In the Matter of J.J. and K.M., (Minor Children), Children in Need of Services, and L.J. (Mother) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2020 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), Jan 21 2020, 8:51 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
court except for the purpose of establishing and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
Katherine N. Worman Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Evansville, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
David E. Corey
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of J.J. and K.M., January 21, 2020
(Minor Children), Children in Court of Appeals Case No.
Need of Services, 19A-JC-1625
and Appeal from the Vanderburgh
Superior Court
L.J. (Mother), The Honorable Brett J. Niemeier,
Appellant-Respondent, Judge
The Honorable Beverly Corn,
v. Referee
Trial Court Cause No.
The Indiana Department of 82D04-1901-JC-189
82D04-1902-JC-252
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 19A-JC-1625 | January 21, 2020 Page 1 of 16
Tavitas, Judge.
Case Summary
[1] L.J. (“Mother”) appeals the trial court’s order adjudicating Mother’s two minor
children, J.J. and K.M. (the “Children”), as children in need of services
(“CHINS”). We affirm.
Issue
[2] Mother raises one issue, which we restate as whether sufficient evidence
supports the adjudication of the Children as CHINS.
Facts
[3] Mother is the parent of J.J. (born November 2005) and K.M. (born September
2008). J.J.’s father is B.T., and K.M.’s father is believed to be J.M. 1
[4] On January 28, 2019, the Vanderburgh County Office of the Department of
Child Services (“DCS”) received a report of neglect regarding then-thirteen-
year-old J.J., who was in B.T.’s care. That day, the temperature was below 32
degrees Fahrenheit. DCS investigators located B.T. and J.J. in a cold,
abandoned house in Evansville. The house was “very cluttered,” unsanitary,
and unsafe; “boxes [were] piled pretty high [to] the ceiling with trash”; and the
house lacked adequate food, with only a ham and a jar of peanut butter on the
1
Neither father is a party to this appeal.
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floor. There were no blankets, running water, or electricity in the house. Tr.
Vol. II p. 36. B.T. used a generator, drew electricity from a neighboring house
via an extension cord, and used a kerosene heater that was stored near
cardboard boxes in the house. The house smelled of kerosene, animal waste,
and urine. Blood droplets and dog feces were scattered on the floor of the
house, which contained two urine-stained mattresses. Investigators observed
several safety hazards, including doors that hung loosely from their hinges and
nails on the floor. B.T. also kept three medium-sized dogs in the house.
Although J.J. was found in the house, B.T. insisted that J.J. did not live in the
house. B.T. refused to allow the house to be photographed.
[5] DCS deemed B.T.’s house to be uninhabitable. J.J. was placed into foster care
after DCS was unable to reach Mother or to find another suitable guardian. At
the time of detention, J.J. did not have a winter coat and had not bathed in
days. B.T. was subsequently arrested for child neglect based on the condition of
the house and for outstanding warrants.
[6] At the time of J.J.’s removal, Mother shared custody of J.J. with B.T.; however,
Mother had not seen J.J. since June 2018. In detention, J.J. advised family case
manager (“FCM”) Sarah Eckels that: (1) J.J. preferred a foster care placement
over a placement with Mother; (2) J.J. previously found drug paraphernalia at
Mother’s home, and Mother “used drugs in front of him before”; and (3) an
ongoing domestic violence issue existed in Mother’s relationship with her
boyfriend, M.R. Id. at 40.
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[7] On January 29, 2019, the day after J.J. was removed, Mother contacted DCS
and invited investigators to inspect M.R.’s home. Mother was living with
M.R., Mother’s other child, K.M., and M.R.’s minor children. Although
Mother appeared to spend considerable time at M.R.’s home, Mother also
maintained a separate apartment.
[8] On January 30, 2019, DCS filed a petition alleging that J.J. was a CHINS.
