In re B.D.

[Cite as In re B.D., 2020-Ohio-1005.]
COURT OF APPEALS
GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
IN THE MATTERS OF: : JUDGES:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
B.D. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
I.D. : Hon. Earle E. Wise, J.
O.D. :
W.D. : Case Nos. 19CA000032 19CA000039
L.D. : 19CA000033 19CA000040
E.D. : 19CA000034 19CA000041
: 19CA000035 19CA000042
: 19CA000036 19CA000043
: 19CA000037 19CA000044
:
: NUNC PRO TUNC
: OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Guernsey County Court
of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division,
Case No. 18JC259
JUDGMENT: Affirmed
DATE OF JUDGMENT: May 26, 2020
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee Guernsey Co For Defendant-Appellant C.D.
Children Services
JEANETTE M. MOLL
MELISSA M. WILSON Jeanette M. Moll LLC
274 Highland Avenue PO Box 461
Cambridge, Ohio 43725 Zanesville, Ohio 43702
For CASA For Defendant-Appellant L.D.
MARGARET BOYD LAPLANTE WESLEY JOHNSON
139 W. 8th Street 1360 E. 9th Street, #910
Cambridge, Ohio 43725 Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Guardian Ad Litem
RUTHELLEN WEAVER
542 S. Drexel Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43209
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 2
Baldwin, J.
{¶1} Appellant C.D. and appellant L.D. appeal from the October 22, 2019 Journal
Entry of the Guernsey County Court of Common Plea, Juvenile Division, terminating their
parental rights and granting permanent custody of their children to Guernsey County
Children Services.
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} Appellant C.D. is the biological father of B.D. (DOB 1/28/2006), I.D. (DOB
10/29/2007), O.D. (DOB 3/20/2009), W.D. (DOB 6/20/2013), L.D. (DOB 11/4/2014), and
E.D. (DOB 5/26/2017) while appellant L.D. is the biological mother. On June 27, 2018, a
complaint was filed alleging that the children were neglected and/or dependent children.
On June 26, 2018, the trial court had issued an ex parte order of custody of the children
to Guernsey County Children Services (hereinafter “GCCS”).
{¶3} Following a probable cause hearing at which appellant C.D. failed to
appear, the trial court found that there was probable cause to believe that the children
were dependent and continued them in the temporary custody of GCCS. The children
were adjudicated dependent on August 23, 2018 and placed in the temporary custody of
GCCS. As memorialized in a Journal Entry filed on September 18, 2018, the trial court,
following the dispositional hearing, ordered that temporary custody of the children remain
with GCCS.
{¶4} Review hearings were held on December of 2018 and, March of 2019 and
an annual review was held on June of 2019.
{¶5} On August 22, 2019, GCCS filed a Motion to Modify Dispositional Orders,
seeking permanent custody of the children. A hearing was held on October 10, 2019.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 3
{¶6} At the hearing, Dr. Aimee Thomas with Lighthouse Family Center testified
that she was a psychologist and conducted psychological evaluations with appellants
“with an emphasis on parenting strategies.” Transcript at 7. She testified that she was a
licensed professional counselor and licensed psychologist. Dr. Thomas testified that she
performed parenting evaluations on both appellants on April 22, 2019 and that both
appellants were cooperative
{¶7} Dr. Thomas testified that the primary concerns with appellants were over
unstable housing and chronic substance abuse. She testified that appellants tested
positive for drugs that they were not prescribed and struggled in establishing housing.
According to her, appellant C.D. admitted to ongoing use of marijuana and sporadic use
of alcohol “with an open case plan, and while participating in treatment at Allwell.”
Transcript at 12. When asked about her concerns with appellant C.D., Dr. Thomas
testified as follows:
{¶8} A. There was no doubt of [appellant C.D.’s] love for his children, but there
were concerns with his ability to provide a stable and safe environment with them in terms
of housing. It appeared based on his reports and [appellant L.D.]’s reports that when his
mother was alive, she was a stabilized (sic) force for him, and likely a support system
from what I gathered from their disclosures.
