D.B. v. J.B.

J-S70022-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
D.B. : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
:
v. :
:
:
J.B. :
:
Appellant : No. 1029 MDA 2017
Appeal from the Order Entered May 26, 2017
In the Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County Civil Division at
No(s): 2015-FC-40549
BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., SHOGAN, J., and OTT, J.
MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.: FILED DECEMBER 18, 2017
Father, J.B., appeals from the order entered May 26, 2017, denying
his petition for modification of an existing custody order with respect to his
son, N.B., born in July of 2003, and his daughters, M.B.B., born in April of
2006, G.B., born in March of 2008, and M.B., born in March of 2009
(collectively “the Children”). After a thorough review of the record, we
affirm.
We summarize the history of this case as follows. The instant custody
dispute stems from an incident that occurred when Father and Mother, D.B.
a/k/a D.M.,1 were residing in Monroe County, New York. On October 28,
2012, M.B., who was three years old at the time, was sleeping in between
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1 Mother is remarried.
J-S70022-17
her parents in bed. Mother testified that she awoke to M.B. crying and
yelling that Father was “squishing” her. Respondent’s Exhibit 1 (labelled as
Defendant’s Exhibit 1–Supporting Deposition). Mother witnessed Father
lying on top of M.B. and rubbing his exposed penis against M.B.’s exposed
vagina. Court’s Exhibit 1 (New York Criminal Complaint). Mother grabbed
M.B. and took her into the hallway where M.B. said, “Daddy took my
underwear pants.” N.T., 5/8/17, at 49.
The next morning, all of the Children were interviewed by New York
Child Protective Services (“NYCPS”). Afterwards, Father was arrested and
charged with sexual abuse. Father was also ordered to have no contact with
the Children.
Subsequently, Mother filed for divorce. On October 4, 2013, Father
and Mother entered into a Matrimonial Stipulation. Pursuant to the
stipulation, Mother was granted sole custody of the Children, and Father was
permitted to have supervised visits upon his pleading guilty to endangering
the welfare of a child, which would be in full satisfaction of the criminal
complaint.
On October 28, 2013, Father entered an Alford2 plea3 to the charge of
endangering the welfare of a child. In exchange for his plea, Father received
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2 North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970).
3 This Court has explained an Alford plea as follows:
(Footnote Continued Next Page)
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a one-year conditional discharge with the following provisions: (1) orders of
protection issued in New York would be modified to no-offensive-conduct
orders; (2) Father would voluntarily participate in and engage in counseling
to address anger management, disciplinary issues, co-parenting, and
reunification with the Children; (3) Father would submit to monthly drug and
alcohol testing; and (4) Father would sign releases on the results of the
testing and counseling sessions. Respondent’s Exhibit 1 (Matrimonial
Stipulation).
Following Father’s Alford plea, supervised visits resumed between
Father and the Children. Brian Zahn, a custody supervisor based in
Rochester, New York, was appointed to supervise the visits with the Children
in Father’s home. Mother eventually moved to Pennsylvania, but continued
to transport the Children to the visits with Father. The record reflects that,
on or around December 12, 2013, Mr. Zahn prepared a report that he sent
(Footnote Continued) _______________________
An Alford plea is a nolo contendere plea, in which the defendant
does not admit guilt but waives trial and voluntarily, knowingly
and understandingly consents to the imposition of punishment
by the trial court. Provided the record reflects a factual basis for
guilt, the trial court may accept the plea notwithstanding the
defendant’s protestation of innocence. Typically, . . . a
defendant is exchanging his plea for a reduced sentence or
reduced charges.
Commonwealth v. Snavely, 982 A.2d 1244, 1244 n.1 (Pa. Super. 2009)
(citing North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25 (1970)) (internal citations
omitted).
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to the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County (“New York trial court”)
regarding concerns he had with respect to Father’s contact with Children, 4
although Mr. Zahn now denies there ever being an issue at any of Father’s
visits.5 N.T., 2/17/17, at 96. Thereafter, in January of 2014, Father tested
positive for cocaine. Id. at 65, 86.
