In the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of: J.B. (Minor Child) and S.B. (Father) v. The Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2017 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), 08/31/2017, 10:27 am
this Memorandum Decision shall not be CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
regarded as precedent or cited before any Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
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
Lisa M. Johnson Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Brownsburg, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Robert J. Henke
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Termination of the Parent- August 31, 2017
Child Relationship of: Court of Appeals Case No.
49A04-1705-JT-1027
J.B. (Minor Child) Appeal from the Marion Superior
Court
and The Honorable Marilyn A.
Moores, Judge
S.B. (Father), The Honorable Larry E. Bradley,
Magistrate
Appellant-Respondent,
Trial Court Cause No.
v. 49D09-1604-JT-388
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
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Bradford, Judge.
Case Summary
[1] Appellant-Respondent S.B. (“Father”) appeals the juvenile court’s order
terminating his parental rights to J.B. Prior to the termination of Father’s
parental rights, J.B. had twice been found to be a child in need of services
(“CHINS”), most recently on March 4, 2015. Father has not seen J.B. since
2012, and has admittedly been incarcerated “pretty much” since that time.
Father’s current release date is scheduled for July of 2020.
[2] On April 26, 2016, Appellee-Petition the Department of Child Services
(“DCS”) filed a petition seeking the termination of Father’s parental rights to
J.B. Following an evidentiary hearing, the juvenile court issued an order
granting DCS’s petition. On appeal, Father challenges the juvenile court’s
order, arguing that the juvenile court abused its discretion in admitting certain
evidence. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[3] A.C. (“Mother”) and Father are the biological parents of J.B., who was born on
August 4, 2007.1 DCS first became involved with J.B. and her parents in
February of 2008. J.B. was adjudicated a CHINS in June of 2008. When this
1
The termination of Mother’s parental rights to J.B. are not at issue in this appeal.
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CHINS case began, Father was incarcerated, but was subsequently released.
J.B. was ultimately returned to her parents care after “services were completed
successfully.” Tr. Vol. II, p. 19. Thereafter, Mother, Father, and J.B. lived
together as a family unit “for about three years from 2008 to 2011.” Tr. Vol. II,
p. 20.
[4] On October 14, 2014, DCS again alleged that J.B. was a CHINS. J.B. was
adjudicated a CHINS in March of 2015. Father was incarcerated throughout
the entirety of the second CHINS proceedings. J.B. has remained out of her
Mother’s care since October of 2014. Father last saw J.B. in 2012.
[5] On April 26, 2016, DCS filed a petition seeking the termination of Father’s
parental rights to J.B. The juvenile court conducted an evidentiary hearing on
DCS’s petition on April 17, 2017. At the time of the evidentiary hearing,
Father was incarcerated in the Westville Correctional Facility with a tentative
scheduled release date of July 26, 2020.2
[6] During the evidentiary hearing, the juvenile court heard evidence relating to
Father’s criminal history, with Father admitting that “I’ve been pretty much
locked up since 2012.” Tr. Vol. II, p. 7. Father’s criminal history includes prior
convictions for Class D felony possession of methamphetamine, Class D felony
2
Father claimed that if he completed certain programming, he could possibly be released to community
corrections as early as February of 2018. Father indicated, however, that he has not taken the steps necessary
to complete this programming, which would take at least nine months.
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theft, two counts of Class C felony burglary, and Level 6 felony failure to return
to a lawful detention facility. He has also been found to be a habitual offender.
[7] The juvenile court also heard evidence that Father has not seen J.B. and had no
contact with her since 2014. DCS indicated that J.B. has suffered “trauma from
the lack of stability in her life at such a young age” and would benefit from the
stability that would come with the permanency of adoption. Tr. Vol. II, p. 34.
J.B. has blossomed in her current foster placement and has a close bond with
her current foster parents, who wish to adopt her. Multiple service provides
testified that adoption was in J.B.’s best interests.
[8] At the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the juvenile court took the matter
under advisement. It subsequently issued an order terminating Father’s
parental rights to J.B. on April 25, 2017. This appeal follows.
