In the Matter of: S.M. (Minor Child), and D.M. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be FILED
regarded as precedent or cited before any May 04 2017, 9:02 am
court except for the purpose of establishing
CLERK
the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Justin L. Froedge Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Goebel Law Office Attorney General of Indiana
Crawfordsville, Indiana Abigail R. Recker
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of: May 4, 2017
S.M. (Minor Child), Court of Appeals Case No.
54A01-1612-JC-2795
And
Appeal from the Montgomery
D.M. (Father), Circuit Court
Appellant-Respondent, The Honorable Harry A. Siamas,
Judge
v. Trial Court Cause No.
54C01-1606-JC-190
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
Riley, Judge.
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
[1] Appellant-Respondent, D.M. (Father), appeals the trial court’s Order
adjudicating his minor child, S.M. (Child), as a Child in Need of Services
(CHINS). 1
[2] We affirm.
ISSUES
[3] Father presents us with two issues on appeal, which we restate as:
(1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by admitting certain exhibits
pertaining to Father’s oral drug screens; and
(2) Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s
determination of the Child as a CHINS.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
[4] S.D. (Mother) and Father are the biological parents of S.M., born on February
16, 2016. Since the birth of S.M., the parents had been residing together in
Crawfordsville, Indiana. On June 13, 2016, the Indiana Department of Child
Services (DCS) received a report regarding the Child, alleging that both parents
were abusing substances while caring for S.M. and that Father was recently
1
Mother is not participating in this appeal. However, facts pertaining to Mother are included where
necessary for our decision.
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released from jail where he had been incarcerated on a probation violation due
to a failed drug screen for methamphetamine.
[5] Upon receiving the report, J.T. Chadd, Family Case Manager with DCS (FCM
Chadd), made multiple attempts to contact the family. Eventually, on June 20,
2016, Father contacted FCM Chadd. That same day, FCM Chadd made an
announced visit to the residence to meet the parents and observe the Child.
Both parents denied the drug use and agreed to submit to oral drug screens, as
administered by FCM Chadd in their residence. Father confirmed that he was
recently released from jail, but denied the use of illegal substances. He
informed FCM Chadd that he had recently taken a drug screen for his
employer, which had tested negative.
[6] Father’s oral drug screen, administered on June 20, 2016, returned positive for
morphine. On June 23, 2016, FCM Chadd and Father met at the family home
where Father continued to deny any drug use. In fact, Father alleged that
“someone he used to be friends with may have slipped something in his drink
because they were mad at him.” (Transcript p. 37). That same day, Father
agreed to take another oral drug screen, which returned positive for
hydrocodone, a medication for which Father presented a prescription.
[7] On June 27, 2016, FCM Chadd met again with Father and Mother at the DCS
office to address the positive drug screen and to develop a plan for the safety of
the Child. Because Father reiterated that someone must have spiked his drink,
DCS restricted Father’s access to the home and the Child. Father agreed to
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remove himself from the home, so the Child could remain in the residence with
Mother. The following day, on June 28, 2016, the DCS filed its verified
petition alleging Child to be a CHINS due to the substance abuse of Child’s
parents. On June 29, 2016, the trial court ordered the Child’s continued
placement with Mother, while Father was ordered to remain outside the home.
[8] On July 7, 2016, an oral drug screen was administered to Father at the DCS
office, which returned positive for amphetamine and hydrocodone. Father
provided a valid prescription for hydrocodone. David Fissell, Family Case
Manager with DCS (FCM Fissell), inherited the case from FCM Chadd on July
28, 2016. FCM Fissell recommended Father to participate at substance abuse
intake at Wabash Valley and the treatment plan associated with that, as well as
parenting classes, home based case management, and supervised visits. Father
“vehemently denied” needing parenting classes. (Tr. p. 67). However, Father
agreed to do the substance abuse intake and do the visits. Father completed the
intake at Wabash Valley, and it was recommended that he participate in the
intensive outpatient program and relapse prevention. An oral drug screen
conducted on July 28, 2016, by FCM Fissell returned positive for
amphetamine.