{¶9} They had lived independently for a couple years before becoming displaced
again, so housing was their primary problem. Another issue for [appellant C.D.] is he
appeared to be in a significant amount of pain. He experienced stenosis, degenerative
back disorder, legitimate pain and he appeared to me to be in pain. He acknowledged
that at points that the pain was so debilitating that he would be in bed all day. And my
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 4
concern with that is that he would become somewhat incapacitated. That was a source
of concern to me because his wife also abused illicit drugs, and certainly if you want to
provide care for a two year old, it would be important to be aware and alert of what’s going
on in the environment.
{¶10} The ongoing use of marijuana was also a source of concern at the time of
the clinical interview. If you’re prescribed Suboxone, which assists with an opiate
addiction, it would be contraindicated to be ingesting other illicit drugs. I did advise him
to explore an alternative with regard to pain management, including a medical marijuana
card.
{¶11} However, the concern with a marijuana card with [appellant C.D.] is that his
wife also uses marijuana. My concern is that she may have difficulty with her sobriety if
he continued to use marijuana even it was deemed medically necessary.
{¶12} Transcript 12-13.
{¶13} Based on her psychological evaluation of appellant C.D., Dr. Thomas
recommended that he continue to participate in substance abuse treatment and enter
residential treatment if he was unable to maintain his sobriety. She also recommended
that he begin attending two 12- step meetings a week and actually work the 12 steps,
which he had not done in the past, and that appellant C.D. consult with a pain
management program to address his chronic pain and that he participate in individual
counseling to “identify his obstacles for maintaining his sobriety and establishing his
stability”. Transcript at 14. At the time that she met with appellant C.D., he was receiving
SSI benefits and she was concerned that he had not yet established housing with the
income that he had.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 5
{¶14} Dr. Thomas was also questioned about appellant L.D. She testified that
appellant L.D. told her that she previously had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but
that her review of medical records showed that appellant was diagnosed with major
depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder instead. She testified that appellant
L.D. had significant childhood abuse and trauma and started used marijuana at the age
of seven in order to cope with trauma, so she never learned to cope with life. She testified
that she diagnosed appellant L.D. with “major depressive disorder and generalized and
other specified personality disorder in addition to substance abuse disorders.” Transcript
at 16. Appellant, according to her, also “described abusive use of Benzodiazepine,
opiates in the past when she was prescribed Suboxone in 2009.” Transcript at 16.
{¶15} Dr. Thomas testified that she recommended that appellant L.D. participate
in substance abuse treatment services including group counseling and the ongoing use
of Suboxone and that she participate in a residential substance abuse program if she still
used marijuana despite treatment at Allwell. She also recommended that appellant L.D.
attend 12-step meetings and participate in comprehensive mental health treatment
services to address substance abuse and mental health disorders, and participate in
weekly individual counseling to develop healthy coping skills. Dr. Thomas also
recommended a psychiatric evaluation. Dr. Thomas testified that she recommended that
appellant receive the support of in-home parenting after reunification occurred. She
indicated that she thought it would be beneficial for appellant L.D. to obtain part-time
employment and recommended that both appellants have financial resources to support
their family.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 6
{¶16} On-cross-examination, Dr. Thomas tested that appellant L.D. had reported
participating in treatment at Allwell and that the treatment was focused more on substance
abuse than mental health. She testified that appellant L.D. would need years of treatment
to deal with her emotional problems. Dr. Thomas admitted she only met with appellants
once and that on such date, appellant C.D. appeared to be uncomfortable due to pain.
{¶17} The next witness to testify was Kelsey Wolfe, the kinship program
coordinator with GCCS. She testified that she received kinship referrals from the family
in the case. While numerous kinship options were explored, none were found to be
appropriate due to concerns about child welfare history, criminal history or lack of interest.
