J.R.H. v. O.M.H. (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Aug 10 2017, 8:50 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
George Guido T. Andrew Perkins
Graly & Guido Law Office, LLC Rachel A. Arndt
Fort Wayne, Indiana Peterson Waggoner &
Perkins, LLP
Dana Leon
Rochester, Indiana
Rockhill Pinnick, LLP
Warsaw, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
J.R.H., August 10, 2017
Appellant-Petitioner, Court of Appeals Case No.
25A03-1611-DR-2534
v. Appeal from the Fulton Circuit
Court
O.M.H., The Honorable A. Christopher
Appellee-Respondent Lee, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
25C01-1412-DR-738
Baker, Judge.
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[1] J.R.H. (Mother) appeals the trial court’s custody order awarding primary
physical and legal custody of her children to O.M.H. (Father). Mother raises
two arguments on appeal, which we combine and restate as an argument that
there is insufficient evidence supporting the trial court’s order. Finding the
evidence sufficient, we affirm.
Facts
[2] Father and Mother married in 2003. The union produced three children born
in 2006, 2009, and 2011. The marriage gradually broke down and resulted in
an acrimonious separation in 2014.
[3] Mother’s alcohol consumption and abuse of prescription medications increased
dramatically during the marriage. By Mother’s own admission, she is a
recovering alcoholic. She has stated that at one point she was consuming “a
fifth” of vodka every day. Tr. Vol. 2 p. 48. She admitted to drinking while
supervising the children, frequently to the point of unconsciousness, and admits
that her alcohol consumption hindered her ability to parent.
[4] After the parents separated in 2014, Father often needed to leave his farm to
check on the children and make sure they were safe while in Mother’s care.
One of the children, while participating in play therapy, drew an unprompted
picture of Mother passed out, with the child running over to his siblings to take
care of them. The therapist testified that this picture indicated that the child
had experienced trauma as a result of Mother’s substance abuse.
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[5] In October 2014, Mother and Father agreed that she should receive treatment
for alcohol addiction. Father transported Mother to Fairbanks, an addiction
treatment center in Indianapolis, where she was admitted to the inpatient
program. After Mother completed the inpatient program in November 2014,
Mother relocated to Indianapolis to undergo outpatient treatment through
Fairbanks. Mother had very little contact with the children between October
2014, when she began treatment, and May 2015; Father has had physical
custody of the children since October 2014. Mother has not consistently
exercised all the parenting time to which she is entitled.
[6] Mother alleges that throughout their marriage, Father repeatedly physically
abused her. Father denies these allegations and claims Mother was physically
violent toward him. He further states that her injuries were caused by falling
while she was heavily intoxicated. Neither parent faced criminal charges
during the marriage.
[7] Father has stated that he believes Mother is a neglectful parent and he has
communicated to her that he does not want the children to have a relationship
with her. Unfortunately, the children’s relationships with both parents have
been strained by the conflict. Nonetheless, the children thrive in school and
enjoy living on Father’s family farm. They are also strongly bonded to nearby
extended family members. Mother admits that the children want to remain
with Father.
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[8] While at Fairbanks, Mother engaged in a romantic relationship against
treatment recommendations. Her partner was a fellow patient and the
relationship resulted in pregnancy. Mother, the child, and the child’s father
currently live together in Indianapolis. The custody evaluator testified that
Mother’s decision to become involved in this relationship while in treatment
showed “very poor judgment” and having a child soon after leaving treatment,
while still married to Father, concerned the evaluator. Tr. Vol. 2 p. 76-77. The
Guardian ad Litem noted that the children are not close with Mother’s
boyfriend, and that the rapid progression of that relationship suggests a lack of
stability.
[9] Mother has found stable employment in Indianapolis but has moved multiple
times since completing treatment at Fairbanks. Mother initially lived in a one-
bedroom apartment, then a three-bedroom townhome, then another apartment.
At the time of the final custody hearing, Mother planned to move to yet another
residence in Indianapolis.
