In re the Involuntary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of N.L. (Minor Child), and J.F. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services, and Child Advocates, Inc. (mem. dec.)

Indiana Court of Appeals·Decided May 11, 2018·No. 49A05-1712-JT-2759·Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION FILED

Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), May 11 2018, 9:14 am

this Memorandum Decision shall not be CLERK Indiana Supreme Court

regarded as precedent or cited before any Court of Appeals and Tax Court

court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral estoppel, or the law of the case.

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Ruth A. Johnson Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Marion County Public Defender Attorney General of Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana Robert J. Henke

Daniel G. Foote Abigail R. Recker Indianapolis, Indiana Deputy Attorneys General Indianapolis, Indiana

ATTORNEY FOR GUARDIAN AD

LITEM

DeDe K. Connor

Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE

COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In re the Involuntary May 11, 2018 Termination of the Parent-Child Court of Appeals Case No. Relationship of N.L. (Minor 49A05-1712-JT-2759 Child), and Appeal from the Marion Superior Court

The Honorable Marilyn A.

J.L. (Father), Moores, Judge Appellant-Respondent, The Honorable Scott B. Stowers, Magistrate

v.

Trial Court Cause No.

49D09-1606-JT-657

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A05-1712-JT-2759 | May 11, 2018 Page 1 of 18

The Indiana Department of Child Services, Appellee-Petitioner,

and

Child Advocates, Inc., Appellee-Guardian ad Litem.

Bailey, Judge.

Case Summary

[1] J.L. (“Father”) appeals1 the trial court judgment terminating his parental rights

to his child, N.L. (“Child”). He raises one issue on appeal, which we restate as whether the trial court clearly erred when it terminated his parental rights.

[2] We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History [3] Child was born on May 16, 2012, and lived with Mother and Child’s siblings.

Father2 lived elsewhere.

1 Child’s Mother, J.G., (“Mother”) signed a consent for Child to be adopted. Mother does not participate in this appeal. 2 Although the record does not disclose how Father established his paternity as to Child, the trial court found—and it is undisputed—that Father is the biological Father of Child. Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 31.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A05-1712-JT-2759 | May 11, 2018 Page 2 of 18

[4] On September 11, 2012, Father was charged with Strangulation, as a Class D felony; Domestic Battery, as a Class D felony; Domestic Battery, as a Class A misdemeanor; and Battery, as a Class A misdemeanor. On December 6, Father pleaded guilty to Battery, as a Class B misdemeanor, and all of the other charges were dismissed. Father was sentenced to 180 days, with credit for ten days and 170 days suspended to probation.

[5] Beginning in October of 2013, Father lived with his girlfriend, R.M. (“Girlfriend”), and her two daughters in Danville. In July 2014, Child began living with Father and Girlfriend after Mother agreed to place Child with Father under a temporary guardianship arrangement.

[6] On March 9, 2014, Father was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person (Cause No. 32C02-1506-CM-780). On April 28, 2015, Father was again charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person (Cause No. 32C01-1505-CM-542). Father was released on bond while both charges were pending. DCS Exhibit 24 at 1; Exhibit 28 at 1.

[7] On May 15, 2015, the Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) filed a child in need of services (CHINS) petition alleging that: Mother admitted to using methamphetamine for approximately two years; she had untreated mental health issues and unstable housing; and Father was unable to ensure Child’s safety while Child was in Mother’s care. On the same day, the court

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A05-1712-JT-2759 | May 11, 2018 Page 3 of 18 held an initial hearing and authorized Child’s removal from Mother’s care and placement with Father for a temporary trial home visit (TTV).

[8] On July 16, 2015, Girlfriend obtained a no-contact protective order against Father due to his drunken, belligerent, and threatening behavior toward her and her two daughters. Exhibit Vol. I at 32. On the evening of that same day, Father drove away from the home with Child in the car. Id. He returned to the home a short time later and was served with the no-contact order; however, the police would not allow Father to drive away at that time due to his intoxication. Id.

[9] On July 18, Father was arrested and charged with Invasion of Privacy, as a Class A misdemeanor, after he violated the no contact order (Cause No. 32C01- 1507-CM-873). Upon his arrest, Father left Child with Girlfriend to be cared for in her home. On July 20, DCS requested the removal of Child from Father’s care due to Father’s arrest and allegations that he drove under the influence on July 16 with Child in the car. On July 21, the court removed Child from Father’s care and placed Child with his maternal grandmother (“Grandmother”). Father remained incarcerated for approximately the next two weeks, but was then released on bond.

[10] At a September 18, 2015, pretrial hearing in the CHINS case, Father waived his right to a factfinding hearing and Child was adjudicated a CHINS. On the same day, the court proceeded to a dispositional hearing and entered a dispositional decree and parental participation order requiring Father to

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A05-1712-JT-2759 | May 11, 2018 Page 4 of 18 participate in services, including substance abuse assessment and treatment. In late September, DCS referred Father to Hamilton Center for a substance abuse assessment, but Father did not obtain the assessment.

[11] On September 29, Father was arrested and charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person, as a Class A misdemeanor, and Driving While Suspended, as a Class A misdemeanor (Cause No. 32C01-1509- CM-1223). On April 4, 2016, Father pleaded guilty to the following charges pending in his four separate criminal cases:3 Invasion of Privacy and three counts of Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person. Father was sentenced accordingly and remained incarcerated for approximately thirteen months, until November 4, 2016.

[12] On May 16, 2016, the court held a permanency hearing at which it noted that Father was still incarcerated. At the request of DCS, the court changed Child’s permanency plan to adoption. On June 3, 2016, DCS filed a petition to terminate parental rights as to Child. At a December 9, 2016, permanency hearing in the CHINS matter, the court noted that Mother had executed an adoption consent for Child, and Father had been released from incarceration. The court ordered Father to complete a substance abuse assessment and random drug screens, and it authorized Father to have therapeutically

3 I.e., Cause No. 32C02-1506-CM-780 (March 9, 2014 charges); Cause No. 32C01-1505-CM-542 (April 28, 2015 charges); Cause No. 32C01-1507-CM-873 (July 18, 2015 charges); and Cause No. 32C01-1509-CM- 1223 (September 29, 2015 charges).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A05-1712-JT-2759 | May 11, 2018 Page 5 of 18 supervised parenting time with Child. On December 29, DCS referred Father to a substance abuse assessment, therapy, and random drug screens. DCS never received any documentation from the service providers that Father had participated in those services.

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In re the Involuntary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of N.L. (Minor Child), and J.F. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services, and Child Advocates, Inc. (mem. dec.), (Ind. Ct. App. 2018).

In re the Involuntary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of N.L. (Minor Child), and J.F. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services, and Child Advocates, Inc. (mem. dec.) (In re the Involuntary Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of N.L. (Minor Child), and J.F. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services, and Child Advocates, Inc. (mem. dec.)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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