DCPP VS. G.A.K. AND C.L.L., IN THE MATTER OF THE GUARDIANSHIP OF G.J.K., JR. (FG-07-0231-17, ESSEX COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) ( 2019 )

RECORD IMPOUNDED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-3748-17T4
NEW JERSEY DIVISION
OF CHILD PROTECTION
AND PERMANENCY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
G.A.K.,
Defendant-Appellant,
and
C.L.L.,
Defendant.
______________________________
IN THE MATTER OF THE
GUARDIANSHIP OF G.J.K., JR.,
a Minor.
______________________________
Submitted January 17, 2019 – Decided February 22, 2019
Before Judges Simonelli and O'Connor.
On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Essex County,
Docket No. FG-07-0231-17.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
appellant (Steven E. Miklosey, Designated Counsel,
on the brief).
Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
respondent (Jason W. Rockwell, Assistant Attorney
General, of counsel; Casey J. Woodruff, Deputy
Attorney General, on the brief).
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, Law Guardian,
attorney for minor (Noel C. Devlin, Assistant Deputy
Public Defender, of counsel and on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Defendant G.A.K. (father) and C.L.L. (mother) are the biological parents
of G.J.K. (George or child), presently four years of age. 1 The father appeals
from the March 23, 2018 judgment of guardianship terminating his parental
rights to George; the mother does not appeal from this judgment. The father
argues the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (Division) failed to
1
We use initials or pseudonyms to protect the privacy of the parties, George,
and the parties' other children.
A-3748-17T4
2
prove by clear and convincing evidence the four-prong standard codified by
the Legislature in N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a). 2
After reviewing the record and applicable legal principles, we reject the
arguments the father advances and affirm substantially for the reasons
expressed by Judge James R. Paganelli in his comprehensive written decision
dated March 23, 2018. We will not recite in detail the evidence presented by
2
These four prongs are:
(1) The child's safety, health, or development has been
or will continue to be endangered by the parental
relationship;
(2) The parent is unwilling or unable to eliminate the
harm facing the child or is unable or unwilling to
provide a safe and stable home for the child and the
delay of permanent placement will add to the harm.
Such harm may include evidence that separating the
child from his resource family parents would cause
serious and enduring emotional or psychological harm
to the child;
(3) The division has made reasonable efforts to
provide services to help the parent correct the
circumstances which led to the child's placement
outside the home and the court has considered
alternatives to termination of parental rights; and
(4) Termination of parental rights will not do more
harm than good.
[N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a).]
A-3748-17T4
3
the Division in support of terminating the father's parental rights. Instead, we
incorporate by reference Judge Paganelli's factual findings because they are
well supported by competent evidence presented at trial. See N.J. Div. of
Youth & Family Servs. v. F.M., 211 N.J. 420, 448-49 (2012). However, we
briefly summarize the key facts and the court's principal findings.
The mother and father do not have any children together other than
George. However, the father has an older son, J.K. (James), now age
seventeen, and the mother has two sons, presently ages seven and nine. After
George's birth, defendants lived in the same household with all of their
children. In December 2014, the mother saw her two older sons performing
oral sex on each other. The boys told her that James had done "bad things" to
them and taught them how to perform oral sex. One of the boys claimed James
made him "lick his butt."
The mother reported the incident to the police when the father failed to
take any action against James. With the exception of James, the Division
removed the children from defendants' home and placed them in resource
homes. The Division filed a complaint, as well as an order to show cause
seeking the custody of the children who had been removed, which the court
granted. George was never returned to either defendant's custody.
A-3748-17T4
4
Defendants thereafter separated, and the father obtained housing for
James and himself. For the ensuing three years, the Division endeavored to
provide services to the father and James designed to enable George to reunite
with them. Although the father engaged in some services, he spurned others.
