In re I.M. ( 2011 )

[Cite as In re I.M., 2011-Ohio-560.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
ATHENS COUNTY
IN THE MATTER OF: : CASE NO. 10CA35
:
I.M. : Released: January 28, 2011
: DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Adjudicated Dependant Child. : ENTRY
_____________________________________________________________
APPEARANCES:
James A. Wallace, Athens, Ohio, for Appellant.
C. David Warren, Athens County Prosecuting Attorney, and George
Reitmeier, Athens County Assistant Prosecutor, Athens, Ohio, for Appellee.
_____________________________________________________________
McFarland, J.:
{¶1} Appellant Angel Kasler appeals the decision of the Athens
County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, awarding permanent
custody of her daughter, I.M. to Athens County Children Services. Kasler
argues there was error below in that the trial court’s decision was not
supported by clear and convincing evidence. We disagree. The record
below shows that I.M. could not or should not have been placed with Kasler
in a reasonable time. Further, there was clear and convincing evidence to
support the trial court’s finding that it was in I.M.’s best interest to award
permanent custody to Children Services. Accordingly, we overrule Kasler’s
assignment of error and affirm the trial court’s decision.
Athens App. No. 10CA35 2
I. Facts
{¶2} Appellant Angel Kasler and Mark McClelland are the
biological parents of I.M. 1 I.M. was born on October 21, 2009, and was
approximately six months old at the time of the trial court's decision. On
October 23, Athens County Children Services obtained emergency custody
of I.M. and filed a complaint requesting an initial disposition of permanent
custody.
{¶3} The trial court held adjudication hearings on the matter in
November and December of 2009. At those hearings, the court heard
evidence that Kasler had mental illness issues, and that Kasler and
McClelland both had substance-abuse issues. Further, two months before
I.M. was born, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in Kasler and
McClelland's home and the home itself was in a filthy condition. Further,
both parents were under indictment for felony drug offenses at the time of
the hearings. In January of 2010, the trial court found I.M. to be a dependent
child.
{¶4} After the finding of dependency, the trial court held
disposition hearings on the issue of permanent custody in February of 2010.
At the conclusion of those hearings, the trial court took the matter under
1
Mark McClelland has appealed this permanent custody decision separately.
Athens App. No. 10CA35 3
advisement. On June 9, 2010, the trial court granted permanent custody of
I.M. to Athens County Children Services and terminated the parental rights
of both Angel Kasler and Mark McClelland. Following that decision, Kasler
timely filed the current appeal.
II. Assignment of Error
THE TRIAL COURT’S DETERMINATION THAT GRANTING
PERMANENT CUSTODY OF I.M. TO ATHENS COUNTY
CHILDREN SERVICES IS IN HER BEST INTEREST WAS NOT
SUPPORTED BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE.
III. Legal Analysis
{¶5} An appellate court will not overrule a trial court’s decision
regarding permanent custody if there is competent and credible evidence to
support the judgment. In re McCain, 4th Dist. No. 06CA654, 2007-Ohio-
1429, at ¶8. “If the trial court’s judgment is supported by some competent,
credible evidence going to all the essential elements of the case, an appellate
court must affirm the judgment and not substitute its judgment for that of the
trial court.” In re Buck, 4th Dist. No. 06CA3123, 2007-Ohio-1491, at ¶7.
Therefore, an appellate court’s review of a decision to award permanent
custody is deferential. McCain at ¶8.
{¶6} “An agency seeking permanent custody bears the burden of
proving its case by clear and convincing evidence.” In re Perry, 4th Dist.
Nos. 06CA648, 06CA649, 2006-Ohio-6128, at ¶39. Clear and convincing
Athens App. No. 10CA35 4
evidence has been defined as “[t]he measure or degree of proof that will
produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the
allegations sought to be established. It is intermediate, being more than a
mere preponderance, but not to the extent of such certainty as required
beyond a reasonable doubt as in criminal cases. It does not mean clear and
unequivocal.” McCain at ¶9, citing In re Estate of Haynes (1986), 25 Ohio
St.3d 101, 103-04, 495 N.E.2d 23.
{¶7} In her sole assignment of error, Angel Kasler argues that
awarding permanent custody of I.M. to Children Services was not in I.M.’s
best interest and the decision was not supported by clear and convincing
evidence. Accordingly, we first state the appropriate test a trial court must
apply in ruling on a motion for permanent custody.
