In Re: A.H. and D.M. ( 2017 )

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
FILED
In re: A.H. and D.M. October 23, 2017
RORY L. PERRY II, CLERK
SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
No. 17-0386 (Mingo County 16-JA-59 & 16-JA-60) OF WEST VIRGINIA
MEMORANDUM DECISION
Petitioner Father N.H., by counsel Karen S. Hatfield, appeals the Circuit Court of Mingo
County’s March 30, 2017, order terminating his parental rights to A.H. and D.M.1 The West
Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (“DHHR”), by counsel S.L. Evans, filed a
response in support of the circuit court’s order. The guardian ad litem (“guardian”), Susan J. Van
Zant, filed a response on behalf of the child in support of the circuit court’s order. Petitioner filed
a reply. On appeal, petitioner argues that the circuit court erred in finding that termination of his
parental rights was in the children’s best interests.
This Court has considered the parties’ briefs and the record on appeal. The facts and legal
arguments are adequately presented, and the decisional process would not be significantly aided
by oral argument. Upon consideration of the standard of review, the briefs, and the record
presented, the Court finds no substantial question of law and no prejudicial error. For these
reasons, a memorandum decision affirming the circuit court’s order is appropriate under Rule 21
of the Rules of Appellate Procedure.
In September of 2016, the DHHR filed an abuse and neglect petition against petitioner.
According to the petition, the DHHR received a referral that petitioner committed acts of
domestic violence in the children’s presence. The DHHR alleged that petitioner choked his wife,
R.H., until she passed out, with at least one child present at that time. The children also reported
witnessing petitioner put his hands around his adoptive mother’s neck in an attempt to choke her.
The DHHR further alleged that petitioner’s biological mother recounted acts of petitioner’s
domestic violence, including attempting to choke her and using excessive corporal punishment
against the children. Finally, the DHHR detailed petitioner’s significant criminal history,
including arrests in 2013, 2015, and 2016.
In November of 2016, the circuit court held a preliminary hearing in which it heard the
testimony of a Child Protective Services (“CPS”) worker, who testified that petitioner had a
significant history of domestic violence dating back to 2012, at which time CPS opened a case
1
Consistent with our long-standing practice in cases with sensitive facts, we use initials
where necessary to protect the identities of those involved in this case. See In re K.H., 235 W.Va.
254, 773 S.E.2d 20 (2015); Melinda H. v. William R. II, 230 W.Va. 731, 742 S.E.2d 419 (2013);
State v. Brandon B., 218 W.Va. 324, 624 S.E.2d 761 (2005); State v. Edward Charles L., 183
W.Va. 641, 398 S.E.2d 123 (1990).
1
involving petitioner. However, incidents of domestic violence continued to occur throughout
2013 and 2014. The CPS worker noted that the DHHR provided petitioner extensive services,
including a psychological evaluation, anger management classes, parenting classes, and
individualized skills. Despite this support, the CPS worker testified that petitioner continued to
be violent. After hearing testimony, the circuit court found that there was probable cause to file
the petition and remove the children from petitioner’s physical custody.
In January of 2017, the circuit court held an adjudicatory hearing, which was continued to
allow for petitioner’s transport due to his incarceration. The circuit court, based on prior
testimony and orders, denied petitioner’s request for an improvement period and adjudicated him
as an abusing parent due to his neglect and failure to protect the children from neglect, including
committing acts of domestic violence against the women in his family in the children’s presence.
The circuit court held a dispositional hearing in March of 2017. The circuit court granted
the DHHR’s request that it take judicial notice of an ongoing criminal case in which petitioner’s
probation was revoked due to committing domestic violence against his wife. Petitioner’s
sentence of not less than one nor more than three years was reinstated during that criminal case.
The circuit court proceeded to hear testimony from multiple witnesses who detailed petitioner’s
violent behavior and acts of domestic violence in the children’s presence. Specifically, the circuit
court heard testimony from the mother of A.H., who testified that on one occasion, petitioner
beat her and kicked her in the presence of A.H., who began to scream and cry. A.H.’s mother
also testified that A.H. was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of
witnessing petitioner’s acts of domestic violence against A.H.’s mother and grandmother.
Ultimately, the circuit court found that petitioner was unwilling and unable to adequately provide
for the children’s needs; that there was no reasonable likelihood that petitioner could
substantially correct the conditions of abuse in the near future, as evidenced by his failure to
fully participate in the services provided; and that termination of petitioner’s parental rights was
necessary for the children’s welfare. Therefore, the circuit court terminated petitioner’s parental
rights by order entered March 30, 2017.2 It is from the dispositional order that petitioner appeals.
