In re C.D.

[Cite as In re C.D., 2012-Ohio-2026.]
COURT OF APPEALS
MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
IN THE MATTER OF: C.D. : JUDGES:
:
: Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
: Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
: Hon. John W. Wise, J.
:
: Case No. CT11-0048
:
:
:
: OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Muskingum County Court
of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, Case
No. 21030157
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: April 27, 2012
APPEARANCES:
For Appellant: For Appellee:
FREDERICK A. SEALOVER D. MICHAEL HADDOX,
45 N. Fourth Street Muskingum County Prosecutor
P.O. Box 2910
Zanesville, OH 43702-2910 MOLLY L. MARTIN
27 North Fifth Street, P.O. Box 189
Zanesville, OH 43702-0189
PETER N. CULTICE (G.A.L.)
58 North Fifth Street
Zanesville, OH 43701
[Cite as In re C.D., 2012-Ohio-2026.]
Delaney, J.
{¶1} Appellant Chyanne Dunn appeals from the July 9, 2011 judgment of the
Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division, finding her child C.D.
to be an abused, neglected, and dependent child and placing him in the legal custody
of Ebony Small. Appellee is Muskingum County Children Services.
{¶2} The facts below are adduced from the record of the dispositional hearing
on May 24, 2011.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶3} C.D. is the son of Chyanne Dunn (“Mother”) and Harold Small, Jr.
(“Father”); his date of birth is March 6, 2010. Wesley West is Mother’s live-in
boyfriend. Ebony Small is Father’s sister and C.D.’s aunt.
Discovery of Bruises
{¶4} This case arose on December 23, 2010 when Ebony Small picked C.D.
up at Mother’s house to bring him to visit with Father. Ebony immediately noticed
bruises on C.D.’s face; in her words, it appeared “someone squeezed his face.” The
bruises looked like handprints.
{¶5} Ebony asked Mother about the bruises. She told Ebony that C.D. had
the bruises on his face when he woke up that day, and she thought they may have
been caused by the slats on his crib.
{¶6} Ebony brought C.D. to her grandmother’s house where Father met them
for his visit. Father called the Zanesville Police Department and an officer responded.
Upon the officer’s advice, Ebony and Father took C.D. to the emergency room where
he was evaluated and the bruising was documented.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 3
Investigation of Bruises
{¶7} Detective Jon Hill of the Zanesville Police Department investigated the
bruising to C.D. Due to the time frame in which the injuries occurred, Mother and
West were the only adults who had access to C.D. and were therefore the only
suspects. Mother told Hill that she didn’t really notice the bruises until they were
brought to her attention. Hill was unable to determine the perpetrator of the bruises;
both Mother and Wesley West refused a polygraph and did not cooperate with his
investigation. Ultimately the criminal investigation was closed and no charges were
filed.
{¶8} Appellee also investigated the source of the injuries, and appellee’s
investigator considered Mother and/or West to be the likely perpetrators. Appellee’s
investigator testified Mother and West were the only two adults to have contact with
C.D. in the two days leading up to the discovery of the bruising.
{¶9} Mother gave several different explanations for the bruising: C.D.’s head
became stuck between the bars of his crib; he is learning to walk and may have fallen
down; the bruises may have been caused by West’s three-year-old son. Appellee’s
investigator testified these explanations were not consistent with the injuries.
{¶10} Appellee presented several photographs as evidence at the custody
hearing. These photographs show distinctive, obvious bruising to C.D.’s face.
Another photo shows C.D’s crib and indicates the distance between the slats.
Expert Opinion of Child Abuse
{¶11} Dr. Jonathan Thackeray is an expert in pediatric medicine with a focus
on child abuse. He examined C.D. on December 28, 2010, upon referral by appellee.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 4
In addition to a head-to-toe examination, this assessment included review of the
earlier photos of the bruises. Dr. Thackeray also spoke with Mother and West and
reviewed C.D.’s medical and developmental histories.
{¶12} Dr. Thackeray noted that C.D. had multiple bruises to his cheeks and
temporal area on both sides of his face.
{¶13} Dr. Thackeray testified Mother’s explanations regarding the source of the
bruising are not reasonable due to the extent of C.D.’s injuries. If he had fallen or
struck his head on a crib slat, the injuries would occur to protruding areas such as the
forehead, knees, shins, or elbows. C.D.’s injuries, however, are to the protected areas
of his cheeks and eyes. Dr. Thackeray also dismissed the explanation that West’s
three-year-old caused the bruising, noting that these injuries represented the
application of significant force. Moreover, Mother did not provide any history
consistent with a three-year-old causing these injuries.
{¶14} Dr. Thackeray opined the bruises resulted from repeated traumatic injury
caused by repeatedly striking the face with a hand or some other object. Dr.
Thackeray could not date the bruises, but noted that they were of different colors and
were readily apparent such that anyone would immediately notice them. Ultimately
Dr. Thackeray concluded the bruising was due to physical abuse.