[9] A drug screen performed on August 8, 2016, returned negative for drugs. At
the time, Father also expressed that in his opinion the recommendation for a
substance abuse program at Wabash Valley was “nonsense.” (Tr. p. 68). Two
days later, on August 10, 2016, FCM Fissell conducted a home visit with
Mother. During the visit, Mother informed FCM Fissell that Father abuses
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illegal substances. She advised FCM Fissell that “the morphine came from him
working on a truck in Indy and he was paid in heroin.” (Tr. p. 70). She also
admitted that Father’s positive screens for amphetamine came from using her
prescription drugs.
[10] On August 19, 2016, Father returned for another oral drug screen. Father was
agitated because he believed FCM Chadd was tampering with his drug screens
and he wanted someone else to administer the tests. Father “believed that
[FCM Chadd] was actually on drugs and was tampering with his drug screen by
spitting in the drug screen himself because [FCM Chadd] is on drugs which was
making his drug screens test positive.” (Tr. p. 56). Father “brought in some
glue with him which was actually some kind of like rubber cement or some kind
of glue that he was requesting that he glue the label onto the drug screen with
that glue[.]” (Tr. p. 56). The drug screen returned positive for hydrocodone,
for which Father could not provide a prescription. Although Father initially
participated in supervised visitations with the Child, there had been one or two
cancellations and he had ceased all visits since September 21, 2016.
[11] On October 19, 2016, the trial court conducted a fact finding hearing where
Mother entered an admission to DCS’s allegations. On November 10, the trial
court entered its Order, concluding Child to be a CHINS. The trial court
found, in pertinent part, that
Father has used controlled substances including
methamphetamine, since the baby’s birth. The child needs sober
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caregivers or he is at risk. Parents will not participate in services
without the coercive intervention of the court.
(Appellant’s Rec. Appendix, p. 13).
[12] Father now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Admission of Evidence
[13] First, Father contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it admitted
the results of his oral drug screen over his objection as these drug screens were
not administered in accordance with the protocol for such screens. The
admission of evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court and is
reviewed on appeal for an abuse of discretion. In re Involuntary Termination of
Parent Child Relationship of A.H., 832 N.E.2d 563, 567 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). An
abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s decision is clearly against the
logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it. Id.[14] When an exhibit is offered for an evidentiary purpose, the exhibit must be
separately authenticated pursuant to Indiana Evidence Rule 901. The Rule
provides that “[t]he requirement of authentication or identification as a
condition precedent to admissibility is satisfied by evidence sufficient to support
a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent claims.” Absolute
proof of authenticity is not required. In re Paternity of B.B., 1 N.E.3d 151, 156
(Ind. Ct. App. 2013). When evidence establishes a reasonable probability that
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an item is what it is claimed to be, the item is admissible. Id. Ind. Evid. R.
901(b) provides “[b]y way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation, the
following are examples of authentication or identification conforming with the
requirements of this rule” and includes “(9) Evidence About a Process or
System.”
[15] During the evidentiary hearing, Bridget Lemberg (Lemberg), lab director at
Forensic Fluids Laboratories, testified to the process used when administering
oral drug screens. She explained:
A test kit consists of a piece of paper called the chain of custody,
a clear plastic specimen bag that’s tamper proof when it’s sealed
and a collection device that’s sealed. The donor is instructed to []
open the collection device. The donor is instructed to put the
cotton pad in their mouth. First there’s a ten minute observation
period to make sure there isn’t anything in the donor’s mouth.
