Beisner v. Ark. Dep't of Human Servs. ( 2016 )

Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 290
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION I
No. CV-16-66
Opinion Delivered May 25, 2016
JENNIFER BEISNER APPEAL FROM THE PULASKI
APPELLANT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT,
ELEVENTH DIVISION
V. [NOS. 60JV-13-2041, 60JV-15-691]
HONORABLE PATRICIA ANN JAMES,
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN JUDGE
SERVICES AND MINOR CHILDREN
APPELLEES AFFIRMED
LARRY D. VAUGHT, Judge
Jennifer Beisner is appealing the Pulaski County Circuit Court’s order terminating her
parental rights to her two minor children, R.B.1 and R.B.2. Beisner’s only argument on appeal 1
is that the circuit court erred when it proceeded with the termination hearing “despite the
absence of a critical witness,” William Mitchell, who was then believed to be the father of one
of the children and who had made allegations against Beisner. We affirm.
This case began on December 16, 2013, when a drug raid at Beisner’s home resulted
in her arrest. The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) exercised an emergency
hold on R.B.1, who was then sixteen months old. Beisner was four months pregnant at the
time. She admitted having smoked marijuana but claimed that the drugs found in her home
during the raid were left there by a friend. R.B.1 was adjudicated dependent-neglected based
1 Beisner does not challenge the circuit court’s findings as to statutory grounds or best
interest.
Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 290
on a stipulation by the parties. In the court’s June 4, 2014 review order, it was noted that
Beisner was in compliance and was making good progress.
Beisner gave birth to R.B.2 on May 21, 2014. Based on DHS’s recommendation, the
court allowed R.B.2 to stay in Beisner’s care and granted Beisner unsupervised day visits with
R.B.1. Following several months of successful unsupervised visitation, Beisner was granted
weekend visitation. Beisner then moved for a trial placement of R.B.1 back into her home,
which was granted on November 17, 2014.
In December 2014, the circuit court entered a permanency-planning order that stated
reunification with Beisner should be achieved within three months based on Beisner’s
compliance and progress. Beisner then filed a motion for temporary custody of R.B.1.
Although DHS originally objected to the motion for temporary custody, it withdrew its
objection, and the circuit court granted Beisner temporary custody of R.B.1 on April 8, 2015.
The court ordered Beisner not to have the children around any unrelated males or the maternal
grandmother.
On May 18, 2015, DHS filed a petition for dependency-neglect on R.B.2 and a motion
for ex parte emergency change of custody of R.B.1. It had come to the attention of DHS that
Beisner had posted photos of herself and the children with an unrelated male on Facebook,
later determined to be William Mitchell. Following an emergency staffing to address the fact
that Beisner had violated the court’s order by having her children around Mitchell, Mitchell
came to DHS and voluntarily reported that Beisner had engaged in numerous other violations
during the trial placement, including prostitution, drug use, taking the children out of state,
leaving them with her mother (with whom they were supposed to have no contact), quitting
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Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 290
her job, and having them around unrelated males. The court granted the motions, and both
children were returned to DHS custody.
On August 24, 2015, DHS filed a motion to terminate parental rights as to both
children. At the termination hearing, when it was discovered that Mitchell (who was named
R.B.2’s putative father) would not be present at the hearing because he was in another division
of circuit court for an arraignment, the court announced that it intended to go forward with
the termination hearing. Beisner’s attorney stated that she had planned on questioning Mitchell
as a witness but admitted that she had not subpoenaed him. The court stated that it was going
forward with the termination hearing “unless somebody gives me some compelling reason
otherwise.” Beisner’s attorney made no objection to the hearing proceeding in Mitchell’s
absence. After the close of all the evidence, the court terminated Beisner’s parental rights.
Beisner filed a timely notice of appeal.
In Knuckles v. Arkansas Department of Human Services, we explained that we review
termination-of-parental-rights cases de novo. 2015 Ark. App. 463, at 2–3, 469 S.W.3d 377,
378–79 (citing Dinkins v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 344 Ark. 207, 40 S.W.3d 286 (2001)).
However, we reverse a trial court’s decision to terminate parental rights only when it is clearly
erroneous. Ullom v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 340 Ark. 615, 12 S.W.3d 204 (2000); Mitchell v.
Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. App. 715, 430 S.W.3d 851; Brewer v. Ark. Dep’t of Human
Servs., 71 Ark. App. 364, 43 S.W.3d 196 (2001). A finding is clearly erroneous when, although
there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with a distinct
and firm conviction that a mistake was made. Wade v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 337 Ark. 353,
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Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 290
990 S.W.2d 509 (1999); Hopkins v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 79 Ark. App. 1, 83 S.W.3d 418
(2002).
Beisner’s sole argument on appeal is that the circuit court violated her due-process
rights by proceeding with the hearing in Mitchell’s absence. This issue was not preserved for
appeal because Beisner’s attorney failed to make a contemporaneous objection before the
circuit court. Ingle v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2014 Ark. 471, at 7–8, 449 S.W.3d 283, 288.
This court has long held that an appellant must raise an argument and obtain a ruling on even
constitutional issues in the trial court in order to preserve the issue for appeal. See Raymond v.
State, 354 Ark. 157, 162–63, 118 S.W.3d 567, 571 (2003). Issues raised for the first time on
appeal will not be considered because the circuit court never had an opportunity to make a
ruling. Johnson v. State, 2009 Ark. 460 (per curiam) (citing Green v. State, 362 Ark. 459, 209
S.W.3d 339 (2005)).
Affirmed.
VIRDEN and HOOFMAN, JJ., agree.
Tina Bowers Lee, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant.
Jerald A. Sharum, Office of Chief Counsel, for appellee.
Chrestman Group, PLLC, by: Keith L. Chrestman, attorney ad litem for minor
children.
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