In re M.W.

2021 Ohio 1129

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 5, 2021
• Docket: CA2020-03-018 CA2020-03-019
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as In re M.W., 2021-Ohio-1129.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

WARREN COUNTY

IN RE: : CASE NOS. CA2020-03-018 M.W., et al. : CA2020-03-019

: OPINION 4/5/2021 :

:

APPEAL FROM WARREN COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS JUVENILE DIVISION Case No. 19-D000126

Mark W. Raines, 246 High Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45011, for appellant

David P. Fornshell, Warren County Prosecutor, Kirsten A. Brandt, 520 Justice Drive, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, for appellee

Andrea Ostrowski, 20 S. Main Street, Springboro, Ohio 45066, for CASA

Carol Garner, 9435 Waterstone Blvd., #140, Cincinnati, Ohio 45249, for father

M. POWELL, J.

{¶ 1} Appellant ("mother") appeals the decisions of the Warren County Court of

Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, adjudicating her children dependent pursuant to R.C.

2151.04(C). For the reasons discussed below, we affirm the juvenile court's decisions. Warren CA2020-03-018 CA2020-03-019

{¶ 2} Mother is the parent of the M.W., born in September 2012, and N.W., born in

February 2014. In November 2019, appellee, Warren County Children Services ("WCCS"),

filed complaints alleging that M.W. and N.W. were dependent children. An adjudicatory

hearing on the complaints was conducted on February 17, 2020. At the hearing, WCCS

called four witnesses to testify: mother, mother's boyfriend, and two investigative

caseworkers from the agency, Vanessa Henson and Kevin Hogg. Mother did not call any

witnesses to testify but had seven exhibits admitted into evidence. The following facts were

adduced at the hearing.

{¶ 3} In January 2019, WCCS received a report from a Kentucky children services

agency concerning allegations that mother was using drugs. The report indicated that

mother had moved from Kentucky to Mason, Ohio while the Kentucky agency was

conducting its investigation. In late January, Henson visited mother's home to investigate

the report. Henson testified that mother's home appeared appropriate. Mother denied

using drugs and agreed to submit to a drug screen that day. Mother tested negative. During

this encounter, Mother agreed to perform a follow-up drug screen later in February 2019.

However, mother did not appear for the subsequent test and failed to cooperate further with

Henson. Henson testified that she attempted to have mother's boyfriend drug screened,

but that he refused. Henson closed the investigation, despite continuing concerns, because

of mother's lack of cooperation with WCCS.

{¶ 4} In September 2019, WCCS received a second report concerning mother.

This time, there was an allegation of violence against N.W. and a one-time failure by mother

to receive M.W. from the school bus. N.W. displayed an injury to her head that she told the

school was caused by mother throwing a cellular telephone at her. Henson again went to

mother's house to investigate this report. Henson was able to see the child and confirm

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there was some bruising on the child's head. In discussing the matter, mother tearfully

informed Henson that the injury was an accident. Mother explained that N.W. had asked

to use her phone, so she absent-mindedly tossed it at the child. N.W. failed to catch the

phone and it hit her in the head. Henson asked mother to submit to another drug screen

and mother agreed. Mother tested negative. As part of the investigation, Henson requested

that mother take N.W. to the hospital to have the child's injury evaluated, have the children

participate in a forensic interview, and enter into a safety plan for the children. Mother

agreed to have N.W. medically evaluated and took N.W. to the hospital for an examination.

Mother would not agree to the safety plan and refused to allow any removal of the children

from her home. Mother agreed to the forensic interview. However, she failed to produce

the children for the interview. Thereafter, mother would not answer the telephone or

respond when Henson called or visited the home. On one occasion, Henson visited

mother's home and knocked on the door without response. Henson left a note on the door.

As Henson was leaving, she turned back towards the door and saw that the note was gone.

This indicated to her that someone was home at the time. Henson again closed the

investigation due to the lack of cooperation.

{¶ 5} Relating to this second report, mother admitted at the adjudicatory hearing

that on one occasion in August 2019 she was not present to receive M.W. from the school

bus. This required the bus to return M.W. to school. The school then had to call mother

who, in turn, had to pick up M.W. at school.

{¶ 6} In November 2019, WCCS received a third report concerning domestic

violence between mother and her boyfriend. Hogg testified that he initially believed the

incident had occurred recently. Hogg visited mother to speak with her about the incident.