{¶8} Under R.C. 2151.414, an agency seeking permanent custody
must meet a two-part test before parental rights may be terminated and
permanent custody awarded. In re Schaefer, 111 Ohio St.3d 498, 2006-
Ohio-5513, 857 N.E.2d 532, at ¶31. Under the first part of the test, one or
more of conditions listed in R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) through (d) must apply.
R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) states:
{¶9} “The child is not abandoned or orphaned, has not been in the
temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or
Athens App. No. 10CA35 5
private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive
twenty-two-month period, * * * and the child cannot be placed with either of
the child’s parents within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the
child’s parents.”
{¶10} In determining whether a child cannot or should not be placed
with the parents in a reasonable time, the trial court must refer to
2151.414(E). Under that section, “If the court determines, by clear and
convincing evidence * * * that one or more of the following exist as to each
of the child's parents, the court shall enter a finding that the child cannot be
placed with either parent within a reasonable time or should not be placed
with either parent[.]” The section then lists 16 factors, including the
following three: (E)(2) - “Chronic mental illness, chronic emotional illness,
mental retardation, physical disability, or chemical dependency of the parent
that is so severe that it makes the parent unable to provide an adequate
permanent home for the child at the present time and, as anticipated, within
one year after the court holds the hearing;” (E)(11) - “The parent has had
parental rights involuntarily terminated with respect to a sibling of the child
* * * and the parent has failed to provide clear and convincing evidence to
prove that, notwithstanding the prior termination, the parent can provide a
legally secure permanent placement and adequate care for the health,
Athens App. No. 10CA35 6
welfare, and safety of the child;” and (E)(16) - “Any other factor the court
considers relevant.” R.C. 2151.414(E).
{¶11} In the case sub judice, the trial court found that each of the
three subsections listed above applied to Kasler. Under (E)(2), the court
found that a combination of Kasler's mental and emotional issues, together
with her issues of substance abuse, were so severe that she would be unable
to provide an adequate permanent home for I.M. within a year's time. At the
time of the disposition hearing, Kasler was suffering from clinical
depression and panic disorder and taking medication for both. She was also
taking Subutex, which her doctor had prescribed to help curb her craving for
heroin.
{¶12} Under R.C. 2151.414(E)(11), the trial court noted that
Kasler’s parental rights had been terminated in a recent prior case. Athens
County Children Services had been granted permanent custody over three
other children of Kasler within days of the birth of I.M. And the court
determined that Kasler had failed to prove that she could provide a legally
secure, safe and healthy placement for I.M. as well.
{¶13} Finally, under R.C. 2151.414(E)(16), the court noted that
subsequent to the filing of the motion for permanent custody, Kasler had
refused, on at least one occasion, to take a drug screen. Further, the court
Athens App. No. 10CA35 7
noted that Kasler had failed to sign medical releases, which made it
impossible for the court “to verify any claims of rehabilitation and give any
serious consideration to moving in a different direction with this child.”
{¶14} As such, we agree with the trial court that there were at least
three bases for determining that I.M. should not or could not be placed with
Kasler in a reasonable time, any one of which would have been adequate to
satisfy the first prong of the two-part permanent custody test. Accordingly,
we turn to the second part of the test, whether permanent custody is in the
best interest of the child.
{¶15} An agency seeking permanent custody must demonstrate by
clear and convincing evidence that such action is in the best interest of the
child. R.C. 2151.414(D)(1) sets forth the factors a court must consider in the
best interest analysis:
{¶16} “(a) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the
child’s parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home
providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the child;
{¶17} (b) The wishes of the child, as expressed directly by the child
or through the child’s guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of
the child;
Athens App. No. 10CA35 8
{¶18} (c) The custodial history of the child, including whether the
child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public children
services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more
months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period, or the child has been in
the temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or
private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive
twenty-two-month period and, as described in division (D)(1) of section
2151.413 of the Revised Code, the child was previously in the temporary
custody of an equivalent agency in another state;
{¶19} (d) The child’s need for a legally secure permanent placement
and whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant of
permanent custody to the agency;
{¶20} (e) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of
this section apply in relation to the parents and child.”
{¶21} Divisions (E)(7) to (11) include: (7) whether the parent has
been convicted of a number of listed offenses; (8) whether the parent has
repeatedly withheld medical treatment or food; (9) whether the parent has
placed the child at substantial risk of harm two or more times due to
substance abuse and has rejected treatment two or more times or refused to
Athens App. No. 10CA35 9
participate in treatment; (10) whether the parent has abandoned the child;
(11) whether the parent has had parental rights previously terminated.