Mother’s Case Plan
{¶1} Appellee filed a complaint alleging abuse, neglect, and dependency on
December 29, 2010. A safety plan is a voluntary agreement between a parent and the
children’s services agency which allows a child to remain with a relative while the
agency investigates.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 5
{¶2} Father is not a custody option because he has a “concerning” criminal
record and was on parole at the time of these events.
{¶3} Initially appellee developed a safety plan with Mother and C.D. stayed
with maternal grandmother, but that placement was deemed to be inappropriate in
light of grandmother’s criminal history. A new safety plan was developed but Mother
did not comply and appellee filed for temporary custody. In the meantime, C.D. was
placed with Ebony Small.
{¶4} C.D.’s ongoing caseworker testified about Mother’s progress on her case
plan. Mother complied with a number of components: she completed an assessment
for drug abuse, submitted to random drug screens with no positive results, and
attended Help Me Grow classes. Her progress with Help Me Grow was reportedly “so-
so;” she attended but was not actively engaged.
{¶5} The caseworker noted issues with visitation. Ebony kept a log of
Mother’s visits with C.D., which were supposed to be Wednesdays and Sundays from
two p.m. to four p.m. These visits at Ebony’s house did not go well, according to the
worker, and Mother missed about half of her visits. Mother was supposed to call
within a half hour of the visit, but sometimes missed visits because she called too late.
{¶6} Ebony stated that Mother only calls to ask about C.D. when she’s
supposed to.
{¶7} At the time of the dispositional hearing, and throughout the progress of
the case, Mother still lived with West.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 6
Ebony Small Obtains Temporary Custody
{¶8} C.D. was placed in the temporary custody of Ebony Small on February
24, 2011, and he moved into her home on March 11, 2011 after a home study was
completed.
{¶9} The caseworker testified C.D. is doing well living with Ebony and her
live-in boyfriend, B.J. Norris. Appellee requests placement of C.D. with Ebony due to
the unknown source of his injuries.
{¶10} Father approves of placement of C.D. with Ebony. Father had been
working on his own case plan but was then sentenced to prison and requested that
Ebony be granted custody.
{¶11} Ebony testified about her stable lifestyle. She works at Genesis Health
Care System in the lab approximately 45 hours per week on the midnight shift and
lives with Norris. When Ebony is at work, Norris and her mother and sister help with
C.D.’s care.
{¶12} Ebony is willing to keep C.D. long-term and wants to do so. She testified
that she does want legal custody of C.D., but recognized he needs his mother in his
life. Until his safety is assured, however, Ebony noted that she loves him and wants to
provide for his needs.
{¶13} An adjudicatory dispositional hearing was held on May 24, 2011. On
July 29, 2011, the trial court ruled that C.D. is an abused, neglected, and dependent
child as defined in sections 2151.03(A)(2), 2151.031(D), and 2151.04(C) of the Ohio
Revised Code and placed him in the legal custody of Ebony Small.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 7
{¶14} Mother appeals from the trial court’s July 29, 2011 judgment entry.1
{¶15} Appellant raises one Assignment of Error:
{¶16} “THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY AWARDING
LEGAL CUSTODY OF C.D. TO EBONY SMALL AS THE DECISION WAS AGAINST
THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.”
I.
{¶17} In her sole assignment of error, appellant argues that the evidence did
not support the trial court’s finding it was in the best interest of the child to be placed in
the legal custody of the Ebony Small. We disagree.
{¶18} We first note this was a grant of legal custody, not permanent custody.
Legal custody does not divest parents of residual parental rights, privileges, and
responsibilities. In re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, 2006-Ohio-1191, 843 N.E.2d 1188, at
¶ 17. This means appellant may petition the court for a modification of custody in the
future. Id.{¶19} We recognize that the right to parent one's children is a fundamental
right. Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000); In re Hayes, 79 Ohio St.3d 46, 48,
679 N.E.2d 680 (1997). “However, government has broad authority to intervene to
protect children from abuse and neglect.” In re C.F., 113 Ohio St.3d 73, 2007-Ohio-
1104, 862 N.E.2d 816, at ¶ 28.
1
Appellant’s counsel initially filed an Anders brief and a Motion to Withdraw as Court-
Appointed Counsel. On November 9, 2011, we ruled that an Anders brief is not
appropriate in a legal custody case, struck the original brief, and found counsel’s
motion to withdraw to be moot. Appellant then filed the instant brief on November 22,
2011.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 8
{¶20} R. C. 2151.353 (A)(3) states in relevant part: “If a child is adjudicated an
abused, neglected, or dependent child, the court may make any of the following orders
of disposition:
{¶21} “(3) Award legal custody of the child to either parent or to any other
person who, prior to the dispositional hearing, files a motion requesting legal custody
of the child or is identified as a proposed legal custodian in a complaint or motion filed
prior to the dispositional hearing by any party to the proceedings. A person identified
in a complaint or motion filed by a party to the proceedings as a proposed legal
custodian shall be awarded legal custody of the child only if the person identified signs
a statement of understanding for legal custody that contains at least the following
provisions:
{¶22} “(a) That it is the intent of the person to become the legal custodian of
the child and the person is able to assume legal responsibility for the care and
supervision of the child;
{¶23} “(b) That the person understands that legal custody of the child in
question is intended to be permanent in nature and that the person will be responsible
as the custodian for the child until the child reaches the age of majority. Responsibility
as custodian for the child shall continue beyond the age of majority if, at the time the
child reaches the age of majority, the child is pursuing a diploma granted by the board
of education or other governing authority, successful completion of the curriculum of
any high school, successful completion of an individualized education program
developed for the student by any high school, or an age and schooling certificate.