Discussion and Decision
[9] The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects the
traditional right of a parent to establish a home and raise his child. Bester v. Lake
Cnty. Office of Family & Children, 839 N.E.2d 143, 145 (Ind. 2005). Further, we
acknowledge that the parent-child relationship is “one of the most valued
relationships of our culture.” Id. However, although parental rights are of a
constitutional dimension, the law allows for the termination of those rights
when a parent is unable or unwilling to meet his responsibility as a parent. In re
T.F., 743 N.E.2d 766, 773 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001), trans. denied. Therefore,
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parental rights are not absolute and must be subordinated to the child’s interests
in determining the appropriate disposition of a petition to terminate the parent-
child relationship. Id.[10] The purpose of terminating parental rights is not to punish the parent but to
protect the child. Id. Termination of parental rights is proper where the child’s
emotional and physical development is threatened. Id. The juvenile court need
not wait until the child is irreversibly harmed such that her physical, mental,
and social development is permanently impaired before terminating the parent-
child relationship. Id.[11] In reviewing termination proceedings on appeal, this court will not reweigh the
evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses. In re Involuntary Termination
of Parental Rights of S.P.H., 806 N.E.2d 874, 879 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004). We only
consider the evidence that supports the juvenile court’s decision and reasonable
inferences drawn therefrom. Id. Where, as here, the juvenile court includes
findings of fact and conclusions thereon in its order terminating parental rights,
our standard of review is two-tiered. Id. First, we must determine whether the
evidence supports the findings, and, second, whether the findings support the
legal conclusions. Id.[12] In deference to the juvenile court’s unique position to assess the evidence, we
set aside the juvenile court’s findings and judgment terminating a parent-child
relationship only if they are clearly erroneous. Id. A finding of fact is clearly
erroneous when there are no facts or inferences drawn therefrom to support it.
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Id. A judgment is clearly erroneous only if the legal conclusions made by the
juvenile court are not supported by its findings of fact, or the conclusions do not
support the judgment. Id.[13] In order to involuntarily terminate a parent’s parental rights, DCS must
establish by clear and convincing evidence that:
(A) one (1) of the following exists:
(i) the child has been removed from the parent for at
least six (6) months under a dispositional decree;
(ii) a court has entered a finding under IC 31-34-21-
5.6 that reasonable efforts for family preservation or
reunification are not required, including a description
of the court’s finding, the date of the finding, and the
manner in which the finding was made; or
(iii) the child has been removed from the parent and
has been under the supervision of a county office of
family and children or probation department for at
least fifteen (15) months of the most recent twenty-
two (22) months, beginning with the date the child is
removed from the home as a result of the child being
alleged to be a child in need of services or a
delinquent child;
(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;
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(C) termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the
child.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2).
Admission of Evidence of Prior Arrests
[14] In challenging the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights to J.B.,
Father does not challenge any of the juvenile court’s findings or conclusions.
Instead, Father contends that the juvenile court abused its discretion in
admitting evidence of his prior arrests and charges that did not result in
conviction.
A. Standard of Review
[15] “The admission of evidence is entrusted to the sound discretion
of the trial court.” In re A.J., 877 N.E.2d 805, 813 (Ind. Ct. App.
2007), trans. denied. An abuse of discretion only occurs where the
trial court’s decision is against the logic and effect of the facts and
circumstances before it. Id. “The fact that evidence was
erroneously admitted does not automatically require reversal,
and we will reverse only if we conclude the admission affected a
party’s substantial rights.” Id.D.B.M. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs., 20 N.E.3d 174, 178-79 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).
“[W]here the trier of fact is the trial court, and not a jury, ‘the harm caused by
evidentiary error is lessened and we will reverse only when the court’s judgment
has apparently or obviously been infected by erroneously admitted evidence.’”
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In re Paternity of H.R.M., 864 N.E.2d 442, 450 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007) (quoting
Apter v. Ross, 781 N.E.2d 744, 759 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied).
[16] “In general, the admission of evidence that is merely cumulative of other
evidence amounts to harmless error as such admission does not affect a party’s
substantial rights.” Id. at 450-51.
Cumulative evidence is “‘[a]dditional evidence that supports a
fact established by the existing evidence (especially that which
does not need further support).’” Witte v. Mundy ex rel. Mundy,
820 N.E.2d 128, 135 (Ind. 2005) (quoting Black’s Law
Dictionary 596 (8th ed. 2004)). Additionally, to be considered
cumulative, evidence should be of the same kind or character.
See Union Cent. Life Ins. Co. v. Loughmiller, 33 Ind. App. 309, 314-
15, 69 N.E. 264, 266 (1903); Black’s Law Dictionary 577 (7th ed.