Based on the concerns expressed by Mr. Zahn, Mother filed an Order
to Show Cause on December 19, 2013, and attached Mr. Zahn’s affidavit
and report. On February 6, 2014, the New York trial court granted Mother’s
Order to Show Cause and modified the parties’ existing custody order as
follows. Mr. Zahn would continue supervising all visits between Father and
Children; Father’s visits were reduced from three hours every weekend to
three hours every other weekend; and Children were permitted to possess a
____________________________________________
4 Mr. Zahn reportedly noted concerns regarding Father’s behavior, including
Father placing the three female children on his lap, involuntarily, while
playing an arcade game; Father laying M.B. on top of him while playing a
roller coaster game; and Father wrestling with the female children in his
basement. Respondent’s Exhibit 5 (labelled Defendant’s Exhibit 5 – Order to
Show Cause). Mr. Zahn’s report also noted that Father appeared to be going
through “some type of withdrawal symptom” and was “experiencing very
fidigity [sic] movement, showing anxiousness for no apparent reason, as
well as touching his face without cause and hypertension.” Id.
5 Attorney Brenda Korbal, the guardian ad litem (“GAL”) appointed for the
Children, testified that she did not find Mr. Zahn’s denial to be credible and
noted that, in her interviews with the Children, they described similar
instances to those delineated in Mr. Zahn’s report, which made the Children
uncomfortable. N.T., 5/8/17, at 36-39.
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cellphone during the periods of visitation and would be allowed to contact
Mother. Respondent’s Exhibit 3 (New York Order of Court, 2/6/14).
Visits continued as scheduled until Mother received a telephone call
from NYCPS informing her that Father again was being investigated for
sexual assault against M.B. NYCPS referred the matter to Lackawanna
County Children and Youth Services (“CYS”) for investigation. The Children
were interviewed by Mindy Hughes, the CYS caseworker assigned to the
referral. N.T., 5/6/15, at 28. During the interviews, all four children
testified that Father forced them to participate in “special time,” a five-
minute one-on-one conversation between Father and each of the Children. 6
N.T., 5/8/17, at 86. Ms. Hughes further noted that CYS’s investigation was
based on a claim that during one of the private conversations, Father
“removed [M.B.’s] pants and her underwear. He, then, proceeded to
digitally insert his fingers into [M.B.’s] vagina. And the child was able to get
away from him and she hid in the bathroom.” N.T., 5/6/15, at 33.
NYCPS and CYS directed Mother to file a Petition for Emergency
Special Relief, which she did, along with a Petition to Modify Custody, on
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6 The one-on-one “special time” with Father occurred in a den by the front of
the house. Although Mr. Zahn testified that he could see the children during
these conversations, N.T., 2/17/17, at 105, GAL testified that the Children
were “consistent and credible” in expressing that “they were in a room alone
with the Father with the door closed, at which time the Father made
comments to them which made them uncomfortable.” Respondent’s Exhibit
6 (labelled Defendant’s Exhibit 6 – Report/Recommendation of GAL).
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April 29, 2015. A hearing was held on Mother’s petition on May 6, 2015.7
The trial court granted Mother’s petition and denied Father any contact with
the Children.
On November 5, 2015, Father filed a Petition to Modify Custody. After
several continuances, hearings were eventually held on Father’s petition on
February 6, February 17, and May 8, 2017. Mr. Zahn, the GAL, and both
Mother and Father testified.
On May 26, 2017, the trial court denied Father’s Petition to Modify
Custody, concluding that it was in the best interests of the Children to have
no contact with Father. Father timely filed a notice of appeal and a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal. The trial court filed its
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion on July 21, 2017.
On appeal, Father presents the following issues for our review:
[I.] Whether sufficient evidence existed to justify the Trial
Court’s decision to deny Father’s Petition to Modify the
Custody Order dated May 6, 2015, which completely
barred all contact between Father and his four children[?]
[II.] Whether the entry of Father’s Alford Plea relating to the
charge of Endangering the Welfare of a Child constituted a
judicial admission that Father intentionally sexually
____________________________________________
7 Father failed to appear for the hearing, although the trial court noted on
the record that it was satisfied that Father had been properly served. N.T.,
5/6/15, at 3-5. Moreover, Mr. Zahn called the trial court the day of the
hearing and confirmed to the court that Father received notice of the
hearing. Answer to Petition for Modification of Custody Order (Mother),
1/25/15, Ex. A. Mr. Zahn subsequently denied speaking to the trial court
regarding Father’s notice of the proceedings.