That same day, FCM Taylor Maurer went to M.R.’s home. FCM Maurer
advised Mother that J.J. was in foster care; recited the pending allegations
regarding J.J.; and informed Mother that, as to K.M., DCS was now
investigating allegations of domestic violence in Mother’s relationship with
M.R. and substance abuse by Mother. Mother denied FCM Maurer entry,
refused to submit to a drug screen, and told FCM Maurer: “kiss my a**” and
“[f]*** you.” Id. at 46; Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 134.
[9] At a hearing on January 30, 2019, DCS filed a motion to control Mother’s
conduct because Mother actively evaded DCS’s efforts to administer drug
screens to her. The trial court granted DCS’s motion. Immediately after the
hearing, FCM Maurer—armed with the trial court’s order—asked Mother to
submit to a drug screen. Mother repeatedly refused in vulgar terms. The trial
court permitted Mother to leave the court premises so that Mother could “calm
down and [ ] proceed another day.” Tr. Vol. II p. 46.
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[10] The next day, January 31, 2019, the trial court conducted the detention hearing
regarding J.J. during which the following exchange occurred between the trial
court and Mother:
[] COURT: Alright. The State needs to - because of what
happened with [J.J.] and the circumstances are up in the air, they
[DCS] need to look at both parents. The State’s asking that I
order that you cooperate with their efforts to look at the
circumstances of your other child. So they’re going to want to
look at your home. They’re going to want to talk to [K.M.]. Do
you have any problem cooperating with them?
[ ] MOTHER: No, they can go talk to [K.M.] at school and they
can go (indiscernible) my apartment.
[ ] COURT: Now, just so you know, based on what [J.J.] has
reported to the Department, they’re also going to be asking you
about substance abuse, possibly asking that you cooperate with a
random drug screen, do you have any problem with that?
[ ] MOTHER: No, I do not.
[ ] COURT: They’re not necessarily going to make an
appointment with you, but they’ll probably be knocking on your
door. And I just want to make sure I’m understanding correctly
that you will cooperate with their efforts?
[ ] MOTHER: If I’m being ordered to, then yes. But if not, [ ]
no.
Id. at 12-13. The trial court ordered Mother, in no uncertain terms, to comply
with DCS’s investigation and also ordered that J.J. should remain in foster care.
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[11] On February 1, 2019, FCMs Maurer and Krizsovensky 2 attempted again to
conduct a home inspection at M.R.’s house. When FCMs Maurer and
Krizsovensky were unsuccessful in gaining entry, they called law enforcement
officers to assist. The officers suspected that occupants were inside the house
but would not answer the door. While FCMs Maurer and Krizsovensky waited
outside, Mother texted FCM Maurer, “Can I f****** help you?”; and “LOL,
whatever. I am out of town.” Id. at 47. Mother subsequently denied that she
was at home on the date of this visit. Mother claimed that she observed FCMs
Maurer and Krizsovensky remotely via video surveillance from her cell phone.
M.R. later refuted Mother’s claim that M.R.’s home was equipped with
surveillance cameras.
[12] FCMs Maurer and Krizsovensky subsequently went to Mother’s apartment, but
no one answered the door. The leasing staff at the apartment complex advised
that, although Mother leased the apartment, it was not her primary residence.
[13] On February 4, 2019, FCM Maurer detained K.M. at K.M.’s school, 3 and K.M.
was placed into foster care. At the time of K.M.’s removal, K.M. had head lice.
K.M. reported to DCS that Mother abused drugs and that a domestic violence
issue existed in Mother’s and M.R.’s relationship.
2
FCM Krizsovensky’s first name does not appear in the record.
3
FCM Maurer simultaneously detained M.R.’s daughters, R.R. and V.R., and filed CHINS petitions
regarding M.R.’s children.
