MEMORANDUM DECISION Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED regarded as precedent or cited before any Oct 20 2020, 9:08 am court except for the purpose of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral CLERK Indiana Supreme Court Court of Appeals estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE Ana M. Quirk Curtis T. Hill, Jr. Muncie, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Katherine A. Cornelius Deputy Attorney General Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Termination of the Parent- October 20, 2020 Child Relationship of: Court of Appeals Case No. 20A-JT-894 K.H. (Minor Child), Appeal from the Delaware Circuit and Court M.H. (Mother), The Honorable Kimberly Dowling, Appellant-Respondent, Judge The Honorable Amanda Yonally, v. Magistrate Trial Court Cause No. Indiana Department of Child 18C02-1908-JT-191 Services, Appellee-Petitioner.
Altice, Judge. Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 1 of 16 Case Summary [1] M.H. (Mother) appeals from the involuntary termination of her parental rights
to her minor child, K.H. (Child), challenging the sufficiency of the evidence
supporting the termination order. Mother also asserts that her due process
rights were violated when the trial court did not conduct a hearing prior to
ordering supervised visitation during the child in need of services (CHINS)
proceedings.
[2] We affirm.
Facts & Procedural [3] Mother and D.J. (Father) 1 are the biological parents of Child, born in June
2016. Child was born with fetal alcohol syndrome and tested positive for
marijuana at birth. On July 27, 2016, the Indiana Department of Child Services
(DCS) filed a CHINS petition, alleging that child was neglected or endangered
due to Mother’s drug use. 2 The petition also alleged that Mother submitted to a
drug screen on or around June 29, 2016, was positive for marijuana, and, after
agreeing to an informal adjustment, Mother failed to maintain contact with
1 Father passed away during the proceedings and before the termination petition was filed. We primarily focus on the facts related to Mother. 2 Ind. Code § 31-34-1-10 provides that a child born with a controlled substance in his or her body is a CHINS.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 2 of 16 DCS. FCM Mischa Davis was assigned to the case in August 2016 and
remained continuously on it through the proceedings.
[4] On August 2, 2016, Mother was arrested for misdemeanor battery resulting in
bodily injury. On August 19, Mother admitted that Child was a CHINS, and
on October 14, 2016, the court adjudicated Child a CHINS. That same date,
the court issued a dispositional decree ordering that placement would remain
with Mother, and it ordered Mother to, among other things, maintain suitable,
safe housing; complete a substance abuse assessment and follow all
recommendations; not consume illegal substances; submit to random
drug/alcohol screens upon request; and provide Child with a safe, secure, and
nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect. In addition, the order
required Mother to permit DCS to enter her home upon request and make
Child available with or without an appointment. As of November 2016,
Mother had partially complied with the case plan.
[5] In December 2016, Child was removed from Mother’s home because Child was
endangered while in Mother’s care due to an incident of domestic violence
between Mother and Father. Initially, Child was placed in relative care with a
maternal aunt but Mother expressed concern about the aunt’s care for Child
and requested Child be placed in foster care. About two weeks later, on
December 28, the court ordered an emergency change of placement, and Child
was placed in licensed foster care, where Child has remained throughout the
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 3 of 16 [6] At a June 2017 permanency hearing, the court found that Mother had partially
enhanced her ability to fulfill her parental obligations, and the court authorized
unsupervised visitation including a trial home visit. In July 2017, while Child
was exercising overnight visitation in Mother’s home, Mother engaged in an
altercation with someone in the home and was thereafter charged with Level 3
felony aggravated battery. Mother was out on bond when she committed that
offense.
[7] On August 28, 2017, Mother was convicted of the August 2016 misdemeanor
battery resulting in bodily injury charge. She was incarcerated in Delaware
County Jail from July 2017 to November 2017. When she was released, she
requested that visits with Child resume, and in November 2017, Mother began
exercising supervised visitation.
[8] At the December 18, 2017 permanency hearing, the court found that Mother
had been incarcerated during a significant portion of the reporting period; she
had not maintained stable housing or a legal source of income; and she was not
compliant with screens before her incarceration and had tested positive for
cocaine. She had recent criminal charges that included an allegation of
aggravated battery, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, possession of
cocaine, and criminal recklessness. The court changed Child’s permanency
plan to adoption with a concurrent plan of reunification.
[9] At a March 2018 review hearing, the court found that Mother was partially
compliant with Child’s case plan. She had taken steps to address anger
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 4 of 16 management through the Delaware County Probation Department and had
submitted to drug screens but had tested positive for THC and had ongoing
criminal matters. In June 2018, the court continued the concurrent permanency
plan of adoption and reunification. By September 2018, the court authorized
overnight and weekend visits with Mother.