The donor is instructed to place the cotton pad in their mouth to
saturate the cotton pad, it has a plastic handle. Then to take it
out after it is saturated by the handle, place it in a tube of buffer
which keeps it stable for twenty-three days, place the lid on it and
then place [sic] there’s evidence sealing tape that’s on the
paperwork or the chain of custody that has a spot for the donor
name and the date and it as a specimen ID on it. That sealed
sample tube then goes into the clear plastic specimen bag, the
paperwork or the chain of custody that the caseworker and the
donor have signed and dated also goes into the clear plastic
specimen bag then goes into a UPS bag that gets sealed and
delivered to the laboratory the next day.
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(Transcript p. 15). When DCS offered exhibits two, three, four, five, and six,
containing Father’s drug screen results, into evidence, Father objected based on
a lack of foundation to authenticate the exhibits.
[16] With respect to exhibits two, three, and four, containing Father’s drug screens
collected on June 20, June 23, and July 7, 2016, by FCM Chadd, Father
asserted that FCM Chadd had not abided by the ten-minute observation period
necessary to ensure the donor’s mouth is empty. During his testimony, FCM
Chadd stated that prior to administering the oral drug screen, he had observed
Father “for twenty to thirty minutes[.]” (Tr. p. 33). Accordingly, as the
procedure was established for exhibits two, three, and four, the trial court
properly admitted these exhibits over Father’s objection.
[17] Next, DCS offered exhibit six, which contained Father’s drug screen collected
on August 19, 2016, by DCS Supervisor Harmony Jenson (Supervisor Jenson).
Father objected, again claiming that the ten-minute observation period had not
been followed. Supervisor Jenson testified that when people show up at the
DCS office for a drug screen, “you just tell the folks to sit there in the waiting
room . . . like ten or fifteen minutes” to make sure that they do not have
anything in their mouth. (Tr. pp. 52-53). Supervisor Jenson clarified that they
are observed by the clerk working the front desk that “they’re not going in and
out of our bathroom[.]” (Tr. p. 53). She added that there was no concern that
Father had tainted his sample by having something in his mouth. After hearing
the testimony, the trial court found that the procedure was substantially
followed and admitted the exhibit. We agree.
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[18] Lastly, with respect to exhibit five, Father’s July 28, 2016 drug screen
administered by FCM Fissell, Father objected and argued that FCM Fissell had
tainted the sample by handling “the vial or the tube in which the swab is
inserted and taken out[.]” (Tr. p. 64). During the hearing, FCM Fissell
explained that “[s]ometimes I do I do open the vial, it twists off. Sometimes
when they have the swab in the mouth and they say they’re done you know
trying to do that one handed can be difficult so I will hold the bottom of the vial
and twist the top off. I do not touch the inside of the vial or anything.” (Tr. p.
63). After hearing this testimony, the trial court admitted exhibit five. We
agree with the trial court’s decision. Because FCM Fissell complied
substantially with the procedure and merely twisted the top of the vial without
touching the inside, he did not contaminate the sample. Accordingly, all
contested exhibits were properly authenticated and admitted.
II. CHINS Determination
A. Standard of Review
[19] DCS bears the burden of proving that a child is a CHINS by a preponderance of
the evidence. In re K.B., 24 N.E.3d 997, 1001 (Ind. Ct. App. 2015). In
reviewing a CHINS determination, our court does not reweigh evidence or
assess witness credibility. Id. We consider only the evidence in favor of the
trial court’s judgment, along with any reasonable inferences derived therefrom.
Id. Further “a CHINS adjudication may not be based solely on conditions that
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no longer exist. The trial court should also consider the parents’ situation at the
time the case is heard.” In re R.S., 987 N.E.2d 155, 159 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013).
[20] When a trial court, as here, enters findings of fact and conclusions thereon
pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A), we may not set aside the findings or
judgment unless they are clearly erroneous. In re K.B., 24 N.E.3d at 1001. In
our review, we first consider whether the evidence supports the factual findings
and whether the findings support the judgment. Id. “Findings are clearly
erroneous only when the record contains no facts to support them either
directly or by inference.” Id. at 1002. A judgment is clearly erroneous if it
relies on an incorrect legal standard. Id. We give due regard to the trial court’s
ability to assess the credibility of the witnesses. T.R. 52(A). While we defer
substantially to findings of fact, we do not do so for conclusions of law. In re
K.B., 24 N.E.3d at 1002.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
[21] The purpose of the CHINS adjudication is to “protect the children, not punish
parents.” In re A.I., 825 N.E.2d 798, 805 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005), trans. denied.
