In re P. K.

2018 Ohio 400

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: January 31, 2018
• Docket: 2017 CA 00196
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as In re P. K., 2018-Ohio-400.]

COURT OF APPEALS STARK COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: Hon. William B. Hoffman, P. J. IN THE MATTER OF: Hon. John W. Wise, J. Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., J.

P.K. Case No. 2017 CA 00196

MINOR CHILD OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case No. 2015 JCV 00433A

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: January 31, 2018

APPEARANCES:

For Appellee For Appellant

BRANDON J. WALTENBAUGH MARY G. WARLOP STARK COUNTY JFS 116 Cleveland Avenue NW 402 2ND Street, SE Suite 500 Canton, Ohio 44702 Canton, Ohio 44702 Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 2

Wise, John, J.

{¶1} Appellant Gaybriel F. appeals the decision of the Stark County Court of

Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, which granted permanent custody of her daughter,

P.K., to Appellee Stark County Job and Family Services. The relevant facts leading to

this appeal are as follows.

{¶2} On May 7, 2015, Appellee Stark County Job and Family Services (“SCJFS”

or “agency”) filed a complaint alleging that P.K., born in 2009, was neglected and/or

dependent. A companion case involving P.K.’s sister, born in 2008, was also initiated.1

Initial concerns included the mental health of appellant-mother, her substance abuse,

and housing issues.

{¶3} P.K. and her sister were initially placed under agency protective

supervision. However, emergency shelter care was granted ex parte on June 5, 2015,

one month after the complaint.

{¶4} An adjudication hearing took place on July 10, 2015. Both parents stipulated

to a dependency finding at that time. Temporary custody of P.K. and her sister with

SCJFS was also maintained.

{¶5} On October 16, 2015, the girls’ maternal great uncle filed a motion for

change of legal custody. However, he subsequently withdrew his request to intervene in

the case.

{¶6} In the meantime, SCJFS filed a motion for permanent custody on October

5, 2016. However, the trial court denied same via a judgment entry issued on December

9, 2016.

1 The case regarding the child’s sister has been appealed under a separate number. Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 3

{¶7} Throughout much of the case, P.K. and her sister were in placement with

their paternal grandmother, even though she had not shown an interest in long-term

custody. Tr. at 45. In April 2017, the agency attempted a third-party placement and

correspondingly filed a motion for change of legal custody. However, said placement

arrangement was not successful. Another foster placement was then arranged, which

fared much better.

{¶8} On June 26, 2017, SCJFS filed a second motion requesting permanent

custody.

{¶9} The matter proceeded to an evidentiary hearing held on September 11,

2017. Appellant appeared with counsel. P.K.’s father also appeared with counsel;

however, he was found inter alia to have abandoned the child.

{¶10} Following these proceedings, via a judgment entry with findings of fact and

conclusions of law issued September 13, 2017, the trial court granted permanent custody

of P.K. to SCJFS. Permanent custody was also granted as to P.K.’s sister, under a

separate case number.

{¶11} On October 13, 2017, appellant filed a notice of appeal. She herein raises

the following two Assignments of Error:

{¶12} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING PERMANENT CUSTODY

TO THE STARK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES (SCDJFS)

AS SCDJFS FAILED TO SHOW BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT

GROUNDS EXISTED FOR PERMANENT CUSTODY AND SUCH DECISION WAS

AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE. Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 4

{¶13} “II. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING PERMANENT CUSTODY

TO [THE] STARK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES

(SCDJFS) AS SCDJFS FAILED TO SHOW BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE

THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MINOR CHILDREN TO GRANT

PERMANENT CUSTODY AND SUCH DECISION WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST

WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE.”

I.

{¶14} In her First Assignment of Error, appellant-mother contends the trial court

erred in granting permanent custody of P.K. to the agency. We disagree.

{¶15} R.C. 2151.414(B)(1) reads as follows:

Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the court may

grant permanent custody of a child to a movant if the court determines at

the hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section, by clear and

convincing evidence, that it is in the best interest of the child to grant

permanent custody of the child to the agency that filed the motion for

permanent custody and that any of the following apply:

(a) The child is not abandoned or orphaned, has not been in the

temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or

private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive

twenty-two-month period, or has not been in the temporary custody of one

or more public children services agencies or private child placing agencies

for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period if, as

described in division (D)(1) of section 2151.413 of the Revised Code, the Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 5

child was previously in the temporary custody of an equivalent agency in

another state, and the child cannot be placed with either of the child's

parents within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the child's

parents.

(b) The child is abandoned.

(c) The child is orphaned, and there are no relatives of the child who

are able to take permanent custody.

(d) The child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public

children services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or

more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the child has

been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services

agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a

consecutive twenty-two-month period and, as described in division (D)(1) of

section 2151.413 of the Revised Code, the child was previously in the

temporary custody of an equivalent agency in another state.

(e) The child or another child in the custody of the parent or parents

from whose custody the child has been removed has been adjudicated an

abused, neglected, or dependent child on three separate occasions by any

court in this state or another state.

For the purposes of division (B)(1) of this section, a child shall be

considered to have entered the temporary custody of an agency on the

earlier of the date the child is adjudicated pursuant to section 2151.28 of the Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 6

Revised Code or the date that is sixty days after the removal of the child

from home.

{¶16} We initially note the trial court in the case sub judice relied on R.C.

2151.414(B)(1)(a), supra, as well as R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(b) and R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d).