[10] In December 2018, DCS petitioned for a trial home visit but after a December
17, 2018 review hearing, the court denied the request. The court found that
Mother was partially compliant with Child’s case plan, as she was employed,
had stable housing, was cooperative with DCS, and had begun individual
therapy. However, the court concluded that it was not in Child’s best interests
to participate in a trial home visit based on, among other things, the following:
Mother was allowing maternal aunt to provide child care although the court
previously had ordered that the maternal aunt have no visitation with Child;
Mother was driving Child to and from locations without a license and after the
court had admonished her against doing so, noting “the fact that Mother
continues to violate the law and demonstrate poor judgment in transporting the
child on a regular basis is of serious concern to the Court”; she had failed to
appear in city court on five occasions related to her driver’s license; Mother had
“serious” pending criminal charges for Level 3 felony aggravated battery, Level
5 felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and Level 6 felony possession
of cocaine; she tested positive for THC in September 2018 and “failed to show
up” for requested drug screens on November 6, 9, and 12, 2018; and Mother
“has difficulty adhering to a consistent visitation schedule, often asking to
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 5 of 16 change the schedule or showing up late” and was inconsistent in picking up and
dropping off Child from daycare or foster placement. Exhibits Vol. at 53-54.
[11] In March 2019, DCS was going to recommend a trial home visit but on March
7, 2019, DCS received a report that Child smelled like marijuana when Mother
brought him to daycare. FCM Davis went to Mother’s home to investigate, but
Mother did not answer the door. FCM Davis returned the next day, and
Mother again did not answer the door. FCM Davis, while still on the front
porch, called Mother, who said that she was inside with Child but would not
allow FCM Davis to come inside. FCM Davis then requested that the court
return visitation to supervised, and the court granted the request without a
hearing. Thereafter Mother’s screens were clean for some weeks, but then she
missed over twenty screens in April and June. She tested positive for marijuana
on May 9 and 16, 2019.
[12] In June 2019, the court held a hearing on permanency and visitation. The court
found that Mother was “minimally compliant” with the case plan, as she had
maintained housing, was employed and had completed an intake on a referral
for individual therapy, but was not compliant in providing drug screens and had
tested positive for marijuana several times. The court addressed Mother’s
pending criminal charges and observed that, during the reporting period,
Mother had appeared in a Facebook live video where “she was looking for a
woman that she intended to assault” and “repeatedly threatened to beat the
woman” using vulgar and violent language. Id. at 58. The court expressed that
“Mother continues to demonstrate a pattern of violent behavior” and “has
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 6 of 16 consistently demonstrated a negative attitude toward DCS . . . and service
providers.” Id. at 58-59. The court denied DCS’s motion to resume
unsupervised visits and ordered a permanency plan of adoption.
[13] On August 16, 2019, Mother tested positive for cocaine. On August 23, 2019,
DCS filed a petition to terminate Mother’s parental rights. Meanwhile, in July
2019, Mother entered into a plea agreement involving five pending criminal
cases. On October 31, 2019, the criminal court accepted the plea agreement in
which she pled guilty to Level 3 felony aggravated battery and Level 6 felony
possession of cocaine 3, and other charges were dismissed. The court sentenced
her to ten years with five years executed and five suspended to supervised
probation. Mother was incarcerated in the Delaware County Jail from
September 2019 until November 2019, when she was transferred to the Indiana
Women’s Prison.
[14] At the December 19, 2019 fact-finding hearing, FCM Davis testified that
Mother had participated in various services for substance abuse and domestic
violence but did not fully engage. She described that Mother’s progress was
inconsistent, and she continued to face criminal charges, including at least three
battery charges. FCM Davis testified that when she tried to meet with Mother
to discuss the allegation of Child smelling like marijuana at daycare, Mother
refused. FCM Davis stated that the permanency plan was for the foster parents
3 Mother possessed the cocaine while in jail.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 7 of 16 to adopt Child. The CASA, who had been assigned to the case for two years
and who had seen Child in his foster placement about once a month,
recommended that the court grant DCS’s petition to terminate Mother’s
parental rights. The foster father testified that he and his wife desired to adopt
Child.
[15] Mother testified that she used marijuana and alcohol up until her September
2019 incarceration. She stated that her expected release date is December 6,
2021 but that it could be sooner if she completed a substance abuse program.