[10] Father filed a petition to dissolve the marriage in December 2014. An
evidentiary hearing regarding custody of the children took place on August 23
and 24, 2016. On October 14, 2016, the trial court issued a custody order
awarding sole physical and legal custody of the children to Father and ordering
that Mother is entitled to unsupervised parenting time in accordance with the
Parenting Time Guidelines. The trial court was dismayed by Father’s behavior
with respect to Mother, but still found that it was in the children’s best interests
to remain with him:
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This should be an easy decision. The children are deeply rooted
in and around the Akron community. They are doing well in
school. They are living on the family farm. They are surrounded
by family and people that have known the family for generations.
Ultimately, the Court chose to leave the children with the Father
because they are doing well despite their Father’s behavior. The
Father’s immature and abusive behavior towards the Mother
makes an otherwise easy decision, difficult. The Father acted
like a controlling bully throughout this process. The Court is
particularly concerned with some of the Father’s
communications with the children . . . . This must cease. One of
the primary responsibilities of any custodial parent is to
encourage and foster the relationship of the non-custodial parent.
The Father has done poorly in this regard to date.
The Father is commended, however, because the children have
been and are doing well in his care.
The Mother’s circumstances are unsettled. Since separation, the
Mother entered into a relationship with a recovering addict.
Mother now has a child with this individual. The Mother resides
in an apartment in Indianapolis but is looking to secure a
residence in another location. If the children are placed with
Mother, they would begin in a new community, new school, and
with new counselor(s). The Court commends the Mother’s
progress in her substance abuse recovery.
At some point, the advantages afforded the children by residing
at the family farm surrounded by relatives and friends may
become overwhelmed by the Father’s poor behavior—if his poor
behavior continues.
Appealed Order p. 7-8. Mother now appeals.
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Discussion and Decision
[11] Mother argues that there is insufficient evidence supporting the trial court’s
order granting physical and legal custody of the children to Father. We afford
trial courts a great deal of deference in family law matters because of their
extended face-to-face interactions with the parties. Best v. Best, 941 N.E.2d 499,
502 (Ind. 2011). Trial judges are able to assess the credibility and character of
the parties involved, and, because of this evidence, they are in a superior
position to determine the best interests of the children. Id. In reviewing a trial
court’s order in a family law matter, we neither reweigh evidence nor reassess
witness credibility, and we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the
judgment. D.C. v. J.A.C., 977 N.E.2d 951, 954 (Ind. 2012). We will only
reverse the trial court’s judgment if it is clearly against the logic and effects of
the facts and circumstances. L.C. v. T.M., 996 N.E.2d 403, 407 (Ind. Ct. App.
2013).
[12] A court must award custody in accordance with the best interests of the child.
Ind. Code § 31-17-2-8. The trial court must consider all relevant factors,
including the following:
(1) The age and sex of the child.
(2) The wishes of the child’s parent or parents.
(3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration given to
the child’s wishes if the child is at least fourteen (14) years
of age.
(4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with:
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(A) the child’s parent or parents;
(B) the child’s sibling; and
(C) any other person who may significantly affect the
child’s best interests.
(5) The child’s adjustment to the child’s:
(A) home;
(B) school; and
(C) community.
(6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
(7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by
either parent.
(8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a de facto
custodian, and if the evidence is sufficient, the court shall
consider the factors described in section 8.5(b) of this
chapter.
(9) A designation in a power of attorney of:
(A) the child’s parent; or
(B) a person found to be a de facto custodian of the
child.
Id. In this case, the trial court noted that it considered all of the above factors
but placed “significant weight” on factors four and five. Appealed Order p. 2.
[13] There is a wealth of evidence in the record supporting the trial court’s
conclusion that primary physical and legal custody should be granted to Father.
Among other things, the record reveals the following evidence:
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• Before Mother sought treatment for her alcoholism in October 2014, she
had become an unsafe parent because of regular, substantial alcohol
consumption while the children were in her care.
• Mother had little contact with the children between October 2014 and
May 2015, and did not exercise all of the parenting time to which she
was entitled.
• In March 2015, Mother became pregnant with the child of her new
boyfriend, a man she met while both were in treatment at Fairbanks. She
moved in with this man two months later and gave birth to a daughter in
December 2015.
