In the Matter of Al.G., As.G., and J.D., Jr. (Minor Children), Children in Need of Services, and C.G. (Mother) and J.D. (Father) v. Ind. Dept. of Child Services (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Jul 15 2016, 8:47 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
court except for the purpose of establishing Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
the defense of res judicata, collateral and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANTS ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Justin R. Wall Gregory F. Zoeller
Wall Legal Services Attorney General of Indiana
Wabash, Indiana Robert J. Henke
James D. Boyer
Deputy Attorneys General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of Al.G., As.G., July 15, 2016
and J.D., Jr. (Minor Children), Court of Appeals Case No.
Children in Need of Services, 85A04-1602-JC-378
and Appeal from the Wabash Circuit
Court
C.G. (Mother) and J.D. (Father),
The Honorable Robert R.
Appellants-Respondents, McCallen, III, Judge
v. Trial Court Cause Nos.
85C01-1511-JC-70, -71, and -72
Indiana Department of Child
Services,
Appellee-Petitioner
Crone, Judge.
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Case Summary
[1] C.G. (“Mother) and J.D. (“Father”) appeal the trial court’s adjudication of
minor children Al.G., As.G., and J.D., Jr., as children in need of services
(“CHINS”). The sole restated issue for our review is whether sufficient
evidence supports the trial court’s determination that the children are CHINS
pursuant to Indiana Code Sections 31-34-1-1 and -2. Finding the evidence
sufficient, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] In November 2015, the police served a search warrant where Mother and
Father were residing with Al.G., As.G., and J.D., Jr. Al.G. was born in
October 1999. As.G. was born in March 2009. J.D., Jr., was born in August
2015. The parents of Al.G. and As.G. are Mother and S.G. The parents of
J.D., Jr., are Mother and Father. The police discovered a methamphetamine
lab, supplies used to manufacture methamphetamine, and a finished batch of
methamphetamine. The police discovered cups containing chemicals used to
manufacture methamphetamine that were labeled to deter the children from
drinking from the wrong cups. While the police were there, As.G. almost took a
sip from one of the cups that contained the chemicals. Also, an odor of
ammonia that is associated with the manufacturing of the methamphetamine
was detected by the police in the bathroom of the home. The police contacted
the Wabash County Department of Child Services (“DCS”) to report that they
had found a methamphetamine lab in the presence of all three children.
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[3] Mother and Father submitted to oral drug screens, which came back positive
for amphetamine/methamphetamine. DCS removed all of the children from
the residence and took them to the hospital to undergo medical exams. All of
the children’s health screenings came back fine except for Al.G., who tested
positive for marijuana. DCS filed a CHINS petition for each child. DCS also
requested that all of the children be placed in foster care.
[4] In January 2016, a factfinding hearing was held. Based upon the evidence
presented at the hearing, the trial court issued an order that reads in relevant
part as follows: 1
During a search of the residence numerous syringes,
methamphetamine residue, methamphetamine precursors and
devices used to manufacture methamphetamine were located
throughout the house but primarily in a bathroom and on a back
porch. The items were within easy reach of the children.
Both Mother and Father submitted to oral drug screens which
came back positive for amphetamine/methamphetamine. Both
Mother and Father denied knowing anything about the existence
of a meth lab at the residence. Mother presented unbelievable
testimony about how she may have tested positive for
amphetamine/methamphetamine. Beyond providing her name,
most of her testimony was not truthful. It appears she is
suggesting that the DCS family case manager that gave her the
oral swab contaminated the sample during the collection process.
That flies in the face of the evidence before the Court.
1
The order refers to the parents by name; we use Mother and Father.
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C[l]early Father and Mother knew there was an active meth lab
at the residence where they were staying with the children.
According to Matt Shrider of the Wabash County Drug Task
Force, the evidence reflected that the meth, or a portion thereof,
had recently been manufactured due to the wetness of a white
substance located in the residence. Both Father and Mother had
amphetamine/methamphetamine in their system while the
children were in their care. Mother testified she only stayed at
that residence a few days as she was between homes, however,
she and the children were residing there, albeit briefly. Further,
Father and Mother knowingly exposed the children to the serious
dangers of an active or recently active meth lab. Officer Shrider
testified to the many dangers and hazards to the occupants of a
residence with an active or recently active meth lab.
….