[16] On March 27, 2020, the trial court entered an order that included, in part, the
following findings and conclusions:
54. Despite the intervention of the Department of Child Services and the Court, Mother has demonstrated an inability or unwillingness to remain sober, and she has exhibited a clear pattern of violent behavior and numerous arrests on violent criminal charges. Mother has failed to benefit from the services provided in order to alleviate the conditions that resulted in the child’s removal from the home and continued placement outside of the home. Mother’s criminal history, particularly with regard to the aggravated battery that occurred while the child was on a visitation with Mother and her repeated involvement in fighting with others and domestic violence, demonstrates Mother’s instability. Mother has proven herself unwilling or unable to meet her parental responsibilities.
55. That based on the foregoing, there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted in the child’s removal and/or continued placement outside the home will not be remedied.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 8 of 16 ***
57. Based on Mother’s habitual pattern of violent and antisocial conduct that resulted in her incarceration, there is a substantial probability of future neglect if the petition for termination of parental rights is not granted. There is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent/child relationship herein poses a threat to the well-being of the child.
Appellant’s Appendix Vol. 2 at 67. The court also determined that termination
was in Child’s best interests and that there existed a satisfactory plan for Child,
which included adoption by the foster parents. The court terminated Mother’s
rights. Mother now appeals. Additional information will be provided below as
needed.
Discussion & Decision
I. Sufficiency of Evidence [17] When reviewing the termination of parental rights, we consider the evidence in
the light most favorable to the prevailing party, and we will not reweigh the
evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. Matter of M.I., 127 N.E.3d
1168, 1170 (Ind. 2019). To prevail, the challenging party must show that the
court’s decision is contrary to law, meaning that the probative evidence and
reasonable inferences point unerringly to the opposite conclusion. Id. “Because
a case that seems close on a ‘dry record’ may have been much more clear-cut in
person, we must be careful not to substitute our judgment for the trial court
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 9 of 16 when reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence.” In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 640
(Ind. 2014).
[18] It is well recognized that a parent’s interest in the care, custody, and control of
his or her children is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests. In
re R.S., 56 N.E.3d 625, 628 (Ind. 2016). Although parental rights are of
constitutional dimension, the law provides for the termination of these rights
when parents are unable or unwilling to meet their parental responsibilities. In
re R.H., 892 N.E.2d 144, 149 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008). In addition, a court must
subordinate the interests of the parents to those of the child when evaluating the
circumstances surrounding the termination. In re K.S., 750 N.E.2d 832, 836
(Ind. Ct. App. 2001). The purpose of terminating parental rights is not to
punish the parents, but to protect their children. Id.
[19] Before an involuntary termination of parental rights may occur in Indiana, DCS
is required to allege and prove by clear and convincing evidence, among other
things:
(B) that one (1) of the following is true:
(i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for placement outside the home of the parents will not be remedied.
(ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the child.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 10 of 16 (iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been adjudicated a child in need of services[.]
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B); Ind. Code § 31-37-14-2. DCS must also prove
by clear and convincing evidence that termination is in the best interests of the
child and that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child.
I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(C), (D); I.C. § 31-37-14-2.
[20] On appeal, Mother contends that DCS failed to present clear and convincing
evidence that the conditions resulting in Child’s removal or the reasons for
placement outside the home would not be remedied, that continuation of the
parent-child relationship posed a threat to Child’s well-being, and that
termination is in Child’s best interests. We will address each of these in turn, as
Conditions Not Remedied
[21] In deciding whether a reasonable probability exists that conditions will not be
remedied, the trial court must judge a parent’s fitness to care for her child at the
time of the termination hearing, taking into consideration evidence of changed
conditions. In re J.T., 742 N.E.2d 509, 512 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied.
The court must also evaluate the parent’s habitual patterns of conduct to
determine whether there is a substantial probability of future neglect or
deprivation of the child. Id. “A pattern of unwillingness to deal with parenting
problems and to cooperate with those providing social services, in conjunction
with unchanged conditions, support a finding that there exists no reasonable
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 11 of 16 probability that the conditions will change.” In re L.S., 717 N.E.2d 204, 210
(Ind. Ct. App. 1999), trans. denied, cert. denied (2002). The statute does not
simply focus on the initial basis for a child’s removal for purposes of
determining whether a parent’s rights should be terminated, but also those bases
resulting in the continued placement outside the home. In re N.Q., 996 N.E.2d
385, 392 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). DCS need not provide evidence ruling out all
possibilities of change; rather, it need establish only that there is a reasonable
probability the parent’s behavior will not change. In re Kay L., 867 N.E.2d 236,
242 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).
[22] Mother argues that Child was removed from her home due to domestic
violence issues with Father, and, given that he passed away during the
proceedings and she completed recommended programs, there were no longer
any domestic violence issues. Therefore, she argues, the conditions that led to
Child’s removal had been remedied and the court’s conclusion to the contrary
was erroneous. We reject this argument.