{¶18} Amanda Kennedy, a caseworker at GCCS, testified that she had been the
ongoing caseworker in this case since receiving the case in July of 2018. She testified
that the agency became involved over concerns that 12 people were living in the house
of appellant C.D.’s sister, over concerns about drugs and concerns that the children were
not being taken care of. Appellants failed drug screens on May 1, 2018 and tested
positive for Gabapentin and marijuana.
{¶19} Kennedy testified that appellant C.D.’s sister, with whom they were living,
called them to tell them that she was not able to keep up with caring for six additional
children as well as her own and asked for respite, which the agency could not provide.
The agency looked at other family members for a safety plan and contacted appellant for
names. At the time, appellant C.D. was in jail for a failure to appear for a traffic violation
and appellant L.D. was living at a campground in a tent and did not have service for them
to reach her. The children, according to her, had been in foster care before through Perry
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 7
County in 2016 due to drug concerns and were in care from February 11, 2016 through
July 28, 2016. The following is an excerpt from her testimony:
{¶20} Q. Okay. Had there been other concerns with any child welfare agency in
the State of Ohio besides when they were in foster care?
{¶21} A. So the family does have history through Perry County, Muskingum
County, and Guernsey County with a lot of the similar concerns for why we’re involved.
There’s always been housing concerns.
{¶22} There’s always been drug concerns, children being neglected and having
severe lice. One of the intakes was they had lice so bad that their heads were bleeding.
There was some more drug concerns, more housing concerns.
{¶23} At the time that [L.D.] was born, [appellant L.D.] positive for various drugs
throughout her pregnancy, tested positive for THC. [L.D.] was not tested because she
had to be taken to Akron Children’s. [E.D.] was also born and tested positive for cord
tissue.
{¶24} Transcript at 36-37.
{¶25} Kennedy testified that appellant L.D.’s case plan required her to complete
a drug and alcohol assessment and follow all recommendations. She testified that
appellant L.D. had been diagnosed with severe opioid use disorder and had consistently
attended weekly appointments at Spero Health. Appellant L.D. had tested positive for
fentanyl and norfentanyl. Appellant L.D. also had been required to comply with random
drug screens and the refusal to do so would be considered a positive for all substances.
While appellant L.D. had not been prescribed Gabapentin, she tested positive for such
drug. She also tested positive for THC, amphetamine and methamphetamine among
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 8
other drugs. The next objective was for appellant L.D. to complete a mental health
assessment and follow all recommendations. Appellant L.D. completed her assessment
at Allwell and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, reaction
to severe stress and opioid dependence. Kennedy testified that it was recommended
that appellant had outpatient core therapy, which is a type of vocational employment
assistance; case management medication, and family therapy upon the return of the
children plus parenting classes and substance abuse. Appellant L.D. had denied the core
part of the recommendation and was not compliant with her services. Appellant L.D.
completed the assessment on October 2, 2018. Appellant did not call or appear for an
appointment on October 16, 2018 and canceled her next appointment on March 25, 2019.
On March 27, 2019, appellant L.D. failed to call or appear and on April 24, 2019 she kept
her therapy. She was to meet with a nurse on April 29, 2019, but did not call or show.
Appellant L.D. kept appointments on May 6, 2019, June 5, 2009, June 12, 2019 and June
19, 2019. Kennedy testified that appellant L.D. received a domestic violence charge in in
Perry County and was ordered to undergo anger management while this case was
pending. Appellant L.D. had not had any type of counseling since June 19, 2019 and had
not returned to Allwell for mental health counseling.