Responsibility beyond the age of majority shall terminate when the child ceases to
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 9
continuously pursue such an education, completes such an education, or is excused
from such an education under standards adopted by the state board of education,
whichever occurs first.
{¶24} “(c) That the parents of the child have residual parental rights, privileges,
and responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the privilege of reasonable visitation,
consent to adoption, the privilege to determine the child's religious affiliation, and the
responsibility for support;
{¶25} “(d) That the person understands that the person must be present in
court for the dispositional hearing in order to affirm the person's intention to become
legal custodian, to affirm that the person understands the effect of the custodianship
before the court, and to answer any questions that the court or any parties to the case
may have.”
{¶26} Mother does not argue that Ebony Small has failed to comply with R.C.
2151.353. Pursuant to the requirements thereof, we note that Ebony Small signed the
affidavit/statement of understanding for legal custody on May 24, 2011. We find that
the trial court’s decision that it is in the best interest of C.D. to grant legal custody to
Ebony Small is supported by the preponderance of the evidence.
{¶27} Unlike in a permanent custody proceeding where a juvenile court's
standard of review is by clear and convincing evidence, the standard of review in legal
custody proceedings is preponderance of the evidence. In re A.C., 12th Dist. No.
CA2006-12-105, 2007-Ohio-3350 at ¶ 14; In re Nice, 141 Ohio App.3d 445, 455, 751
N.E.2d 552 (7th Dist. 2001).
{¶28} In this type of dispositional hearing, the focus must be the best interest of
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 10
the child. In re C.R., 108 Ohio St.3d 369, 2006-Ohio-1191, 843 N.E.2d 1188; In re
Nawrocki, 5th Dist. No. 2004-CA-0028, 2004-Ohio-4208.
{¶29} R. C. 2151.414(D) provides factors to be considered in making a best-
interest-of-the-child determination:
“In determining the best interest of a child at a hearing held pursuant to division
(A) of this section or for the purposes of division (A)(4) or (5) of section
2151.353 or division (C) of section 2151.415 of the Revised Code, the court
shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
“(1) 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;
“(2) 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;
“(3) 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 ending on or after March 18, 1999;
“(4) 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;
“(5) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this section apply in
relation to the parents and child.”
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 11
{¶30} A trial court's determination on legal custody should not be overruled
absent a showing of an abuse of discretion. In re Unger, 5th Dist. No. 04CA6, 2005-
Ohio-2414. An abuse of discretion is when the trial court's judgment is unreasonable,
arbitrary or unconscionable. Blakemore v. Blakemore, 5 Ohio St.3d 217, 450 N.E.2d
1140 (1983).
{¶31} The concern in this case is the evident physical abuse to C.D., coupled
with Mother’s lack of a supportable explanation and apparent failure to seek treatment.
Mother did offer a number of explanations for the bruises to a number of investigators,
but none of these explanations were corroborated by the evidence. Investigators
necessarily concluded that Mother and/or West caused the bruises. At the
dispositional hearing, Mother still lived with West. Despite Mother’s progress on her
case plan, this unresolved threat to C.D.’s physical well-being weighs substantially in
our determination.
{¶32} The evidence adduced at hearing demonstrates C.D. interacts well with
Ebony. He is too young to express his wishes, but he has done well in Ebony’s
temporary custody. Ebony has a support system in place to help her care for C.D.,
and she has demonstrated her willingness and ability to care for C.D. long-term.
{¶33} Based on the evidence presented, we find the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in finding by a preponderance of the evidence that it was in the best interest
of C.D. that legal custody should be granted to Ebony Small.
{¶34} Mother’s sole assignment of error is overruled.
Muskingum County, Case No. CT11-0048 12
{¶35} The judgment of the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas,
Juvenile Division is hereby affirmed.
By: Delaney, P.J.
Farmer, J. and
Wise, J. concur.
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
HON. JOHN W. WISE
[Cite as In re C.D., 2012-Ohio-2026.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
IN THE MATTER OF: C.D. :
:
:
:
:
: JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
:
:
: Case No. CT11-0048
:
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Opinion on file, the judgment of the
Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division is affirmed. Costs
assessed to appellant.
HON. PATRICIA A. DELANEY
HON. SHEILA G. FARMER
HON. JOHN W. WISE