandished her gun. According to Campbell-Williams, respondent-mother confirmed that she owned a gun, stated she brandished a weapon, and indicated that MT was in the backseat of the car at the time. Respondents’ neighbor likewise claimed the child was in the vehicle. Respondent-father confirmed as much when he was interviewed separately but later suggested the incident happened after MT was dropped off to visit a maternal great-aunt.

Campbell-Williams confirmed that respondents also had a history of domestic violence; CPS had substantiated two other domestic violence allegations since 2024, at least one of which involved an alteration in MT’s presence and resulted in MT being struck by a plastic pop bottle thrown by respondent-father. Respondent-father was charged with fourth-degree child abuse and domestic violence in relation to that incident, but the charges were ultimately dismissed. Campbell-Williams found it concerning that respondents were still living and planning together, despite their volatile history. As it related to respondent-father, Campbell-Williams agreed that the risks to MT were limited to the domestic violence issues.

The trial court noted that the domestic violence allegations were “very concerning,” found that petitioner made reasonable efforts to prevent removal, and ordered that MT be placed with petitioner. In its order following the hearing, the court reiterated that it was contrary to MT’s welfare to remain in respondents’ care because he was “at risk due to [domestic violence], criminality, and untreated mental health.” The court summarized the March 10, 2025 incident at the gas station, the family’s domestic violence history, respondent-mother’s untreated mental health concerns, and a threat respondent-mother made at a team decision meeting (TDM), concluding MT “would be at an ongoing and substantial risk of harm due to threatened harm and [respondent-mother’s] escalating behaviors.” The trial court also checked boxes on the form order stating that custody with respondents presented a substantial risk of harm to MT, no services or other arrangements short of removal would reasonably safeguard MT from risk of harm, and the conditions of MT’s out-of-home placement were adequate to safeguard his health and welfare. At a continued preliminary hearing the following month, the parties waived probable cause, and the trial court authorized the petition.

At respondents’ July 1, 2025 combined trial and dispositional hearing, Campbell-Williams primarily reiterated her preliminary hearing testimony and the contents of her investigative report, but additionally testified that, a short time after the March 18, 2025 TDM, she learned that respondents were no longer planning together, stating that “that’s when they pretty much ended their relationship.” Respondent-mother’s primary care physician, Dr. Jennifer Heselschwerdt, testified about respondent-mother’s mental health diagnoses and treatment. Dr. Heselschwerdt asserted that respondent-mother reported domestic violence incidents with respondent-father to her several times. On one occasion, respondent-father was alleged to have punched respondent-

-2- mother. On another occasion, he was alleged to have “strangled her with intent to end her life.” However, Dr. Heselschwerdt stated that she did not observe any injuries on either occasion. Dr. Heselschwerdt also confirmed that her clinic had previously reported to CPS an allegation that respondent-father “assaulted or abused” MT.

Respondent-father, for his part, denied ever hitting respondent-mother. He further denied that he had any substance abuse issues or had ever been diagnosed with any mental health conditions. Respondent-father testified that he had a job and was willing to take custody of MT. According to respondent-father, he completed anger management classes in 2024 as a condition of a plea bargain in which the domestic violence and child abuse charges against him were dismissed.

Respondent-mother testified that she was in fact a victim of domestic violence, on multiple occasions, and the domestic violence was inflicted by respondent-father. According to respondent- mother, the abuse started shortly after she became pregnant in 2023 and continued on a regular basis until March 2025. Respondent-mother claimed to have photographs on her phone showing marks on her neck and the mark left by the bottle that struck MT’s head. During one incident, respondent-father broke the kitchen door by slamming respondent-mother’s head into it.

Ultimately, the trial court concluded that, based upon the testimony presented, there were statutory grounds to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to MCL 712A.2(b)(2), finding that MT’s home was unfit by reason of neglect, cruelty, drunkenness, criminality, and depravity on the part of the parents.2 Specifically, the trial court found that domestic violence had occurred in front of MT. The trial court further determined that respondent-mother’s brandishing of a gun represented an unreasonable risk of harm to MT, noting that “[i]t could’ve been a very serious incident.” Following the issuance of the pertinent orders of adjudication and disposition, this appeal ensued.

II. REMOVAL

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Related

People v. LaLone
437 N.W.2d 611 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1989)
In Re Utrera
761 N.W.2d 253 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2008)
Shields v. Reddo
443 N.W.2d 145 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1989)
In re Sanders
852 N.W.2d 524 (Michigan Supreme Court, 2014)
In re TK
859 N.W.2d 208 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2014)
In re McCarrick
861 N.W.2d 303 (Michigan Court of Appeals, 2014)

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Bluebook (online)
In Re M a Thomas Minor, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-m-a-thomas-minor-michctapp-2026.