{¶26} Kennedy next testified that appellant L.D. was to complete a parenting
assessment at Northeast Behavioral Health, which is now Lighthouse Family Center, and
follow all recommendations. Kennedy met with appellants at the end of July of 2018 to go
over their parenting assessment and the recommendations. Appellant L.D. did not want
to discuss her assessment and was not in agreement with the results. Kennedy testified
that appellant L.D. had not continued working with comprehensive mental health
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 9
treatment services as recommended, but that she continued going to her substance
abuse treatment. Appellant L.D. had been receiving counseling at Spero Health for drug
and alcohol and goes back every week to get her Suboxone prescription filled. Kennedy
admitted that the agency continued providing appellant L.D. with Suboxone even though
she had positive screens. She testified that appellant L.D. did not obtain employment.
{¶27} From July of 2018 until May of 2019, appellants had been essentially
homeless and staying in a tent. In May of 2019, they bought a house on land contract
which needed some remodeling and repair work. The agency paid the $150.00 water
deposit for the house. Kennedy testified that appellants were still at the house as of the
time of the hearing and that they paid $450.00 a month. The house, according to
Kennedy, showed improvement, but there was no sink in the bathroom and the toilet
appeared to be full of feces. Kennedy indicated that she was concerned about
cleanliness. She testified that appellants had obtained a working refrigerator and stove
and that there were holes in some of the floors and the ceiling leaked in a bedroom. She
testified that there had been improvements since she first went in, but that work still
needed to be done to make the house suitable for the children.
{¶28} When Kennedy went back to the house in July, they talked about income.
At the time, appellant C.D. was receiving $750.00 a month in disability and voiced
concerns that they did not know how they were going to be able to pay the rent and pay
child support. As of the hearing, appellant L.D. was unemployed and was not attending
mental health services.
{¶29} Kennedy testified that appellant C.D. had been diagnosed with severe
opioid disorder and was attending weekly outpatient services. He was discharged at the
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 10
end of October of 2018 from Spero Health because he did not bring his Suboxone to his
appointments and tested positive for fentanyl. Appellant C.D. then went to First Step
Recovery where he was still engaged and would have completed an assessment there
on November 7, 2018. He was diagnosed there with opioid use disorder, hypnotic use
disorder, cannabis use disorder and amphetamine use disorder and attended weekly
appointments. Kennedy testified that she was notified in August that they increased
appellant C.D.’s level of care at the end of July to do individual outpatient counseling three
times a week, and that appellant was not compliant with that. Appellant C.D. tested
positive for fentanyl and norfentanyl.
{¶30} Kennedy testified that appellant C.D. completed his mental health
assessment at Allwell in October of 2018 and they diagnosed him with adjustment
disorder and moderate opioid use disorder and recommended individual outpatient and
family therapy upon return of the children, parenting classes, and substance abuse
disorder counseling. Records showed that he did not accept outpatient therapy and had
not returned for further serves. He had scheduled appointment on March 25, 2019 and
March 27, 2019, but did not call or show up for either. Appellant C.D. had not had mental
health treatment during the pendency of this case and had not participated in an intensive
substance abuse treatment program as recommended. Kennedy further testified that
appellant C.D. was not in agreement with the whole parenting assessment because he
was upset that appellant L.D. did not qualify for the medical marijuana card while he did.
He indicated that he did not have time for the NA/AA meetings and the 12-step meetings
even though he was not employed.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 11
{¶31} Kennedy testified that the children were bonded with appellants, and loved
their parents. She testified that a family support specialist who had supervised visitations
had come to her a couple to times with concerns that appellants might be under the
influence, but that appellants had not tested for anything other than what they usually
tested for. She admitted that they usually tested for THC, which was an illegal substance,
and that, therefore, they were under the influence.
{¶32} Kennedy testified that the younger two children were both in counseling and
on medications for “like ADHD and behaviors” and that one of the children was getting
tested for autism and another continued having testing done because they thought she
was diagnosed with a form of dwarfism, but the doctors thought that the dwarfism was a
side effect of another disease. Transcript at 68. She also was having speech therapy
because at two years old, she only said a few words. I.D. and O.D. had been in the same
foster home since they first came into care and loved it there. B.D. was in one foster home
for just days, but he moved in July of 2018 to another foster home that he loved. He told
Amy, the foster mother, that he wanted to stay there forever and not return home. W.D.
and L.D. were in a foster home from June 26, 2018 to January 3, 2019 but were moved
because of allegations of abuse and neglect against another child and placed into the
same foster home as B.D. and were still there. While W.D. and L.D. had behavioral
issues, they seemed to have gotten better. E.D. was at the same foster home as B.D. for
a few days before they were moved to another foster home where they currently were.