[23] First, although domestic violence with Father was no longer an issue, Mother
continued to engage in violent behavior as evidenced by her arrests and
convictions for battery. Second, our inquiry focuses not only on the conditions
that caused removal, but also on the reasons for Child’s continued placement
outside the home. In re A.I., 825 N.E.2d 798, 806 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans.
denied.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 12 of 16 [24] Here, the CHINS petition alleged that Child had been neglected due to
Mother’s drug use. While Child’s removal may have occurred because of
domestic violence that occurred with Father in the home, Child’s placement
outside the home continued because of Mother’s criminal – sometimes violent –
conduct, resulting in incarcerations, failure to submit to drug screens as
required, and continued use of alcohol and marijuana until her September 2019
incarceration. While Mother made some progress in the three years since
Child’s removal, we have held that “[w]here there are only temporary
improvements and the pattern of conduct shows no overall progress, the court
might reasonably find that under the circumstances, the problematic situation
will not improve.” In re A.H., 832 N.E.2d 563, 570 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
[25] We find that the trial court’s determination that there is a reasonable probability
that the conditions that resulted in Child’s removal or the reasons for placement
outside Mother’s home will not be remedied is supported by clear and
convincing evidence. Because I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B) is written in the
disjunctive, we need not review the trial court’s determination that continuation
of the parent-child relationship posed a threat to Child’s well-being.
Best Interests
[26] Mother asserts that the evidence was insufficient to support the trial court’s
determination that termination was in Child’s best interests. In making this
best-interests determination, the trial court is required to look beyond the
factors identified by DCS and consider the totality of the evidence. In re J.C.,
994 N.E.2d 278, 290 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). The court must subordinate the Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 13 of 16 interest of the parent to those of the children and need not wait until a child is
irreversibly harmed before terminating the parent-child relationship. McBride v.
Monroe Cnty. Office of Family & Children, 798 N.E.2d 185, 199 (Ind. Ct. App.
2003). Our Supreme Court has explained that “[p]ermanency is a central
consideration in determining the best interests of a child.” In re G.Y., 904
N.E.2d 1257, 1265 (Ind. 2009). “Moreover, we have previously held that the
recommendations of the case manager and court-appointed advocate to
terminate parental rights, in addition to evidence that the conditions resulting in
removal will not be remedied, is sufficient to show by clear and convincing
evidence that termination is in the child’s best interests.” In re. J.S., 906 N.E.2d
226, 236 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).
[27] Mother argues that “[t]here was no evidence that she did not care for [Child],
that they were not bonded, or that they did not have a good relationship.”
Appellant’s Brief at 14. Considering the totality of the evidence before the court,
however, we find no error in the court’s conclusion that termination was in
Child’s best interest. Although Mother participated in some services, she did
not fully engage or complete all required by the court. She did not comply with
many drug screens, and she conceded that she continued to use marijuana and
alcohol until her incarceration in September 2019. During the proceedings, she
engaged in criminal behavior, some violent, that led to arrests and
incarceration. When not incarcerated, she drove Child without having a license
after being admonished not to do so and allowed childcare with a relative who
was not to have visitation with Child per court order. The CASA
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 14 of 16 recommended termination of Mother’s parental rights. Sufficient evidence
supports the court’s determination that termination of Mother’s parental rights
is in Child’s best interests.
II. Due Process [28] Mother argues on appeal that her due process rights were violated when the
court, without first holding a hearing, modified visitation in March 2019 to
supervised. 4 We reject her claim for several reasons.
[29] As an initial matter, we note that the court’s order was issued, not just after
receipt of the report about smelling like marijuana – which Mother claims was
vague in terms of date and time, and not true, and which she did not have a
chance to challenge before the change was made – but after Mother denied
DCS access to her home and to Child and refused to take a drug screen, all of
which were required by the dispositional order. Furthermore, the record does
not reveal that Mother made any objection in the CHINS proceedings or took
any action to revisit the court’s decision, and thus she has not preserved her
claimed error for review. N.C. v. Indiana Dep’t of Child Servs., 56 N.E.3d 65, 69
(Ind. Ct. App. 2016) (party may not raise issue for first time on appeal), trans.
denied. Mother also does not cite to any authority in support of her proposition
4 DCS’s motion is not in the record before us.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 15 of 16 that a hearing was required in this situation. Accordingly, the claim is waived.
Ind. Appellate Rule 46(A)(8).
[30] Affirmed.
Riley, J. and May, J., concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 20A-JT-894 | October 20, 2020 Page 16 of 16