The latter provision is sometimes termed the “twelve of twenty-two” rule. See, e.g., In re

J.I., 12th Dist. Preble No. CA2005-05-008, 2005-Ohio-4920, ¶ 8. It is well-established

that (B)(1)(a) and (B)(1)(d) are independently sufficient to use as a basis to grant an

agency's motion for permanent custody. See In re M.R., 3d Dist. Defiance No. 4–12–18,

2013–Ohio–1302, ¶ 80. Similarly, (B)(1)(b) (abandonment) is independently sufficient to

use as a basis to grant a motion for permanent custody. See In re N.W., 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 07AP-590, 2008-Ohio-297, ¶ 10; In re Anthony/Bentley Children, 5th Dist.

Stark No. 2001CA00185, 2001 WL 1769937.

{¶17} In this instance, while appellant focuses on the application of (B)(1)(a) and

(B)(1)(b) in her case, it appears undisputed that at the time of the filing of the permanent

custody motion, P.K. had been in agency custody for more than twelve months within a

twenty-two month period. Under these circumstances, we are compelled, based on R.C.

2151.414(B)(1)(d), to directly proceed to an analysis of the best interest issue. See, e.g.,

In re Walton/Fortson Children, Stark App.No. 2007CA00200, 2007–Ohio–5819, ¶ 14.

{¶18} Appellant's First Assignment of Error is therefore overruled.

II.

{¶19} In her Second Assignment of Error, appellant-mother contends the trial

court erred in granting permanent custody of P.K. to the agency, specifically in regard to

the factor of “best interests.” We disagree. Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 7

{¶20} R.C. 2151.414(D)(1) reads as follows:

In determining the best interest of a child at a hearing held pursuant

to division (A) of this section or for the purposes of division (A)(4) or (5) of

section 2151.353 or division (C) of section 2151.415 of the Revised Code,

the court shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the

following:

(a) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child's

parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home providers,

and any other person who may significantly affect the child;

(b) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child or

through the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of the

child;

(c) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has

been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services

agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a

consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the child has been in the

temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or

private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive

twenty-two-month period and, as described in division (D)(1) of section

2151.413 of the Revised Code, the child was previously in the temporary

custody of an equivalent agency in another state; Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 8

(d) The child's need for a legally secure permanent placement and

whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant of

permanent custody to the agency;

(e) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this section

apply in relation to the parents and child.2

For the purposes of division (D)(1) of this section, a child shall be

considered to have entered the temporary custody of an agency on the

earlier of the date the child is adjudicated pursuant to section 2151.28 of the

Revised Code or the date that is sixty days after the removal of the child

from home.”3

{¶21} It is well-established that the trial court is in the best position to determine

the credibility of witnesses. See, e.g., In re Brown, 9th Dist. Summit No. 21004, 2002–

Ohio–3405, ¶ 9, citing State v. DeHass (1967), 10 Ohio St.2d 230, 227 N.E.2d 212.

Furthermore, “[t]he discretion which the juvenile court enjoys in determining whether an

order of permanent custody is in the best interest of a child should be accorded the

utmost respect, given the nature of the proceeding and the impact the court's

determination will have on the lives of the parties concerned.” In re Mauzy Children, 5th

Dist. Stark No. 2000CA00244, 2000 WL 1700073, citing In re Awkal, 85 Ohio App.3d

309, 316, 642 N.E.2d 424 (8th Dist. 1994).

2 The (E)(7) to (E)(11) factors involve certain criminal convictions, withholding of food or medical treatment, substantial risk of harm due to alcohol or drug abuse, abandonment of the child, and termination of parental rights in regard to siblings. 3 The additional statutory “best interest” guidance found in R.C. 2151.414(D)(2) has not

been argued in the present appeal. Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 9

{¶22} As the agency responds in its appellee’s brief herein, appellant chiefly

focuses on her case plan compliance in her “best interest” argument, although she

maintains P.K. continues to desire to have contact with her. Also, by the time of the

permanent custody trial, appellant had commendably maintained a job in Massillon and

had obtained better housing near Canton Monument Park, a car, and a driver’s license.

However, under R.C. 2151.414(D)(1), the focus is upon the child's best interests, not

upon a parent's compliance with the case plan. See In the Matter of M.H.-L.T., 4th Dist.

Washington No. 17CA12, 2017-Ohio-7825, ¶ 61, citing In re K.J., 4th Dist. Athens No.

08CA14, 2008–Ohio–5227, ¶24. In this instance, P.K. is medically and developmentally

healthy, but she is dealing with generalized anxiety disorder and behavioral problems,

and she needs a stable and consistent home environment, which appellant has been

unable to provide or demonstrate. (See testimony of Caseworker Heather Grimes, Tr. at

44, 50; testimony of Irene Quinlin, L.I.S.W., Tr. at 61-62). The agency has investigated

several relative placements, but all have been unsuccessful. P.K. is bonded with her

sister. They have been placed together, and the foster family has indicated a willingness

to adopt both girls. Tr. at 46-47. The G.A.L. since May 2015, Attorney Christopher

Coleridge, spoke favorably of the current foster placement, and reported that P.K wished

to stay there. He further recommended a grant of permanent custody to the agency. Tr.

at 68-71; Amended GAL Report at 2.

{¶23} Accordingly, upon review of the record, the judgment entry, and the

accompanying findings of fact and conclusions of law, we find no basis to overturn the

decision of the trier of fact, and we conclude the grant of permanent custody of P.K. was Stark County, Case No. 2017 CA 00196 10

made in the consideration of the child's best interests and did not constitute an error or

an abuse of discretion.

{¶24} Appellant's Second Assignment of Error is therefore overruled.

{¶25} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas,

Juvenile Division, Stark County, Ohio, is hereby affirmed.

By: Wise, John, J.

Hoffman, P. J., and

Wise, Earle, J., concur.

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