SCDSS v. Albert Brown ( 2022 )


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  • THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
    CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
    EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.
    THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
    In The Court of Appeals
    South Carolina Department of Social Services,
    Respondent,
    v.
    Albert Brown and Heather Aumick, Defendants,
    Of whom Albert Brown is the Appellant.
    In the interest of a minor under the age of eighteen.
    Appellate Case No. 2022-000593
    Appeal From Aiken County
    Vicki J. Snelgrove, Family Court Judge
    Unpublished Opinion No. 2022-UP-419
    Submitted November 18, 2022 – Filed November 21, 2022
    AFFIRMED
    John Brandt Rucker and Allyson Sue Rucker, both of
    The Rucker Law Firm, LLC, of Greenville, for
    Appellant.
    Dennis M. Gmerek, of South Carolina Department of
    Social Services, of Columbia, for Respondent.
    Jessica Brilhante, of Brilhante and Ott, Attorneys at Law,
    LLC, of Aiken, for the Guardian ad Litem.
    PER CURIAM: Albert Brown appeals the family court's order (1) finding he
    physically abused his minor child, (2) authorizing the South Carolina Department
    of Social Services to forgo reasonable efforts at reunification with Child, and (3)
    entering his name into the Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect. See 
    S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-20
    (6) (Supp. 2022) (defining child abuse); 
    S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-1660
    (A) (2010 & Supp. 2022) ("[T]he department may petition the family
    court to remove the child from custody of the parent . . . if the department
    determines by a preponderance of evidence that the child is an abused or neglected
    child and that the child cannot be safely maintained in the home in that he cannot
    be protected from unreasonable risk of harm affecting the child's life, physical
    health, safety, or mental well-being without removal."); 
    S.C. Code Ann. § 63-7-1940
     (Supp. 2022) (stating that when the family court finds a child has been
    physically abused at a hearing pursuant to section 63-7-1660, the court "shall
    order" the perpetrator's "name be entered in the Central Registry"). Upon a
    thorough review of the record and the family court's findings of fact and
    conclusions of law pursuant to Ex parte Cauthen, 
    291 S.C. 465
    , 
    354 S.E.2d 381
    (1987), we find no meritorious issues warrant briefing. Accordingly, we affirm the
    family court's ruling and relieve Brown's counsel.
    AFFIRMED. 1
    KONDUROS, HEWITT, and VINSON, JJ., concur.
    1
    We decide this case without argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.
    

Document Info

Docket Number: 2022-UP-419

Filed Date: 11/21/2022

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 10/22/2024