She loved her current foster home, and was bonded with her foster parents and called
the foster mother “Mom” and the foster father “Babe.” Transcript at 70. B.D., W.D., L.D.,
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 12
and E.D. were in the same foster home and I.D. and O.D. were in another foster home
together.
{¶33} When asked what concerns she had for the parents that the agency
believed hindered reunification at that time, Kennedy noted that there had not been any
behavioral changes, that the drug screens still showed positive for illegal substances and
that the house was not ready and still needed a lot of work. She testified that she did not
believe that if given additional time, appellants could reunify with their children because
“[w]e have given them—we’re coming close to a year and a half, and they have not made
the necessary changes as of this day.” Transcript 72. Both parents only had a few
negative drug screens. The following testimony was adduced when Kennedy was asked
what reasonable efforts the agency made to prevent removal of the children from their
home:
{¶34} A. We had a safety plan in place, attempted to make contact with the
parents before filing for custody. Was not successful. Since I have worked with them, I
have made referrals for services. We have provided visitation. We did help them pay for
the water deposit to move in to their house. We have paid for their parenting
assessments, and we have searched for kinship.
{¶35} Q. Has the agency also facilitated visitation between the parents and the
children?
{¶36} A. Yes.
{¶37} Q. And what is the agency requesting today?
{¶38} A. We are requesting permanent custody of all six children.
{¶39} Q. To Guernsey County Children Services?
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 13
{¶40} A. Yes.
{¶41} Q. Does the agency believe that to be in the best interest of the children?
{¶42} Yes.
{¶43} Q. And is that for the reasons you’ve already given as far as the concerns
of the parents?
{¶44} A. Yes.
{¶45} Transcript at 72-73.
{¶46} On cross-examination, Kennedy admired that improvements and repairs
had been made to the house and that all the necessary appliances were working in the
house. She testified that appellant C.D. had told her that in terms of his chronic pain,
marijuana was helping more than the other pills had and he told about getting a medical
marijuana card. Appellant L.D. would not have qualified for a card. She admitted that
other than some reports of appellants possibly being under the influence, there had been
no other concerns about their appropriateness with the children at visits. She also
admitted that appellants were always positive for only the things that they typically tested
positive for which, in appellant L.D.’s case, was usually THC and Suboxone.
{¶47} Kennedy testified that the foster parents had told her that the children were
saying that appellants were promising them that they could come home, but testified that
the visitor monitor did not report hearing that said. She testified that appellants were
following their drug and alcohol counseling but not their mental health counseling and had
not followed recommendations. She did not believe given more time that they would follow
through. She further testified on cross-examination that the majority of the work on the
house was cosmetic and that she would not put any child there because of visible holes
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 14
in the floor and leaking ceiling in the bedroom. She testified that the washer and dryer
were not hooked up and that appellants needed to get a sink in the bathroom and the
ceiling fixed in the back bedroom. She admitted that the agency did not have a problem
with appellant C.D. testing positive for his prescriptions and that she did not believe that
given additional time, appellants would be able to make additional progress on their case
plan.
{¶48} On cross-examination, Kennedy testified that appellant C.D. tested positive
for fentanyl or norfentanyl on April 3, 2019 and April 5, 2019 and tested positive for
fentanyl again on June 25 2019 and July 9, 2019 tested positive for norfentanyl. She
agreed that appellants had gone more times to the Suboxone clinic than for the drug
screens. She also tested that there appeared to be mold on the floor of the house.