• Since finishing treatment at Fairbanks, Mother had lived in three
different homes and was planning to move to a fourth at the time of the
custody hearing.
• The custody evaluator noted that the two older children “reported
enjoying farm life and indicated they would miss certain aspects of
country living if they were no longer able to remain in the marital
residence. They were not eager to leave friends, extended family, and
their schools.” Tr. Ex. Vol. 2 p. 114.
• A therapist working with the older two children testified that they enjoy
living with Father, have strong family ties in Akron, and are doing well
in school. Tr. Vol. 2 p. 201.
• The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) noted that the children all expressed a
desire for Father to maintain custody of them. Tr. Ex. Vol. 5 p. 113.
• The GAL expressed concern about Mother’s relationship with her new
boyfriend, who is also a recovering addict and has prior criminal history
related to substance abuse.
• The GAL noted that the children have a good rapport and bond with
their current therapist; it was very difficult for the children when they had
to switch to a new therapist. If the children were to move to live with
Mother, they would need yet another new therapist, and the GAL is
concerned about “the effect that continuing to make sudden changes in
the lives of these children is having on their mental health.” Id. at 114-
15.
• Through all of Mother’s substance abuse and subsequent treatment,
Father “took care of the children. He, with a great deal of help from his
family members and friends, took care of getting the children to school
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and their other events, providing supervision, feeding the children, taking
care of them when they were sick, etc. As a result, the children are very
closely bonded with their father and his family.” Id. at 117.
• The GAL ultimately concluded that “it would not be in the best interests
of these children for them to be taken out of their father’s home and
placed in their mother’s home in Indianapolis. [Mother], while her
reasons may be understandable, chose to move away from her children
and make major changes in her life, including moving in with a new
boyfriend and having another child. It would not be in the best interests
of these children, who are already having to deal with some major
changes and upheavals of their own, to force yet another major change
on them. Consistency and stability are extremely important for children,
and the family, school, and community connections the children have in
their father’s home provide that consistency and stability to these
children. All of the factors weigh in favor of [Father] having physical
custody of the children.” Id. at 118. The GAL also recommended that
Father have legal custody of the children. Id. at 119.
We find that this evidence supports the trial court’s conclusion that, while
legitimate concerns have been raised about Father’s behavior, it is in the
children’s best interests to remain with him. They are bonded to him, well
adjusted to their community and school, and generally doing well. To uproot
them at this time could be detrimental to their well-being. Under these
circumstances, we find sufficient evidence supporting the trial court’s order.
[14] We acknowledge the evidence in the record tending to support Mother’s
allegations that Father has been physically abusive to her in the past and
emotionally abusive to her during the divorce proceedings. Arguments along
these lines, however, amount to a request that we reweigh the evidence and
second-guess the trial court’s assessment of witness credibility, which we may
not do.
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[15] Mother correctly states that Father may not “sow the seeds of discord and reap
improved custody rights.” Pierce v. Pierce, 620 N.E.2d 726, 731 (Ind. Ct. App.
1993). However, the trial court awarded custody to Father not because of
discord in the family, which Father has undoubtedly exacerbated, but because it
determined that Father’s home is a stable and familiar environment for
children. Indeed, the record indicates that the trial court acknowledged and
criticized Father’s combative behavior. Nonetheless, the trial court found that
it would be in the best interest of the children to award Father custody, and we
have found sufficient evidence supporting that conclusion.
[16] In a custody dispute, the trial court’s duty is to act in what it deems is the best
interest of the children. The trial court determined that it is in the best interest
of the children to remain in the home and schools to which they are
accustomed. We find sufficient evidence in the record to support the trial
court’s conclusion. This Court does not sanction any parent’s attempt to
punish the other parent through their children, and we strongly echo the trial
court’s caution that Father’s manipulative, toxic behavior must cease. We urge
him not to interfere with Mother’s court-ordered parental access and to adhere
strictly to the trial court’s order. Nonetheless, we find that the trial court did
not err in granting physical and legal custody to Father.
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[17] The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.
Mathias, J., and Altice, J., concur.
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