Mother denied any violence had recently occurred and demonstrated to Hogg that she had

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no injuries. Upon further investigating police records, Hogg discovered that police had

responded to a domestic incident in August 2019. Both mother and boyfriend testified about

the incident. Boyfriend had agreed to give mother time to relax and drink alcohol while he

put the children to bed. An argument started later that evening when the boyfriend asked

mother to conduct herself more quietly so he could get some sleep before work the next

day. The argument escalated and the boyfriend attempted to disengage and go back to the

bedroom. He barricaded the door to keep mother out and end the conflict. When mother

continued to argue, boyfriend called police to intervene. He denied that the altercation was

physical. Both mother and boyfriend testified that neither party was arrested that evening.

Mother admitted that she had been drinking that evening to the point of intoxication. Mother

denied that her children found her unconscious and unresponsive as a result of her

intoxication as indicated in the police report of the incident but conceded that she could not

remember parts of the evening.

{¶ 7} During the November 2019 WCCS investigation, mother refused to be drug

screened and advised Hogg she would not cooperate with WCCS without a court order. As

a result, Hogg was unable to speak with the children, assess the home, or determine the

children's safety. Hogg filed the instant complaints and obtained an order from the court for

the children to participate in a forensic interview.

{¶ 8} During the hearing, mother and her boyfriend also revealed an incident

involving police that occurred in May 2019. At the time, mother had invited her cousin over

to the house. The boyfriend suspected that the cousin was smoking marijuana. When he

confronted mother and the cousin, they denied knowledge of the marijuana. The boyfriend

then called the police to report the drug use. Before police responded, the cousin admitted

to the marijuana. To deescalate the situation, mother left the home that evening after police

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arrived. Both mother and the boyfriend denied that mother had used marijuana that

evening.

{¶ 9} Based on the foregoing, the juvenile court found clear and convincing

evidence that the children were dependent children pursuant to R.C. 2151.04(C). The

juvenile court continued its prior order of protective supervision and set the matter for a

dispositional hearing in February 2020 before a magistrate. After the hearing, a magistrate

recommended that the children remain subject to the protective supervision of WCCS. The

juvenile court adopted the magistrate's decision as the disposition.

{¶ 10} Mother now appeals and raises one assignment of error for review:

{¶ 11} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT FOUND MINOR CHILDREN TO BE

DEPENDENT CHILDREN AS SAID FINDING WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY CLEAR AND

CONVINCING EVIDENCE.

{¶ 12} In her sole assignment of error, mother argues that the trial court erred by

adjudicating M.W. and N.W. dependent children pursuant R.C. 2151.04(C). In support,

mother argues that the state failed to prove a legitimate risk of harm to the children that

necessitated state intervention.

{¶ 13} Pursuant to R.C. 2151.04(C), a dependent child is a child "[w]hose condition

or environment is such as to warrant the state, in the interests of the child, in assuming the

child's guardianship." R.C. 2151.04(C) is to be applied broadly to protect a child's health,

safety, and welfare. In re L.H., 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2018-09-106, and CA2018-09-

109 through CA2018-09-111, 2019-Ohio-2383, ¶ 41. The focus is on the condition of the

child and whether the child has adequate care or support. In re A.P., 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2005-10-425, 2006-Ohio-2717, ¶ 27. The law does not require a court to experiment

with a child's welfare to see if the child will suffer actual detriment or harm, rather it is

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sufficient to show "circumstances giving rise to a legitimate risk of harm." In re L.H. at ¶ 41.

To prove the child is dependent pursuant to R.C. 2151.04(C) there must be evidence of

conditions or environmental elements adverse to the normal development of the child. In

re N.J., 12th Dist. Warren Nos. CA2016-10-086, CA2016-10-090, and CA2016-10-091,

2017-Ohio-7466, ¶ 19. Additionally, the state does not have to establish fault on the part of

a parent, although, the court may consider a parent's conduct as it forms part of the child's

overall environment and may produce an adverse impact on the child. In re S.W., 12th Dist.

Brown No. CA2011-12-028, 2012-Ohio-3199, ¶ 12. The adverse impact cannot be inferred

in general but must be specifically demonstrated. In re L.H. at ¶ 40, citing In re Burrell, 58

Ohio St.2d 37, 39 (1979).