Appellant L.D. was charged with domestic violence against appellant C.D. while this case
was pending.
{¶49} Ruthellen Weaver, the Guardian Ad Litem (“GAL”) testified that she filed a
report on October 1, 2019 and that she recommended that the court grant permanent
custody to the agency because the children needed permanency. She noted that
appellants had to deal with chronic pain, poverty, a history of trauma for appellant L.D.
and that they had not completed their case plans. She believed that it would be unlikely
that additional time would make a difference and agreed that appellants had made little
progress. The GAL noted that appellants had a prior opportunity to work with Perry County
Children Services and had, in that case, received reunification about four months in. She
testified that she spoke with the older children and that they did not wish to be reunified
and were very happy where they were and were very attached and bonded to their foster
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 15
families. When asked, she testified that she had not seen motivation from appellants since
the time they were served with the permanent custody notice to try and start working on
their case plan.
{¶50} Julia Dowling, the court-appointed special advocate (“CASA”) testified that
she filed a report on September 27, 2019 and recommended that the court grant
permanent custody of the children to GCCS. She testified that it was in their best interest
because the children were getting the mental and physical care that they needed. She
testified that the doctors had suggested that L.D. be tested for autism and that, according
to doctors, testing was not done but now that L.D. was in foster care, she was going to
be tested, and that E.D., when she was born, had fluid on her brain and that, according
to doctors, was not followed up on until they got involved when E.D. was a year old. B.D.
was fearful of being returned to his parents and then put back into care again.
{¶51} The trial court, pursuant to a Journal Entry filed on October 22, 2019,
terminated appellants’ parental rights and granted permanent custody of the six children
to GCCS.
{¶52} Appellant C.D. now raise the following assignments of error on appeal:
{¶53} “I. THE JUDGMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT THAT THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE MINOR CHILDREN WOULD BE SERVED BY THE GRANTING
OF PERMANENT CUSTODY WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.”
{¶54} “II. THERE WAS NOT CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE FOR THE
TRIAL COURT TO FIND THAT THE MINOR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE PLACED
WITH APPELLANT AND THAT IT WAS IN THE CHILDREN’S BEST INTEREST TO BE
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 16
PLACED THE PERMANENT CUSTODY OF GUERNSEY COUNTY CHILDREN’S
SERVICES.”
{¶55} Appellant L.D. raises the following assignments for error on appeal:
{¶56} “I. THE JUDGMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT THAT THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE MINOR CHILDREN WOULD BE SERVED BY THE GRANTING
OF PERMANENT CUSTODY WAS AGAINST THE MANIFEST WEIGHT AND
SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE.”
{¶57} “II. THERE WAS NOT CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE FOR THE
TRIAL COURT TO FIND THAT THE MINOR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE PLACED
WITH APPELLANT AND THAT IT WAS IN THE MINOR CHILDREN’S BEST INTEREST
TO BE PLACED IN THE PERMANENT CUSTODY OF GUERNSEY COUNTY
CHILDREN’S SERVICES.”
{¶58} “III. APPELLANT WAS DENIED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO
EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL AT TRIAL WHEN TRIAL COUNSEL FAILED
TO OBJECT TO THE HEARSAY TESTIMONY OF GCCS SOCIAL WORKER TO THE
RECORDS FROM THE SPERO HEALTH WHOSE REPRESENTATIVE WAS UNABLE
TO ATTEND TRIAL.”
{¶59} “IV. THE TRIAL COURT IMPROPERLY RELIED UPON THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE GAL WHO MISSTATED THE LAW IN HER
TESTIMONY AT TRIAL ON PERMANENT CUSTODY WHEN SHE INDICATED THE
BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN IS AS WARDS OF COURT AND THAT THAT IS
SECURED BY GRANTING PERMANENT CUSTODY TO GUERNSEY COUNTY
CHILDREN’S SERVICES BOARD.”