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[14] On February 6, 2019, DCS filed a petition in which it alleged that K.M. was a
CHINS and, regarding J.J., advised the trial court that Mother was not
cooperating with DCS. The next day, the trial court conducted a detention
hearing regarding K.M. The trial court conducted a fact-finding hearing
regarding the Children on April 25, 2019. Witnesses testified to the foregoing
facts.
[15] FCM Maurer also testified that: (1) DCS coordinated supervised visitation for
Mother, J.J., and K.M.; (2) Mother did not schedule or attend any visits; (3)
Mother did not contact FCM Maurer to inquire about the Children’s wellbeing;
(4) FCM Maurer had still not gained access to or inspected Mother’s apartment
at the time of the fact-finding hearing; and (5) Mother admitted to having
untreated bipolar disorder. FCM Maurer testified that Mother submitted to
some drug tests, and DCS substantiated the allegations of domestic violence
between M.R. and Mother. 4
[16] FCM Michael Clark testified that Mother failed to participate in supervised
visits coordinated through service provider Lifeline and showed little to no
interest in the Children’s wellbeing. Regarding the basis for DCS’s CHINS
petition, FCM Clark further testified:
4
M.R. reported, and K.M. and R.R. corroborated, that Mother struck M.R. and gave him a black eye. M.R.
“agreed to kick [Mother] out of the home and find appropriate care givers for his children.” Tr. Vol. II p. 53.
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Q As far as the case goes, it’s not just strictly based upon
what the kids have said, is that correct?
A In my opinion, correct.
Q It’s based upon interactions with the parents —
A Yes, being able to ensure safety of the children. When we
have a report and we cannot determine safety, when a parent
doesn’t want to participate in drug screens, when a parent doesn’t
want to participate in services, or even engage with us, then we
have no way of knowing. If we can’t get into the home we don’t
know what’s safe, what’s not safe.
Q Is it typical to have parents that even if they won’t engage
in other services that they refuse to participate in visitation with
their children?
A It’s not typical, no. It does happen, but generally the
parents want to visit with the children.
Q The Mother hasn’t visited with the children and she hasn’t
called to ask how they’re doing?
A That’s correct.
Id. at 78-79.
[17] At the close of the fact-finding hearing, the trial court ordered Mother to
comply with random drug screens. The trial court conducted another hearing
on June 19, 2019. DCS advised the trial court that Mother still had not
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participated in supervised visitation and consistently “no-call, no-showed” for
court-ordered random drug screens.
[18] On July 3, 2019, the trial court conducted a hearing and, again, ordered
Mother’s cooperation with random drug screens. During the hearing, Mother
stated to the trial court, “I wasn’t involved in this [child neglect]. This had
nothing to do with me.” Tr. Vol. II p. 92. The trial court replied: “They are
your children so it does have something to do with you, ma’am.” Id.
[19] That same day, the trial court also issued its findings of fact and conclusions
thereon, wherein it found: (1) the Children’s “physical or mental health is
seriously endangered by the inability of the parents to provide the child with
necessary food, shelter, education or supervision pursuant to I.C. 31-34-1-1”;
(2) the Child[ren] are “in need of care, treatment, or rehabilitation which [the
Children are] unlikely to receive without coercive intervention of the Court”;
and (3) the Children were, thus, CHINS. Appellant’s App. Vol. II p. 50. The
trial court entered its dispositional order on August 6, 2019. Mother now
appeals.
Analysis
[20] Mother argues that the evidence is insufficient to conclude that the Children are
CHINS. CHINS proceedings are civil actions; thus, “the State must prove by a
preponderance of the evidence that a child is a CHINS as defined by the
juvenile code.” In re N.E., 919 N.E.2d 102, 105 (Ind. 2010). On review, we
neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. In re
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K.D., 962 N.E.2d 1249, 1253 (Ind. 2012). Here, the trial court entered findings
of fact and conclusions thereon in granting DCS’s CHINS petition. In
reviewing findings of fact and conclusions thereon, we apply a two-tiered
standard of review. First, we determine whether the evidence supports the
findings; and second, we determine whether the findings support the judgment.