1999) (cumulative evidence is evidence “of the same character as
existing evidence”).
Id. at 451.
B. Analysis
[17] One factor the juvenile court considers when deciding whether a parent’s
parental rights should be terminated is the parent’s habitual patterns of conduct.
See A.F. v. Marion Cnty. Office of Family & Children, 762 N.E.2d 1244, 1251 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2002). “Such an evaluation assists in determining the probability of
future neglect or deprivation of the child, as well as remedial possibilities.” Id.“Based on this rule, trial courts have properly considered evidence of a parent’s
prior criminal history, drug and alcohol abuse, history of neglect, failure to
provide support, and lack of adequate housing and employment.” Id.Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 49A04-1705-JT-1027 | August 31, 2017 Page 8 of 11
[18] In determining that there was a reasonable probability that the conditions that
led to J.B.’s continued placement outside of Father’s care would not be
remedied, the juvenile court made the following finding:
There is a reasonable probability that the conditions that resulted
in [J.B.’s] removal and continued placement outside the home
will not be remedied by her father. [Father] will be incarcerated
until February of 2018 at the minimum, and would still have to
successfully complete services. [Father]’s pattern of criminal
activity, and not abiding by rules to stay free, leads to a
reasonable conclusion that he will remain unavailable to parent
in the future.
Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 24.
[19] In challenging the juvenile court’s order terminating his parental rights to J.B.,
Father argues that the juvenile court abused its discretion in admitting certain
evidence relating to prior arrests and charges which did not result in conviction.
However, we need not address this question because the admission of such
evidence, if error, was harmless given that it was cumulative of other evidence
which demonstrated that Father had a pattern of criminal activity and had
previously failed to comply by rules set forth to ensure his release from
incarceration.
[20] During the evidentiary hearing, the following exchange occurred between
Father and counsel for DCS:
[DCS] And [Father] where are you currently living?
[Father] I’m currently incarcerated.
[DCS] And where is that that you’re incarcerated at?
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[Father] At Westville Correctional Facility.
[DCS] And what is your official out date?
[Father] My official out date is 7/26/2020.
****
[DCS] And [Father] have you been incarcerated in
Department of Corrections on previous occasions?
[Father] Yes.
[DCS] When were those?
[Father] I’ve been pretty much locked up since 2012.
Tr. Vol. II, pp. 6-7. At the time, Father was incarcerated after having been
convicted of Level 6 felony failure to return to a lawful detention center and
been found to be a habitual offender. Father also had prior convictions for
Class D felony possession of methamphetamines, Class D felony theft, and two
counts of Class C felony burglary. While the first of these convictions, the
conviction for Class D felony possession of methamphetamines, occurred
before DCS became involved with J.B. and Father, the remaining convictions
have all occurred since that time. In addition, Father admitted during the
evidentiary hearing that he continues to suffer from drug addiction issues,
making his prior drug-related conviction relevant to a consideration of Father’s
habitual patterns of conduct.
[21] The above-stated evidence, i.e., Father’s admissions and the evidence relating to
his prior criminal convictions, is sufficient to support the juvenile court’s
finding that Father’s pattern of criminal activity and failure to comply with
rules set forth for his conditional release from incarceration lead to a reasonable
conclusion that Father will be unable to parent in the future. The challenged
evidence was merely additional evidence of the same kind and character as the
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above-discussed evidence which would go to prove this fact. As such, we
conclude that the admission of the challenged evidence did not affect Father’s
substantial rights as the challenged evidence was merely cumulative of this
evidence. See In re H.M.R., 864 N.E.2d at 450-51. This is especially true
considering that the juvenile court, and not a jury, acted as the trier-of-fact. Id.
at 450. Father, therefore, has failed to convince us that the admission of the
challenged evidence violated his right to due process or was anything but
harmless.
Conclusion
[22] Even assuming that it was error to admit the challenged evidence during the
evidentiary hearing, such error was harmless. Furthermore, Father does not
challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support the juvenile court’s
determination that DCS proved each of the required factors set forth in Indiana
Code section 31-35-2-4(b). As such, we affirm the juvenile court’s order
terminating Father’s parental rights to J.B.
[23] The judgment of the juvenile court is affirmed.
May, J., and Barnes, J., concur.
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