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 17
Appellant C.D.s’ First & Second Assignments of Error & Appellant L.D.’s First & Second
Assignments of Error
{¶60} In both appellants’ first assignment of error, they contend that the trial
court's decision that the best interests of the children would be served by granting
permanent custody of the children to appellee is against the manifest weight and
sufficiency of the evidence. In their second assignments of error, appellants challenge the
trial court's finding the children could not be placed with appellants within a reasonable
time or should not be placed with her. We elect to address both assignments of error
together.
{¶61} As an appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the
credibility of the witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent
and credible evidence upon which the fact finder could base its judgment. Cross Truck v.
Jeffries, Stark App. No. CA5758, 1982 WL 2911 (Feb. 10, 1982). Accordingly, judgments
supported by some competent, credible evidence going to all the essential elements of
the case will not be reversed as being against the manifest weight of the evidence. C.E.
Morris Co. v. Foley Constr., 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d 578 (1978).
{¶62} R.C. 2151.414 sets forth the guidelines a trial court must follow when
deciding a motion for permanent custody. R.C. 2151.414(A)(1) mandates the trial court
schedule a hearing and provide notice upon the filing of a motion for permanent custody
of a child by a public children services agency or private child placing agency that has
temporary custody of the child or has placed the child in long-term foster care.
{¶63} Following the hearing, R.C. 2151.414(B) authorizes the juvenile court to
grant permanent custody of the child to the public or private agency if the court
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 18
determines, by clear and convincing evidence, it is in the best interest of the child to grant
permanent custody to the agency, and that any of the following apply: (a) the child is not
abandoned or orphaned, 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; (b) the child is
abandoned; (c) the child is orphaned and there are no relatives of the child who are able
to take permanent custody; or (d) the child has been in the temporary custody of one or
more public children services agencies or private child placement agencies for twelve or
more months of a consecutive twenty-two month period ending on or after March 18,
1999.
{¶64} In determining the best interest of the child at a permanent custody hearing,
R.C. 2151.414(D) mandates the trial court must 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 parents 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; and (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.
{¶65} Therefore, R.C. 2151.414(B) establishes a two-pronged analysis the trial
court must apply when ruling on a motion for permanent custody. In practice, the trial
court will usually determine whether one of the four circumstances delineated in R.C.
2151.414(B)(1)(a) through (d) is present before proceeding to a determination regarding
the best interest of the child.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 19
{¶66} If the child is not abandoned or orphaned, the focus turns to whether the
child cannot be placed with either parent within a reasonable period of time or should not
be placed with the parents. Under R.C. 2151.414(E), the trial court must consider all
relevant evidence before making this determination. The trial court is required to enter
such a finding if it determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that one or more of the
factors enumerated in R.C. 2151.414(E)(1) through (16) exist with respect to each of the
child's parents.
{¶67} The trial court's analysis of the best interests of the children is guided by
R.C. 2151.414(D) which states:
{¶68} 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:
{¶69} (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;
{¶70} (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;
{¶71} (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
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 20
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;
{¶72} (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.
{¶73} The findings issued by the trial court reflect a close consideration of all of
the factors listed in this section of the Code.
{¶74} There was testimony in the matter that the children were bonded to their
parents and loved them, but that they needed permanency and were bonded to and loved
their foster parents. Despite seven possible kinship options, none were found to be
appropriate. There was testimony that the children wished to remain in foster care and
did not want to be returned home. The children had been in the temporary custody of the
agency since June 26, 2018, I.D. and O.D. were in the same foster home and the other
four children had been in two different foster homes. Both the Guardian Ad Litem and
CASA recommended that permanent custody be granted to the agency because it was
the children’s best interest. In addition, there was testimony that appellants might be
under the influence at visitation.
{¶75} As is stated above, appellants also challenge the trial court’s finding under
R.C, 2151.414(B)(1)(a) that that children could not placed with appellants within a
reasonable period of time.