The Court has previously established the following standard of review:
“Although conclusions of law reached by a circuit court are subject to de
novo review, when an action, such as an abuse and neglect case, is tried upon the
facts without a jury, the circuit court shall make a determination based upon the
evidence and shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law as to whether
such child is abused or neglected. These findings shall not be set aside by a
reviewing court unless clearly erroneous. A finding is clearly erroneous when,
although there is evidence to support the finding, the reviewing court on the entire
evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been
committed. However, a reviewing court may not overturn a finding simply
because it would have decided the case differently, and it must affirm a finding if
2
According to the DHHR, A.H. is with her mother and D.M. is with P.M., her
grandmother, who is the legal custodian pursuant to an earlier family court order. The
permanency plan is for the children to remain in their respective homes.
2
the circuit court’s account of the evidence is plausible in light of the record
viewed in its entirety.” Syl. Pt. 1, In Interest of Tiffany Marie S., 196 W.Va. 223,
470 S.E.2d 177 (1996).
Syl. Pt. 1, In re Cecil T., 228 W.Va. 89, 717 S.E.2d 873 (2011).
On appeal, petitioner argues that that termination of his parental rights was not in the
children’s best interests, contrary to the finding of the circuit court. We disagree. Pursuant to
West Virginia Code § 49-4-604(b)(6), circuit courts are directed to terminate parental rights upon
findings that there is no reasonable likelihood the conditions of abuse and neglect can be
substantially corrected in the near future and when necessary for the children’s welfare. Further,
West Virginia Code § 49-4-604(c)(3) provides that a situation in which there is no reasonable
likelihood that the conditions of abuse or neglect can be substantially corrected include one in
which “[t]he abusing parent . . . ha[s] not responded to or followed through with a reasonable
family case plan or other rehabilitative efforts[.]” We have also held that “[t]ermination . . . may
be employed without the use of intervening less restrictive alternatives when it is found that there
is no reasonable likelihood . . . that conditions of neglect or abuse can be substantially
corrected.” Syl. Pt. 7, in part, In re Katie S., 198 W.Va. 79, 479 S.E.2d 589 (1996).
Based on the record before us, it is clear that petitioner failed to substantially correct the
conditions of abuse and neglect. At the preliminary hearing, a CPS worker testified that a case
was opened with petitioner as early as 2012 due to his commission of acts of domestic violence
in the children’s presence. Petitioner began receiving several services, including parenting
classes, individualized skills, anger management, counseling, and a psychological evaluation.
The CPS worker testified that despite these services, petitioner continued to commit domestic
violence in the children’s presence and the case remained open. The CPS worker testified that in
2013, A.H.’s mother reported an incident in which petitioner, in the presence of A.H., threw a
beer can at her head, choked her, and punched her such that she had to hide underneath the home
until police arrived to arrest petitioner. A.H.’s mother confirmed the abuse during her testimony
at the dispositional hearing and stated that A.H. was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
disorder as a result of witnessing the domestic violence. The CPS worker further testified that
petitioner recently committed domestic violence against his wife, which led to the filing of the
current petition. Petitioner’s wife admitted to police that petitioner choked her until she passed
out. She waited until petitioner fell asleep that night before taking D.M. to a nearby gas station in
order to call the police. Both children reported to the CPS worker that they had witnessed
petitioner attempt to choke his adoptive mother. The record establishes that petitioner, despite
being offered services, continued in his violent behavior over the course of several years and
failed to correct the conditions of abuse and neglect.
We find no merit in petitioner’s argument that he should have been granted additional
time to correct the conditions of abuse and neglect. Petitioner relies on the fact that the children
were placed with their respective mothers and thus asserts that their interests would not have
been prejudiced by allowing the case to remain open until petitioner’s release from his
incarceration. However, we have previously held that West Virginia Code § 49-6-5 “permits the
termination of one parent’s parental rights while leaving the rights of the nonabusing parent
completely intact, if the circumstances so warrant.” In re Emily, 208 W.Va. 325, 344, 540 S.E.2d
3
542, 561 (2000). Further, “simply because one parent has been found to be a fit and proper
caretaker for [the] child does not automatically entitle the child’s other parent to retain his/her
parental rights if his/her conduct has endangered the child and such conditions of abuse and/or
neglect are not expected to improve.” Id. The record has clearly established that even had the
circuit court granted petitioner additional time to correct the conditions of abuse, there is no
evidence to show that he could have done so in light of his extensive violent history even when
being offered services. Based upon the evidence outlined above, we find no error in the circuit
court’s finding that termination was in the children’s best interests. Accordingly, we find no error
in the circuit court’s termination of petitioner’s parental rights.
For the foregoing reasons, we find no error in the decision of the circuit court, and its
March 30, 2017, order is hereby affirmed.
Affirmed.
ISSUED: October 23, 2017
CONCURRED IN BY:
Chief Justice Allen H. Loughry II
Justice Robin Jean Davis
Justice Margaret L. Workman
Justice Menis E. Ketchum
Justice Elizabeth D. Walker
4