Based upon the foregoing, the Court finds that the children’s
physical and/or mental condition is seriously impaired and
seriously endangered as a result of Father and Mother’s inability,
refusal and/or neglect to supply them with necessary supervision;
that their physical and mental health is seriously endangered due
to act or omission by Father and Mother; and, that they need
care, treatment and/or rehabilitation that … the parties are not
likely to accept without the coercive intervention of the court.
All three (3) children are Children in Need of Services pursuant
to I.C. 34-31-1 & 2. Obviously the coercive intervention of the
Court is necessary for Father and Mother to receive services
given their denial of their use of amphetamine/
methamphetamine and their denial that they knowingly exposed
the children to the serious risks of a meth lab.
Appellants’ App. at 100-01. Al.G. and As.G. were placed with S.G., and J.D.,
Jr., was placed in foster care. Mother and Father now appeal.
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Discussion and Decision
[5] Mother and Father contend that the evidence is insufficient to support the trial
court’s CHINS adjudication. Indiana courts recognize “that parents have a
fundamental right to raise their children without undue influence from the
State, but that right is limited by the State’s compelling interest in protecting the
welfare of children.” In re Ju.L., 952 N.E.2d 771, 776 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011). A
CHINS proceeding is a civil action in which the State bears the burden of
proving by a preponderance of the evidence that a child meets the statutory
definition of CHINS. In re N.E., 919 N.E.2d 102, 105 (Ind. 2010); Ind. Code §
31-34-12-3.
[6] Here the trial court adjudicated the children as CHINS pursuant to Indiana
Code Sections 31-34-1-1 and -2. To meet its burden of establishing CHINS
status pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1, DCS must prove that the
child is under eighteen and that
(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
child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care,
education, or supervision; 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.
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To meet its burden of proving CHINS status pursuant to Indiana Code Section
31-34-1-2, DCS must prove that the child is under eighteen and that
(1) the child’s physical or mental health is seriously endangered
due to injury by the act or omission of the child’s parent,
guardian, or custodian; 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.
(b) Evidence that the illegal manufacture of a drug or controlled
substance is occurring on property where a child resides creates a
rebuttable presumption that the child's physical or mental health
is seriously endangered.
[7] When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence to support a CHINS
adjudication, we will not reweigh the evidence or judge witness credibility. In
re K.D., 962 N.E.2d 1249, 1253 (Ind. 2012). We will consider only the evidence
favorable to the trial court’s judgment and the reasonable inferences drawn
therefrom. Id. Because no statute expressly requires formal findings in a
CHINS factfinding order, and because it appears that neither party in this case
requested them pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52(A), as to the issues covered
by the court’s sua sponte findings, we will determine whether the evidence
supports the findings and whether the findings support the judgment. In re S.D.,
2 N.E.3d 1283, 1287 (Ind. 2014). We may not set aside the findings or
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judgment unless they are clearly erroneous. In re A.C., 905 N.E.2d 456, 461
(Ind. Ct. App. 2009). “Findings are clearly erroneous when the record contains
no facts to support them either directly or by inference, and a judgment is
clearly erroneous if it relies on an incorrect legal standard.” Id. We review the
remaining issues under the general judgement standard, and we will affirm the
judgment if it can be sustained on any legal theory supported by the evidence.
S.D., 2 N.E.3d at 1287.
[8] With respect to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1, Mother and Father argue that
there is no evidence that the children’s physical or mental condition was
seriously impaired or seriously endangered. We disagree. The children were
exposed to a meth lab. It is clear that there was a lack of supervision by the
parents because As.G. almost drank a cup of chemicals, and Al.G. tested
positive for marijuana. The fact that the results from some of the children’s
hospital checkups came back clear does not mean they were not endangered.
[9] Mother and Father also argue that there is no evidence that the children have
needs that would not be met without coercive court intervention. Both parents
tested positive for drugs and exposed the children to a meth lab, which
demonstrated extremely poor judgment and a lack of respect for the law and the
children’s safety. The parents’ denial of drug use indicates that they are
unlikely to accept that they are incapable of providing care to the children while
they are using drugs. Mother and Father’s argument is essentially an invitation
for this Court to reweigh the evidence and reassess witness credibility, which we
may not do. In sum, DCS presented sufficient evidence to support the trial
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court’s determination that the children are CHINS pursuant to Indiana Code
Section 31-34-1-1.
[10] With respect to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-2, Mother and Father maintain
that there is no evidence that the children “resided” where the meth lab was
found. We need not address this argument because the trial court found that
the children were CHINS under both statutes. The judgment of the trial court
is affirmed.
[11] Affirmed.
Najam, J., and Robb, J., concur.
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