In re I.A., 934 N.E.2d 1127, 1132 (Ind. 2010). We will set aside the trial court’s
judgment only if it is clearly erroneous. Id. A judgment is clearly erroneous if
the findings do not support the trial court’s conclusions or the conclusions do
not support the judgment. Id.
[21] For a juvenile court to adjudicate a child as a CHINS, DCS must prove three
elements. K.D., 962 N.E.2d at 1253. DCS must prove: (1) the child is under
the age of eighteen; (2) one of eleven different statutory circumstances exist that
would make the child a CHINS; and (3) the child needs care, treatment, or
rehabilitation that he or she is not receiving and is unlikely to be provided or
accepted without the coercive intervention of the court. Id.
[22] In this case, DCS alleged the Children were CHINS for reasons of neglect, as
defined in Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1. The statute provides:
A child is a child in need of services if before the child becomes
eighteen (18) years of age:
(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
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child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care,
education, or supervision:
(A) when the parent, guardian, or custodian is financially
able to do so; or
(B) due to the failure, refusal, or inability of the parent,
guardian, or custodian to seek financial or other
reasonable means to do so; 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.
[23] “[T]he purpose of a CHINS adjudication is to protect children, not [to] punish
parents.” N.E., 919 N.E.2d at 106. A CHINS adjudication is not a
determination of parental fault but rather is a determination that a child is in
need of services and is unlikely to receive those services without intervention of
the court. Id. at 105. “A CHINS adjudication focuses on the condition of the
child . . . . [T]he acts or omissions of one parent can cause a condition that creates the
need for court intervention.” Id. (citations omitted) (emphasis added).
A. Endangerment
[24] Mother challenges the trial court’s conclusions as not supported by its findings.
Specifically, Mother argues that: (1) the trial court “disregard[ed] the fact that
the parents were no longer together”; (2) DCS presented no evidence that
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Mother failed to protect J.J.; (3) there was no evidence that Mother was
engaged in “ongoing drug use” at the time of the fact-finding hearing, that she
used drugs in the presence of K.M., or that “any drug usage impaired Mother’s
ability to care for the children or threatened the children’s safety”; and (4)
“[t]here was no evidence the [C]hildren’s physical or mental condition was
seriously impaired or seriously endangered as a result of the inability, refusal, or
neglect of the Mother to supply the children with the necessary food, clothing,
shelter, medical care, education, or supervision[.]” Mother’s Br. pp. 10, 12, 14,
15.
[25] Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1(1) provides, in part, that DCS must prove:
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; . . . .
A juvenile court need not wait until a tragedy occurs before adjudicating a
Child a CHINS. In re R.S., 987 N.E.2d 155, 158 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). Rather,
a child is a CHINS when he or she is endangered by parental action or inaction.
In re A.H., 913 N.E.2d 303, 306 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).
[26] The gist of Mother’s argument appears to be that any neglect by failure to meet
J.J.’s basic needs occurred on B.T.’s watch. “A CHINS proceeding focuses on
the best interests of the children, not the ‘guilt or innocence’ of either parent.”
M.P. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs. (In re D.P.), 72 N.E.3d 976, 980 (Ind. Ct. App.
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2017). “Because a CHINS determination regards the status of the child, a
separate analysis as to each parent is not required in the CHINS determination
stage.” N.L. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs. (In re N.E.), 919 N.E.2d 102, 106 (Ind.
2010). Indeed, “the conduct of one parent can be enough for a child to be
adjudicated a CHINS,” as “the acts or omissions of one parent can cause a
condition that creates the need for court intervention.” Id. at 105.