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assaulted the minor child in question and justified a
complete bar of contact with the [C]hildren[?]
Father’s Brief at 4.
We review Father’s issues according to the following scope and
standard of review:
[T]he appellate court is not bound by the deductions
or inferences made by the trial court from its
findings of fact, nor must the reviewing court accept
a finding that has no competent evidence to support
it. . . . However, this broad scope of review does not
vest in the reviewing court the duty or the privilege
of making its own independent determination. . . .
Thus, an appellate court is empowered to determine
whether the trial court’s incontrovertible factual
findings support its factual conclusions, but it may
not interfere with those conclusions unless they are
unreasonable in view of the trial court’s factual
findings; and thus, represent a gross abuse of
discretion.
R.M.G., Jr. v. F.M.G., 2009 Pa. Super. 244, 986 A.2d 1234, 1237
(Pa. Super. 2009) (quoting Bovard v. Baker, 2001 Pa. Super.
126, 775 A.2d 835, 838 (Pa. Super. 2001)). Moreover,
[O]n issues of credibility and weight of the evidence,
we defer to the findings of the trial [court] who has
had the opportunity to observe the proceedings and
demeanor of the witnesses.
The parties cannot dictate the amount of weight the
trial court places on evidence. Rather, the
paramount concern of the trial court is the best
interest of the child. Appellate interference is
unwarranted if the trial court’s consideration of the
best interest of the child was careful and thorough,
and we are unable to find any abuse of discretion.
R.M.G., Jr., supra at 1237 (internal citations omitted). The test
is whether the evidence of record supports the trial court’s
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conclusions. Ketterer v. Seifert, 2006 Pa. Super. 144, 902 A.2d
533, 539 (Pa. Super. 2006).
A.V. v. S.T., 87 A.3d 818, 820 (Pa. Super. 2014).
The primary concern in any custody case is the best interests of the
child. “The best-interests standard, decided on a case-by-case basis,
considers all factors that legitimately have an effect upon the child’s
physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual wellbeing.” Saintz v. Rinker, 902
A.2d 509, 512 (Pa. Super. 2006) (citing Arnold v. Arnold, 847 A.2d 674,
677 (Pa. Super. 2004)).
Section 5328(a) of the Child Custody Act, 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 5321-5340,
provides as follows.
§ 5328. Factors to consider when awarding custody.
(a) Factors. – In ordering any form of custody, the court shall
determine the best interest of the child by considering all
relevant factors, giving weighted consideration to those factors
which affect the safety of the child, including the following:
(1) Which party is more likely to encourage and
permit frequent and continuing contact between the
child and another party.
(2) The present and past abuse committed by a
party or member of the party’s household, whether
there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an
abused party and which party can better provide
adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the
child.
(2.1) The information set forth in section
5329.1(a)(1) (relating to consideration of child
abuse).
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(3) The parental duties performed by each party on
behalf of the child.
(4) The need for stability and continuity in the child’s
education, family life and community life.
(5) The availability of extended family.
(6) The child’s sibling relationships.
(7) The well-reasoned preference of the child, based
on the child's maturity and judgment.
(8) The attempts of a parent to turn the child against
the other parent, except in cases of domestic
violence where reasonable safety measures are
necessary to protect the child from harm.
(9) Which party is more likely to maintain a loving,
stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the
child adequate for the child's emotional needs.
(10) Which party is more likely to attend to the daily
physical, emotional, developmental, educational and
special needs of the child.
(11) The proximity of the residences of the parties.
(12) Each party’s availability to care for the child or
ability to make appropriate child-care arrangements.
(13) The level of conflict between the parties and the
willingness and ability of the parties to cooperate
with one another. A party’s effort to protect a child
from abuse by another party is not evidence of
unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that
party.
(14) The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a party
or member of a party’s household.
(15) The mental and physical condition of a party or
member of a party’s household.
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(16) Any other relevant factor.