{¶ 14} The state bears the burden of proving dependency at the time alleged in the

complaint. In re L.J., 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2007-07-080, 2007-Ohio-5498, ¶ 12. The

juvenile court's adjudication of a child as dependent must be supported by clear and

convincing evidence. R.C. 2151.35(A)(1); In re T.B., 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2014-09-

019, 2015-Ohio-2580, ¶ 12. Clear and convincing evidence is that which will produce a firm

belief or conviction in the mind of the trier of fact of the facts sought to be established. In

re T.G., 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2007-07-158 and CA2007-07-171, 2008-Ohio-1795, ¶ 29.

{¶ 15} An appellate court's standard of review for a dependency adjudication is

whether there is sufficient, credible evidence in the record to support the juvenile court's

decision. In re J.Q., 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2020-02-003, 2020-Ohio-4507, ¶ 8. "A

reviewing court will not reverse a finding by a trial court that the evidence was clear and

convincing unless there is a sufficient conflict in the evidence presented." In re T.B., 2015-

Ohio-2580 at ¶ 12.

{¶ 16} After review of the record, we hold that the evidence was sufficient to

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adjudicate M.W. and N.W. dependent children.1 The evidence demonstrated that there

were circumstances that adversely impacted the children's environment to warrant state

involvement in the children's guardianship. Mother left Kentucky, ostensibly, to avoid an

investigation into her drug use. Concerns of drug use at the home were bolstered by

mother's and boyfriend's admission concerning a May 2019 police encounter relating to

marijuana use at the home. While mother and boyfriend denied that mother used drugs,

drugs were present in the home and boyfriend found it necessary to obtain police

intervention. The foregoing also provides context to mother and boyfriend's refusal to

submit to drug screens, further raising concerns about drug use in the home. As we have

previously explained, it is reasonable for a court to conclude that children should not be in

an environment where drug use takes place. In re L.H., 2019-Ohio-2383 at ¶ 47.

{¶ 17} Next, the August 2019 incident indicates domestic turmoil if not domestic

violence in the home. While mother testified that she only occasionally drinks alcohol, she

admitted that in August 2019 she drank sufficient quantities that she could not remember

parts of the evening and her conduct with her boyfriend became so contentious he

requested police intervention. The August episode suggests that mother may have

substance abuse issues with alcohol. The May and August episodes together display a

substantial breakdown in household communication which demonstrates an environment

adverse to normal child development. Furthermore, when the domestic turmoil is

considered in conjunction with mother's admission that she failed to receive M.W. from the

bus stop and caused an injury to N.W.'s head, the juvenile court had a clear and convincing

basis to find conditions that pose a legitimate risk of harm to the children.

1. We note that the juvenile court did not provide findings of fact or explain what evidence it relied on for its decision. -7- Warren CA2020-03-018 CA2020-03-019

{¶ 18} Both the substance abuse and the domestic turmoil issues are compounded

by the fact that mother refused to cooperate with WCCS. Mother refused to submit to

sequential drug screenings during the course of WCCS's investigations; refused to permit

the children to participate in forensic interviews until ordered by the court in November 2019;

and stopped communicating with agency investigators.2 This court recognizes that mother

does not have to cooperate with WCCS, and a lack of cooperation alone is insufficient to

establish dependency pursuant to R.C. 2151.04(C). Nevertheless, mother's lack of

cooperation occurred in the context of legitimate concerns for the children's safety and

welfare. Thus, the refusal to cooperate is a factor from which the juvenile court could draw

a negative inference.

{¶ 19} Considering that mother left Kentucky in the midst of a children's protective

services investigation, the report of drug use in the home, the incident involving mother

consuming alcoholic beverages to near blackout, the injury suffered by N.W., mother's

failure to be home to receive M.W. from the school bus, the domestic turmoil in the home,

and mother's adamant refusal to cooperate with WCCS to dispel the concerns for the

children's safety, there was sufficient evidence for the juvenile court to determine that the

children were in an environment adverse to their welfare and were dependent children.

{¶ 20} In light of the foregoing, the juvenile court did not err in adjudicating the

children dependent. Accordingly, mother's sole assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 21} Judgment affirmed.

PIPER, P.J. and HENDRICKSON, J. concur.

2. Mother testified that there were some transportation issues with the first court-ordered forensic interview, but she eventually complied with the order and the children completed the interview. -8-