{¶22} The trial court addressed each of the relevant factors of the
best interest analysis. These factors included that at the time of the court's
decision, I.M. was six months old. She had spent her entire life in foster
care, having been placed with Children Services under an emergency order
immediately after her birth. The court noted that Kasler's supervised
visitations with I.M. went well, and that Kasler expressed obvious affection
towards her. Also, Kasler only rarely missed visitation appointments, even
though Children Services did not help her with transportation. However, for
the following reasons, the court determined that I.M.’s need for a legally
secure placement could not be achieved without granting permanent custody
to Children Services.
{¶23} The trial court noted that Kasler suffers continuing problems
with both mental illness and substance abuse. Kasler testified that she was
taking Prozac and Klonapin for depression and an anxiety disorder.
Additionally, Kasler admitted to a history of heroin abuse. The fact that her
battle with substance abuse was not over was underscored by the fact that, at
the time of the disposition hearing, she was still taking Subutex (under her
doctor’s supervision) in order to help her deal with her heroin addiction.
Athens App. No. 10CA35 10
{¶24} The court found that Kasler’s history regarding her prior
children was very troubling. As already noted, she had recently had her
parental rights terminated over three of her other children due to inadequate
parenting, partly related to her issues with drug abuse. Seven years earlier,
she had also given up custody of an older child of hers. And that child was
currently living with the father's parents. Additionally, the evidence showed
that Kasler was using heroin during her pregnancy with I.M.
{¶25} The trial court acknowledged that Kasler had made some
attempt to straighten out her life. Kasler testified that she no longer had a
drug problem and had not used heroin since April of 2009. However, the
court noted that in August of 2009, shortly before I.M.’s birth, during a
surprise inspection at her home by the Adult Parole Authority, there was
some evidence of “track marks” on her arm. Syringes and other drug
paraphernalia were also found at the residence and during that same visit,
I.M.’s father, Mark McClelland, tested positive for opiates. At that time,
Kasler was seven months into her pregnancy with I.M.
{¶26} The court also noted that though Kasler claimed to be free
from illegal drugs, she refused to provide the necessary medical releases
which would allow Children Services and the court to verify her claims.
Additionally, on at least one occasion, subsequent to I.M.’s birth, Kasler
Athens App. No. 10CA35 11
refused to take a drug screen. Also subsequent to I.M.’s birth, in full
knowledge that Children Services was seeking permanent custody of I.M.,
Kasler was dropped from ordered services with a mental health and
counseling agency due to her noncompliance. Finally, the court noted that at
the time the permanent custody complaint was filed, Kasler was under
indictment for felony drug offenses.
{¶27} We agree with the trial court’s findings and decision. Our
review of the record below, including the transcripts of the permanent
custody hearings, shows that each of the trial court's findings were fully
supported therein. The trial court had clear and convincing evidence that
awarding permanent custody to Children Services was in I.M.’s best interest
and we overrule Angel Kasler’s sole assignment of error.
{¶28} As to Kasler’s argument regarding the proper standard of
review to be applied in permanent custody cases, we see no inconsistency in
our current standard of review and no reason to modify it. We reiterate that
a trial court’s decision must find that the movant met or did not meet its
burden by clear and convincing evidence. Consistent with other Ohio
Athens App. No. 10CA35 12
Courts of Appeals, we then review the record to determine whether there
was competent and credible evidence to support the trial court's decision.2
JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.
2
See, e.g., In re N.E., 7th Dist. Nos. 10 BE 1, 10 BE 2, 2010-Ohio-6012, at ¶42; In re J.L.C., 11th Dist. No.
2010-T-0085, 2010-Ohio-5936, at ¶38; In re S.G., 10th Dist. No. 10AP-442, 2010-Ohio-5722, at ¶10; In re
D.D.S., 5th Dist. No. 2010CA00187, 2010-Ohio-5800, at ¶16.
Athens App. No. 10CA35 13
JUDGMENT ENTRY
It is ordered that the JUDGMENT BE AFFIRMED and that the
Appellee recover of Appellant costs herein taxed.
The Court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.
It is ordered that a special mandate issue out of this Court directing
the Athens County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division, to carry this
judgment into execution.
Any stay previously granted by this Court is hereby terminated as of
the date of this entry.
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to
Rule 27 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
Exceptions.
Abele, J. and Kline, J.: Concur in Judgment and Opinion.
For the Court,
BY: _________________________
Matthew W. McFarland, Judge
NOTICE TO COUNSEL
Pursuant to Local Rule No. 14, this document constitutes a final
judgment entry and the time period for further appeal commences from
the date of filing with the clerk.
Athens App. No. 10CA35 14