23 Pa.C.S. § 5328(a).
This Court has stated that trial courts are required to consider “[a]ll of
the factors listed in section 5328(a) . . . when entering a custody order.”
J.R.M. v. J.E.A., 33 A.3d 647, 652 (Pa. Super. 2011) (emphasis in original).
We further explained:
Section 5323(d) provides that a trial court “shall delineate
the reasons for its decision on the record in open court or in a
written opinion or order.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5323(d). Additionally,
“section 5323(d) requires the trial court to set forth its
mandatory assessment of the sixteen [Section 5328 custody]
factors prior to the deadline by which a litigant must file a notice
of appeal.” C.B. v. J.B., 65 A.3d 946, 955 (Pa. Super. 2013),
appeal denied, 70 A.3d 808 (Pa. 2013). . . .
In expressing the reasons for its decision, “there is no
required amount of detail for the trial court’s explanation; all
that is required is that the enumerated factors are considered
and that the custody decision is based on those considerations.”
M.J.M. v. M.L.G., 63 A.3d 331, 336 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal
denied, 68 A.3d 909 (Pa. 2013). A court’s explanation of
reasons for its decision, which adequately addresses the relevant
factors, complies with Section 5323(d). Id.
A.V., 87 A.3d at 823.
In his first issue on appeal, Father contends that the evidence of
record does not support the trial court’s decision to deny Father contact with
the Children. In so doing, Father alleges that “no competent evidence exists
that suggests that Father poses a grave threat to any of his children,
supervised or otherwise.” Father’s Brief at 45. Father challenges several
findings made by the trial court and the testimony of the GAL.
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Instantly, the trial court issued its decision on May 26, 2017, and
considered all of the section 5328(a) best-interests factors. Trial Court
Opinion, 5/26/17, at 4-8. The trial court found that the majority of the
factors either weighed in favor of Mother or did not weigh in favor of either
party. Id. The trial court further found that subsections 5328(a)(11), (12)
and (15) were not relevant to the proceedings. In discussing the factors,
the trial court expressed concern regarding Father’s history of sexual abuse.
Specifically, the trial court found that M.B. had been a victim of sexual abuse
at the hands of Father, although Father entered an Alford plea to
Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The trial court further determined that
Father has continued to engage in inappropriate behavior with the Children,
despite having only supervised visitation.
Ultimately, the trial court concluded that the Children’s best interests
would be served by prohibiting contact between Father and the Children.
The trial court placed particular emphasis on Father’s sexual abuse of M.B.
and the Children’s need for safety and stability. In this regard, the trial
court stated the following:
This [c]ourt believes without a doubt that Father had sexual
contact with the youngest minor child. Although Father took an
Alfred [sic] Plea to Endangering the Welfare of the Child, he still
plead to the underlying facts regarding the sexual assault of the
minor child. Father admitted that the District Attorney could
prove those facts at trial. Further, Father’s testimony that the
events did not happen is inconsistent. Father testified that his
plea was not to any sexual conduct involving the minor child.
Later in his testimony, he said that the act was not intentional.
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Father’s credibility is an issue. Therefore, this factor strongly
weighs in favor of Mother.
Father continued his inappropriate behavior when he was
granted supervised visitation with the minor children. During
Father’s periods of supervised visitation, Father made each of
the minor children have “special time” with him, which consisted
of being in a room alone with Father with a partially closed door.
One of the minor children testified that he had to sit on Father’s
lap during this special time even though the minor child told
Father that made him uncomfortable. Father also attempted to
discuss the incidents that led to his criminal charges with the
oldest minor child despite the minor child’s young age at the
time. He also forced the three female minor children to sit on
his lap despite them being visibly uncomfortable. Additionally,
Father made the minor children try on bathing suits for him,
even though the minor children were not swimming. Father
would play “rollercoaster” with the children, which would consist
of sitting on [sic] the minor children laying on top of him. He
also tried to wrestle on the floor with the minor children,
especially the females. The eldest daughter testified that Father
forced her to kiss him on the lips despite her conveying that she
was uncomfortable. Lastly, Father [tested] positive for cocaine
during the time he was having supervised visitation. This court
is highly concerned with the level of inappropriateness with the
minor children even during periods of supervised visitation.