{¶76} “[T]he findings under R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) and R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d)
are alternative findings, [and] each is independently sufficient to use as a basis to grant
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 21
the Agency's motion for permanent custody.” In re M.R., 3rd Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-18,
2013-Ohio-1302, ¶ 80. Under the plain language of R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(d), when a child
has been in an agency's temporary custody for twelve or more months of a consecutive
twenty-two-month period, a trial court need not find that the child cannot be placed with
either parent within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the parents. In re I.G.,
3rd Dist. Marion Nos. 9-13–43, 9–13–44, and 9-13-45, 2014-Ohio-1136, ¶ 30, citing R.C.
2151.414(B)(1)(d); In re A.M., 3rd Dist. Marion No. 9-14-46, 2015-Ohio-2740, ¶ 14.
{¶77} The trial court, in this case, found that the children had been in the
temporary custody of the agency for 12 or more months of a consecutive 22 month period.
The children, as noted by the trial court, at the time of the hearing, had been in the
continuous custody of the agency since June 26, 2018. Appellants had not contested
such finding. In addition, there was testimony, as set forth above, that appellants had not
remedied the drug, mental health and housing concerns that led to the removal of the
children. Neither appellant was employed and he only assistance that they received was
from SSI payments. Appellants had not complied with their case plans.
{¶78} Appellant C.D’s. and appellant L.D’s first and second assignments of error
are, therefore, overruled.
Appellant L.D.’s Third Assignment of Error
{¶79} Appellant L.D., in her third assignment of error, contends that she received
ineffective assistance of counsel when trial counsel failed to object to hearsay testimony
from a GCCS social worker relating to records from Spero Health whose representative
was unable to testify at trial. The testimony related to drug test results.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 22
{¶80} Appellant’s counsel did not object to the admission of the testimony as
inadmissible hearsay. This failure to object waives all but plain error. Notice of plain error
applies only under exceptional circumstances to prevent a manifest miscarriage of justice.
State v. Long, 53 Ohio St.2d 91, 372 N.E.2d 804 (1978) paragraph three of the syllabus.
Plain error does not exist unless it can be said that but for the error, the outcome of the
trial would have clearly been otherwise. State v. Moreland, 50 Ohio St.3d 58, 62, 552
N.E.2d 58 (1990).
{¶81} In In re T.V., 10th Franklin Dist. No. 04AP–1159, 2005–Ohio–4280, the
court held that a caseworker's testimony during a permanent custody proceeding
regarding the mother's positive drug tests constituted inadmissible hearsay, where the
lab reports of the drug screens were not admitted into evidence. In this case, the certified
lab reports were admitted into evidence as exhibits
{¶82} Appellant L.D.’s third assignment of error is, therefore, overruled.
Appellant L.D.’s Fourth Assignment of Error
{¶83} Appellant L.D., in her fourth assignment of error, asserts that the trial court
improperly relied on the recommendation of the Guardian Ad Litem who misstated that
law on permanent custody.
{¶84} Appellant L.D. specifically takes issue with the following statement made
by the Guardian Ad Litem on the record:
{¶85} “My report states that I believe these children require permanency, and
the best way for them to have permanency is as wards of the Court by granting
permanent custody to the Guernsey County Children Services. “ Transcript at 115.
Guernsey County, Case Nos. 19CA000032-37, 19CA00039-44 23
{¶86} According to appellant, “[t]he assertion by the GAL is not the law of Ohio
with respect to permanent custody and the effects of granting a motion for the same.”
There is, however, no evidence that the trial court applied the incorrect law in ruling on
the motion for permanent custody.
{¶87} Appellant L.D.’s fourth assignment of error is, therefore overruled.
{¶88} Accordingly, the judgment of the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas,
Juvenile Division, terminating appellants’ parental rights and granting permanent custody
of their children to Guernsey County Children Services is affirmed.
By: Baldwin, J.
Gwin, P.J. and
Wise, Earle, J. concur.