In the Matter of the Term. of the Parent-Child Relationship of: C.A.L., B.A.L., and B.C.L. (Minor Children), C.L. (Father) and J.S. (Mother) v. Ind. Dept. of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2016 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Feb 16 2016, 8:48 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Joanne Baitup Gregory F. Zoeller
Law Office of Joanne Baitup Attorney General of Indiana
Valparaiso, Indiana
Robert J. Henke
Deputy Attorney General
David E. Corey
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination February 16, 2016
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of: C.A.L., B.A.L., and B.C.L. 64A05-1507-JT-873
(Minor Children), Appeal from the Porter Circuit
Court
C.L. (Father) and J.S. (Mother), The Honorable Mary R. Harper,
Appellants-Respondents, Judge
v. The Honorable Gwenn
R. Rinkenberger,
Magistrate
Indiana Department of Child
Services, Trial Court Cause No.
64C01-1410-JT-820, 64C01-1410-
Appellee-Petitioner. JT-821, and 64C01-1410-JT-822
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Najam, Judge.
Statement of the Case
[1] C.L. (“Father”) appeals the trial court’s termination of his parental rights over
his three minor children, C.A.L., B.A.L. and B.C.L. (“the children”).1 Father
presents a single issue for our review, namely, whether the trial court’s
judgment is clearly erroneous. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] In November of 2012, the Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) filed
a petition in which DCS alleged the children to be Children in Need of Services
(“CHINS”) due to Father’s history of domestic violence in the presence of the
children and the conditions of the children’s home with Father. Father later
admitted the children were CHINS. Consequently, the court ordered Father to
participate in various services, including services to enhance his parenting
abilities.
[3] On October 28, 2014, DCS filed its petition to terminate Father’s parental rights
over the children. Following a fact-finding hearing, the court entered the
following findings of fact:
13. The Court finds that DCS has had previous involvement
with this family on December 6, 2011[,] with substantiated
1
Although J.S., the children’s mother, was a party to the trial court proceedings and also had her parental
rights terminated, she does not participate in this appeal.
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allegations of neglect to their oldest child, [C.A.L.,] against
[mother] and [Father] based on alcohol consumption and unsafe
home environment.
14. The Court finds that[,] on November 29, 2012, the children
were detained due to the pattern of domestic violence between the
parents, intoxication, and neglect posing a threat to the safety of
the children. DCS assessment worker Ellen Wilkerson testifies
that the parents’ home was in disarray with floors covered with
animal feces, roaches, garbage, food days old, and a ham bone
with several cats eating from it.
***
42. Father had inconsistent housing and work. On July 24,
2013, Father was kicked out of his brother[’]s home in
Gary . . . and began residing with a friend. Throughout the case,
Father lived with friends, family, in a tent[,] and in a men[’]s
shelter[,] which he voluntarily left. There was inconsistent work
and continued substance use by Father. Father could not care for
himself[,] let alone his three (3) children.
***
71. Father[’]s individual counseling between October 2013 and
March 2014 had progressively declined, with no scheduled
sessions in March 2014 due to Father[’]s incarceration.
72. Father was cooperative with his case management services;
however, Father was still unable to locate permanent housing or
a permanent job.
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73. Father obtained temporary housing through Housing
Opportunities, but [he] was later evicted due to his arrest and
upon his release Father stayed at New Creation Men[’]s Shelter.
***
83. On September 11, 2014[,] and October 13, 2014[,] Father
failed two drug screens . . . .
84. Father had not secured housing and continued to live with
friends and[,] as of November 18, 2014, Father lived with an
acquaintance in a trailer for $60.00 a week. The trailer was not
appropriate for exercising visitation.
***
91. Father was arrested at the conclusion of the February 17,
2015, hearing on a warrant issued for a Probation Revocation.
Father was released from incarceration on April 3, 2015. On
April 16, 2015[,] FCM Johnson visited the home where [F]ather
was staying with friends. Even prior to her entering the home
she was able to smell the odor of marijuana. Upon entering the
home, FCM observed the home to be in disarray and was able to
smell an attempt to mask the marijuana odor. Again, this home
would not be suitable for reunification. Father was drug
screened that day, which . . . were positive for THC and cocaine.