***
For the foregoing reasons, this [c]ourt believes it is in the
best interest of the minor children for Father not to have contact
with them. Not only has Father pled to the facts underlying the
allegation of sexually abusing the youngest child, but when given
the opportunity to have supervised visitation with the minor
children, he continued to act inappropriately and make the minor
children feel uncomfortable. This [c]ourt needs to ensure the
minor children’s safety and stability. Furthermore, Father fails to
abide by [c]ourt [o]rders. This is evidenced by his positive drug
screen for cocaine during his periods of supervised visitation, his
failure to undergo any further drug screens, and attempting to
contact the minor children on five different occasions despite this
[c]ourt restricting him from doing so.
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Trial Court Opinion, 5/26/17, at 4-5, 8 (citation to the record and footnote
omitted).
Our exhaustive review of the record reveals that all of the trial court’s
findings are supported by evidence of record. Father presently asks this
Court to reject the trial court’s findings and credibility determinations upon
which these findings are based, in favor of the findings that he proposes.
Father’s Brief at 45-57. We reject his request. As set forth above, we must
accept the findings of the trial court that are supported by the evidence, and
we must defer to the trial court’s credibility determinations. R.M.G., Jr.,
986 A.2d at 1237; see also M.J.M. v. M.L.G., 63 A.3d 331 (Pa. Super.
2013) (rejecting the appellant’s argument urging this Court to reconsider the
trial court’s findings with regard to the section 5328(a) factors).
Next, Father argues that the trial court erred in denying him contact
with the Children based on his Alford plea because the Matrimonial
Stipulation stated that Father would be permitted visits with the Children if
he pled to endangering the welfare of a child. Father’s Brief at 58-64.
Father further contends that, even though he entered an Alford plea, he did
not admit to any of the underlying facts in the criminal complaint. Id. at 60-
61.
In rejecting Father’s argument, the trial court stated the following:
As previously discussed, “The parties cannot dictate the
amount of weight the trial court places on evidence. Rather, the
paramount concern of the trial court is the best interest of the
child. Appellate interference is unwarranted if the trial court’s
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consideration of the best interest of the child was careful and
thorough, and we are unable to find any abuse of discretion.”
Robinson [v. Robinson], 645 A.2d [836, 838] (Pa. 1994).
This [c]ourt considered Father’s criminal case along with all of
the other relevant evidence and custody factors. Thereafter, this
[c]ourt determined it was not in the best interests of the minor
children to have contact with Father.
Trial Court Opinion, 7/21/17, at 13.
As reflected in its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, the trial court
comprehensively reviewed every factor in section 5328(a), set forth its
determination on each factor, and the evidence relied upon for each such
determination. Pursuant to our review of the record, we conclude that
substantial evidence supports the findings of the trial court. The trial court’s
analysis of those factors related to the Children’s safety, including in
particular the various allegations of sexual abuse, was thorough. As the
introductory language of section 5328(a) requires, the trial court gave
weighted consideration to these factors.
Even if we were so inclined, we could not grant relief based upon
Father’s contention that the trial court based its decision on its position that
Father admitted to intentionally sexually abusing M.B. when he entered an
Alford plea to endangering the welfare of a child. Father’s initial sexual-
abuse allegation was only a part of the quantum of evidence introduced
during the custody proceedings. Father’s argument ignores the fact that the
trial court gave weighted consideration to Father’s inappropriate behavior
toward the Children during his visits, the additional allegation of sexual
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abuse against M.B. that prompted Mother’s Petition of Modify Custody, and
the testimony of the GAL and the Children, who indicated that they
continued to feel uncomfortable during Father’s supervised visits. In any
event, our standard of review necessitates that “with regard to issues of
credibility and weight of the evidence, we must defer to the presiding trial
judge who viewed and assessed the witnesses first-hand.” J.R.M. v. J.E.A.,
33 A.3d 647, 650 (Pa. Super. 2011).
Therefore, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion
or commit an error of law in denying Father’s petition to modify and denying
Father’s contact with the Children. Accordingly, we affirm the order of the
trial court.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 12/18/2017
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