When it is in the child’s best interest, the State may exert its parens patriae power
and intervene to safeguard the child’s welfare. In re K.B., 24 N.E.2d at 1002.
However, trial courts must balance the child’s needs against the due process
rights of the parents. Id. To support a CHINS adjudication, the CHINS statute
provides that DCS must establish that, before the child becomes eighteen years
of age:
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(1) The child’s physical or mental condition is seriously impaired
or seriously endangered as a result of the inability, refusal, or
neglect of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian to supply
the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care,
education, or supervision; and
(2) The child needs care, treatment, or rehabilitation that:
(A)The child is not receiving; and
(B) Is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the
coercive intervention of the court
Ind. Code § 31-34-1-1. “That final element guards against unwarranted State
interference in family life, reserving that intrusion for families ‘where parents
lack the ability to provide for their children,’ not merely where they ‘encounter
difficulty in meeting a child’s needs.’” In re S.D., 2 N.E.3d 1283, 1287 (Ind.
2014).
[22] Father now challenges the sufficiency of the DCS’s evidence supporting the
conclusion that the Child is a CHINS. In essence, Father asserts that “[o]verall,
the screens that the DCS has amassed do not show an abuse of substances by
the Appellant, as they alleged in their petition, and therefore, do not meet their
burden of proof in this case.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 11). He likens his situation to
B.N. v. Marion Cnty., Dept. of Child Servs., 969 N.E.2d 1021 (Ind. Ct. App. 2012),
where we reversed the trial court’s CHINS determination. We deemed it
important that although the mother had been charged with possession of
oxycodone and marijuana, the mother presented DCS with current
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prescriptions for oxycodone and Xanax. Id. at 1023. She voluntarily submitted
to drug screens, which all tested negative, and she voluntarily participated in
home-based services. Id. The mother was employed and had taken care of an
abusive situation. Id. at 1024. Accordingly, as the mother had been proactive
in remedying her situation and participating with DCS, we concluded that there
was no evidence to support the trial court’s determination. Id. at 1026.
[23] We find B.N. to be inapposite to the case at hand. Unlike in B.N., Father’s drug
screens were not all negative. In fact, Father had four positive drug screens for
which he was unable to provide valid prescriptions. Although Father initially
seemed receptive to participating in services, after an initial intake assessment at
Wabash Valley, he changed his mind, determining the substance abuse
determination to be “nonsense.” (Tr. p. 68). He also “vehemently denied”
needing parenting classes and refused to participate. (Tr. p. 67). Even though
Father initially participated in supervised visitations with Child, he had not
visited S.M. in almost a month prior to the fact-finding hearing.
[24] The CHINS statute does not require the trial court and DCS to wait until a
child is physically or emotionally harmed to intervene; rather, a child may be
determined to be CHINS if his or her physical or mental condition is
endangered. In re R.P., 949 N.E.2d 395, 401 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). Children
who are “endangered by parental action or inaction” are protected under the
CHINS statute. In re A.H., 913 N.E.2d 303, 306 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Here, we
conclude that Father’s positive drug screens and his refusal to participate in
services, as well as his recent abandonment of the supervised visitations,
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highlights his inability or refusal to properly care for the Child. See, e.g., In re
K.B., 24 N.E.2d at 1007. Accordingly, we cannot say that the trial court’s
adjudication of the Child as a CHINS is clearly erroneous.
CONCLUSION
[25] In light of the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court’s Order adjudicating
Child as a CHINS is not erroneous.
[26] Affirmed.
[27] Najam, J. and Bradford, J. concur
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