[27] Here, DCS presented evidence that, at the time of J.J.’s removal in January
2019, Mother had not contacted J.J. since June 2018. During Mother’s
extended absence, J.J. was in B.T.’s custody and lived with B.T. in an
abandoned house, in unsanitary and unsafe conditions, and without adequate
food, warm clothing, heat, electricity, or running water. Additionally, DCS
presented evidence that, at the time of J.J.’s removal: (1) J.J. had not bathed in
three days; (2) his only available bed in B.T.’s house was a urine-stained
mattress on the floor of B.T.’s house; and (3) despite the extreme cold, J.J. did
not own a winter coat, layered short and long trousers for warmth on his walk
to school, and lived with B.T. in a house that was heated either by a kerosene
heater or by running an extension cord from a neighbor’s house. B.T.’s actions
and omissions regarding the conditions of his house are, standing alone,
sufficient to support a CHINS finding regarding J.J. See id.
[28] As to K.M., DCS had legitimate concerns regarding Mother’s alleged substance
abuse and domestic violence in Mother’s relationship with M.R. DCS
presented evidence that, after J.J.’s removal, Mother interfered with DCS’s
access to K.M. such that DCS eventually detained K.M. at school. At the time
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of K.M.’s detention, K.M. had head lice. Throughout the pendency of the
matter involving K.M., Mother repeatedly refused to comply with DCS’s drug
screens and, in so doing, violated multiple orders of the trial court, including a
granted motion to control Mother’s conduct. DCS presented evidence that
Mother sought to evade drug testing and shaved her head after Mother
indicated, by counsel, that Mother would submit to drug tests. See Tr. Vol. II p.
75 (“. . . [H]er attorney said Mother would willingly participate in a drug
screen. But at that time [Mother] had shave[d] her head so we typically do not
do a drug screen when there’s no hair to take the sample from.”). As of the
fact-finding hearing, Mother had yet to submit to drug testing. Further, DCS
presented evidence that M.R. corroborated the allegations of domestic violence
in M.R.’s and Mother’s relationship. See id. at 53. Substantiated allegations of
domestic violence and Mother’s evasiveness regarding alleged substance abuse
are sufficient to support a CHINS finding as to K.M.
[29] The foregoing facts amply support the trial court’s finding that the Children’s
physical condition was seriously endangered. The trial court’s finding is not
clearly erroneous.
B. Necessity of Coercive Intervention of the Court
[30] Mother also argues that “[t]here was no evidence Mother’s children needed
care, treatment, or rehabilitation that the children were unlikely to receive
without the coercive intervention of the court” or that Mother was “not willing
to participate in necessary recommended services[.]” Mother’s Br. pp. 10, 16.
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[31] Pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1(2), DCS must prove:
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.
[32] DCS presented evidence that Mother repeatedly defied the trial court’s orders
regarding random drug screens and refused to participate in supervised
visitation. As of the timing of the fact-finding hearing, DCS officials still had
not gained entry to Mother’s home for purposes of conducting a home
inspection because Mother repeatedly thwarted DCS’s efforts to inspect the
living conditions in Mother’s home. As FCM Clark testified, Mother’s conduct
rendered DCS unable to verify that her housing conditions were adequate for
the Children. See Tr. Vol. II pp. 78-79 (“When we have a report and we cannot
determine safety, when a parent doesn’t want to participate in drug screens,
when a parent doesn’t want to participate in services, or even engage with us,
then we have no way of knowing. If we can’t get into the home[,] we don’t
know what’s safe, what’s not safe.”).
[33] Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the record supports the trial court’s
finding that, without court intervention, Mother would not participate in
recommended services. Mother’s argument to the contrary is merely a request
that we reweigh the evidence, which we cannot do. DCS presented sufficient
evidence that the Children need care, treatment, or rehabilitation that they are
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not receiving and that is unlikely to be provided or accepted without the
coercive intervention of the trial court. We find no clear error.
Conclusion
[34] Sufficient evidence supports the trial court’s determination that the Children are
CHINS. We affirm.
[35] Affirmed.
Najam, J., and Vaidik, J., concur.
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