More importantly, the father delayed in arranging for James to be evaluated for
any disorders or problems that might put George at risk for harm if George and
James lived in the same household. After James was finally evaluated and
commenced sex offender psycho-education and treatment in January 2016, the
father failed to transport James to many of his appointments with his
psychologist. The father also did not ensure he and James submitted to other
evaluations arranged by the Division.
The court concluded that George's safety, health, and development
would be endangered if he were returned to his father's home, because the
father failed to make sure James complied with recommended services that
would assure George's safety. As the court stated:
[F]or three years, the Division has attempted to work
with [the father], through all of his self-constructed
barriers, to reunify [George] with [the father] and
[James]. [The father] is the party that refuses to
follow recommendations to permit [George]'s safe
reunification.
A-3748-17T4
5
Moreover, [the father] is responsible to assure
[George]'s safety. Even if [the father] does not
believe the allegations or wants to support [James], he
is required, at the very least, to have [James] evaluated
and to follow the recommendations, to insure [George]
can safely reside in the home. . . .
[T]his court is not looking to have . . . [the father]
make a choice between his sons[;] however, absent his
commitment and willingness to take all reasonable
steps to protect [George], he poses a risk of harm to
[George]'s safety, health and development because of
his failure to address the allegations of [James]'s
sexual abuse. . . .
[The father] has obscured a true understanding of the
family dynamics and presentation. That course of
conduct provides clear and convincing evidence that
he cannot provide a safe and stable home for
[George].
The court also noted that, at the time of trial, the father could not offer
George permanency, and further delay of a permanent placement for George
will harm him. George had bonded with his resource mother, who wants to
adopt him. (The father declined to submit to a bonding evaluation). The court
determined that if removed from his resource mother's home, George will
suffer serious and enduring emotional or psychological harm.
In reviewing a case in which the termination of parental rights has been
ordered, we remain mindful of the gravity and importance of our review. See
N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. I.S., 202 N.J. 145, 151 (2010) ("[T]he
A-3748-17T4
6
process for terminating parental rights is a difficult and intentionally rigorous
one that must be satisfied by a heightened burden of proof . . . ."). Parents
have a constitutionally protected right to enjoy a relationship with their
children and to raise them without State interference. N.J. Div. of Youth &
Family Servs. v. E.P., 196 N.J. 88, 102 (2008).
However, this right is not absolute, as it is limited by the "State's parens
patriae responsibility to protect children whose vulnerable lives or
psychological well-being may have been harmed or may be seriously
endangered by a neglectful or abusive parent." F.M., 211 N.J. at 447. The
State has a strong public policy that favors placing children in a permanent,
safe, and stable home. See In re Guardianship of K.H.O., 161 N.J. 337, 357-58
(1999).
In addition, a reviewing court should not disturb the factual findings of
the trial court if they are supported by "adequate, substantial and credible
evidence. . . ." N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. M.M., 189 N.J. 261, 279
(2007) (quoting In re Guardianship of J.T., 269 N.J. Super. 172, 188 (App.
Div. 1993)). We defer to the trial court's credibility findings and, in particular,
its fact findings because of its expertise in family matters, see N.J. Div. of
Youth & Family Servs. v. M.C. III, 201 N.J. 328, 343 (2010), unless the trial
A-3748-17T4
7
court's findings are "so wide of the mark that the judge was clearly mistaken."
N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. G.L., 191 N.J. 596, 605 (2007) (citing
J.T., 269 N.J. Super. at 188-89).
We have examined the father's arguments the Division failed to satisfy
the four prongs of N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a). After perusing the record, we
conclude these arguments are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in
a written opinion. See R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E). Judge Paganelli's cogent opinion
fully tracks the statutory requirements of N.J.S.A. 30:4C-15.1(a), accords with
In re Guardianship of K.H.O., 161 N.J. at 337; In re Guardianship of D.M.H.,
161 N.J. 365 (1999); and N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. A.W., 103
N.J. 591 (1986), and is amply supported by the evidence, mandating our
deference. See F.M., 211 N.J. at 448-49.
Affirmed.
A-3748-17T4
8