***
95. The Court finds that the child [C.A.L.] throughout this case
has shown increased aggressive behavior. [H]e was
evaluated . . . and diagnosed with oppositional Defiant Disorder
and Adjustment [Diso]rder.
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96. The Court finds that [C.A.L.’s] aggressive behaviors have
increased throughout this case due to the inconsistency of the
parents in maintaining contact with their children.
97. The court finds that [B.C.L. and B.A.L.] have special needs
and have been in four (4) foster home placements and one
relative placement since their detention on November 29, 2012.
98. The Court finds that due to aggressive behavior [C.A.L.] has
been in four (4) foster homes and three relative placements since
his detention on November 29, 2012.
***
101. The Court finds that the children have made positive
progress since being placed in foster care. The children’s
development has progressed; [C.A.L.’s] behavior is under
control; [B.C.L. and B.A.L.] currently have not needed services
from [their service provider].
102. The Court finds that [C.A.L.] is placed with his paternal
uncle and aunt and is happier and progressing well under the
care of his relatives.
103. The Court finds that [B.C.L. and B.A.L.] were three (3)
months old when removed and they have not established a bond
with [F]ather. The Court finds that they are currently placed in a
pre-adoptive foster home and are bonded to the foster parents.
104. [CASA] Rose Butler testified . . . as follows: The children
have been out of the home for twenty-nine (29) months . . . .
CASA feels we have given [F]ather every benefit of the doubt
and believes circumstances are such that reunification with
Father is impossible. Father has no stable housing[,] only
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temporary housing. . . . Father has no safe place to live; he is not
consistently engaged; he continues to fail drug screens, the last
drug screen being positive for marijuana and cocaine. Father has
been in and out of jail and did not contact CASA immediately
upon his release. Father has had continuous problems with drugs
and alcohol and cannot care for himself let alone his
children. Father relies on his mother to get by. Father is not
capable of caring for his children and has not been able to [do] so
since the children were removed in November of 2012. The
children are in foster care and flourishing in the foster care/pre-
adoptive home. [B.C.L. and B.A.L.] call the pre-adoptive
parents mom and dad. [C.A.L.] will be adopted by his paternal
uncle . . . . CASA believes it[’]s in the best interest of the
children to have parental rights terminated and to place the
children up for adoption. The CASA believes this plan is in the
best interest of the children even if [C.A.L.] will be separated
from [B.C.L. and B.A.L.] The brothers are not bonded.
Appellant’s App. at 15, 17, 19-22 (internal citations omitted).
[4] In light of its findings of fact, the trial court concluded, in relevant part:
DCS has alleged and proven by clear and convincing evidence
that: (1) there is a reasonable probability that the conditions that
resulted in the children[’]s removal or the reasons for placement
outside the home will not be remedied; and (2) there is a
reasonable probability the continuation of the parent-child
relationship poses a threat to the well-being of the children.
Id. at 23. The court also concluded that termination of Father’s parental rights
was in the children’s best interests. This appeal ensued.
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Discussion and Decision
[5] Father appeals the trial court’s termination of his parental rights over the
children. We begin our review of this issue by acknowledging that “[t]he
traditional right of parents to establish a home and raise their children is
protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”
Bailey v. Tippecanoe Div. of Family & Children (In re M.B.), 666 N.E.2d 73, 76 (Ind.
Ct. App. 1996), trans. denied. However, a trial court must subordinate the
interests of the parents to those of the child when evaluating the circumstances
surrounding a termination. Schultz v. Porter Cnty. Ofc. of Family & Children (In re
K.S.), 750 N.E.2d 832, 837 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). Termination of a parent-child
relationship is proper where a child’s emotional and physical development is
threatened. Id. Although the right to raise one’s own child should not be
terminated solely because there is a better home available for the child, parental
rights may be terminated when a parent is unable or unwilling to meet his or her
parental responsibilities. Id. at 836.
[6] Before an involuntary termination of parental rights can occur in Indiana, DCS
is required to allege and prove, in relevant part:
(A) that one (1) of the following is true:
(i) The child has been removed from the parent for at least
six (6) months under a dispositional decree.
***
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(B) that one (1) of the following is true:
(i) There is a reasonable probability that the conditions
that resulted in the child’s removal or the reasons for
placement outside the home of the parents will not be
remedied.
(ii) There is a reasonable probability that the continuation
of the parent-child relationship poses a threat to the well-
being of the child.
(iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been
adjudicated a child in need of services;
(C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of
the child.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). DCS’s “burden of proof in termination of parental
rights cases is one of ‘clear and convincing evidence.’” R.Y. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child
Servs. (In re G.Y.), 904 N.E.2d 1257, 1260-61 (Ind. 2009) (quoting I.C. § 31-37-
14-2).
[7] When reviewing a termination of parental rights, we will not reweigh the
evidence or judge the credibility of the witnesses. Peterson v. Marion Cnty. Ofc. of
Family & Children (In re D.D.), 804 N.E.2d 258, 265 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans.
denied. Instead, we consider only the evidence and reasonable inferences that
are most favorable to the judgment. Id. Moreover, in deference to the trial
court’s unique position to assess the evidence, we will set aside the court’s
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judgment terminating a parent-child relationship only if it is clearly erroneous.
Judy S. v. Noble Cnty. Ofc. of Family & Children (In re L.S.), 717 N.E.2d 204, 208
(Ind. Ct. App. 1999), trans. denied.
[8] Here, in terminating Father’s parental rights, the trial court entered specific
findings of fact and conclusions thereon. When a trial court’s judgment
contains special findings and conclusions, we apply a two-tiered standard of
review. Bester v. Lake Cnty. Ofc. of Family & Children, 839 N.E.2d 143, 147 (Ind.
2005). First, we determine whether the evidence supports the findings and,
second, we determine whether the findings support the judgment. Id.
“Findings are clearly erroneous only when the record contains no facts to
support them either directly or by inference.” Quillen v. Quillen, 671 N.E.2d 98,
102 (Ind. 1996). If the evidence and inferences support the trial court’s
decision, we must affirm. In re L.S., 717 N.E.2d at 208.
[9] Father first challenges the trial court’s conclusion that DCS met its burden under
Indiana Code Section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B). Again, under that subsection, DCS
must prove either that there is a reasonable probability that the conditions
that resulted in the children’s will not be remedied or that there is a reasonable
probability that the continuation of the parent-child relationship poses a threat
to the well-being of the child. I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B). Father’s only argument
under subsection (b)(2)(B) is that DCS failed to demonstrate a reasonable
probability that the conditions that resulted in the children’s removal will not be
remedied.
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[10] Father’s argument is not well taken. First, he does not challenge the trial
court’s alternative, and equally valid, basis for termination on the grounds that
continuation of the parent-child relationship posed a threat to the well-being of
the children. See I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B)(ii). Having failed to challenge this
independent basis for the trial court’s order, Father has waived this argument,
and we are obliged to affirm the trial court’s order accordingly. In re L.S., 717
N.E.2d at 209.
[11] Second, Father’s waiver notwithstanding, his challenge to the trial court’s order
under Indiana Code Section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(B)(i) is merely a request for this
court to reweigh the evidence. Father does not challenge DCS’s evidence,
material and significant factual findings made by the trial court, or the court’s
reliance on those findings in its conclusions. Rather, he simply asserts that this
court should credit evidence he deems favorable to himself rather than the
evidence relied on by the trial court. But we will not reweigh the evidence on
appeal. In re D.D., 804 N.E.2d at 265. Accordingly, we reject Father’s
arguments under subsection (b)(2)(B).
[12] Father also challenges the trial court’s conclusion that DCS demonstrated that
termination of his parental rights was in the children’s best interests, as required
under Indiana Code Section 31-35-2-4(b)(2)(C). But, again, Father merely asks
that we credit evidence he deems favorable to himself rather than the evidence
relied on by the trial court, which we will not do. Id. The trial court’s
conclusion is supported by the testimony of the family case manager and the
court appointed special advocate. It is well established that such testimony, in
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addition to evidence demonstrating an element of subsection (b)(2)(B), “is
sufficient to show by clear and convincing evidence that termination is in the
child’s best interests.” Stewart v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs. (In re J.S.), 906 N.E.2d
226, 236 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009). Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s
termination of Father’s parental rights.
[13] Affirmed.
Riley, J., and May, J., concur.
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