DCPP VS. T.A.K., L.W., D.J., T.R.J., AND M.B., IN THE MATTER OF Z.W., L.Z.W., S.M.W., AND A.W. (FN-04-0410-17, CAMDEN COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) (RECORD IMPOUNDED) ( 2019 )

RECORD IMPOUNDED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-0033-18T2
NEW JERSEY DIVISION
OF CHILD PROTECTION
AND PERMANENCY,
Plaintiff-Respondent,
v.
T.A.K.,
Defendant-Appellant,
and
L.W., D.J., T.R.J., and M.B.,
Defendants.
____________________________
IN THE MATTER OF Z.W.,
L.Z.W., S.M.W., and A.W.,
Minors.
____________________________
Submitted August 13, 2019 – Decided September 5, 2019
Before Judges Messano and Natali.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Camden County,
Docket No. FN-04-0410-17.
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, attorney for
appellant (Phuong V. Dao, Designated Counsel, on the
briefs).
Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
respondent (Melissa H. Raksa, Assistant Attorney
General, of counsel; William T. Harvey, Jr., Deputy
Attorney General, on the brief).
Joseph E. Krakora, Public Defender, Law Guardian,
attorney for minors (Linda Vele Alexander, Designated
Counsel, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
In this appeal, we consider whether there was sufficient credible evidence
supporting a Family Part order finding that defendant, T.A.K. (Tyler),1 abused
or neglected his three cousins, A.W. (Allison), born in June 2009, S.W. (Sasha)
born in March 2012, and L.Z.W. (Lisa), born in April 2014, by sexually abusing
Sasha and Lisa, and by subjecting Allison to excessive corporal punishment.
Because we conclude there was sufficient credible evidence supporting the
court's factual findings and determination, we affirm.
I.
1
We employ initials and pseudonyms to protect the privacy of the parties and
children.
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2
L.W. (Lucy) is the biological mother of the three children at issue in this
appeal. The Division of Child Protection and Permanency (Division) has had
extensive involvement with Lucy and her family, having received over a dozen
referrals since 2011. The latest of these referrals occurred on January 26, 2017,
when the Division was contacted by Allison's school nurse. Allison reported
that she was in pain because the night before Tyler, while babysitting her, Sasha
and Lisa, became angry and struck her with an extension cord on her buttocks.
Long, thin abrasions were observed on both sides of Allison's hip and buttock
areas.
Division caseworkers Jared Owen and Wanda Roman responded to
Allison's school that same day. According to Allison, Tyler became angry when
he learned she took an electronic device into the bathtub and shower area. He
told her to get out of the tub and hit her with an extension cord as punishment
while she was not fully dressed.
Roman testified at the fact-finding proceeding that Allison's lower back
and legs were bruised and her legs had linear marks. She confirmed that the
photos presented at the fact-finding proceeding fairly and accurately represented
the bruising she observed. The next day, Lucy agreed that Tyler would no longer
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3
serve as a caretaker for the children, and executed a conforming safety
protection plan.
Five days later, the Division received another referral involving Tyler and
the girls. Specifically, Allison told her guidance counselor, Genevieve Cattanea
(Cattanea), that she saw Tyler inappropriately touching her sisters at home. The
Division contacted the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, and advised that a
safety protection plan was in place preventing Tyler from caring for the children.
In response, Detective Kevin Courtney of the Camden County Prosecutor's
Office interviewed Allison who stated that Tyler smoked marijuana and did
"nasty things" to Sasha and Lisa including "hump[ing]" Sasha and placing his
penis inside of her, and making Sasha sit on him without pants on. Al lison also
reported that Tyler forced Lisa to "suck his penis."
Detective Courtney informed a Division caseworker that Allison reported
that Tyler was still caring for her and her sisters despite the continued
prohibition in the safety protection plan. When the Division investigated, the
police were at the home and confirmed that Tyler was alone with Lisa.
Owen interviewed Tyler about Allison's sexual and physical abuse
allegations. Although he denied that he sexually abused either Sasha or Lisa, he
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did admit to striking Allison with an extension cord. The Division immediately
conducted a Dodd removal of the children. 2
Owen and Roman then went to Allison's school where she reported she
did not want to go back home and stated to the caseworker that after her initial
disclosures, Tyler and Lucy reprimanded her for discussing "family business."
Allison also reaffirmed that Tyler did "nasty things" multiple times with Sasha
and Lisa such as making them get naked, "hump[ing] on" Sasha, and forcing
Lisa to put his penis in her mouth.
While at Allison's school, Detective Courtney conducted a recorded
interview with Allison. In that interview, which was introduced at the
fact-finding trial on consent, Allison stated that Tyler had hit her "more than
once" with an extension cord while she was naked and in the presence of Sasha
and Lisa. She specifically recounted that Tyler also hit Lisa with an extension
cord because Lisa soiled her pants.
2
"A '[Dodd] removal' refers to the emergency removal of a child from the home
without a court order, pursuant to the Dodd Act, which . . . is found at N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.21 to -8.82. The Act was authored by former Senate President Frank J.
'Pat' Dodd in 1974." N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. N.S., 412 N.J. Super.
593, 609 n.2 (App. Div. 2010). When the Division removes a child from a home
on an emergent basis, the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part, must
"hold a hearing on the next court day, whereby the safety of the child shall be
of paramount concern . . . ." N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.31.
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Allison again recounted to Detective Courtney the "nasty stuff" Tyler did
to Sasha and spelled out "s-e-x" to describe Tyler's actions. Allison stated Tyler
sexually abused Sasha and detailed that Tyler would sit on the bed in her room
while Sasha was laying on it. Tyler proceeded to unzip his pants and exposed
his penis while he ordered Sasha to remove her clothes. Allison then stated that
Tyler would repeatedly insert his penis inside of Sasha's "butt." Allison a lso
reported that she witnessed Tyler force Lisa to perform oral sex, recalling that
Lisa "suck[ed]" Tyler's "thing" on multiple occasions.
Detective Courtney also interviewed Sasha at the Camden County
Prosecutor's Office. According to the caseworker, while in the car on the way
to the interview, Sasha told Allison that she did not like Tyler humping her.
During her interview with Detective Courtney, Sasha stated that while Lucy was
working, Tyler, on a number of occasions, told her to remove her cloth es and
"hump[ed]" her, and he did "nasty Stuff to her butt" with his penis. Sasha also
stated that when she was laying on the bed in her mother's room, Tyler would
enter, remove her clothes, and take his penis out. She recalled Tyler's penis
having black hair, and that Tyler anally penetrated her which angered her. She
also recalled Allison being in the room when Tyler assaulted her. Sasha also
stated she witnessed Tyler forcing two-year-old Lisa to touch his penis.
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Allison, Sasha, and Lisa were evaluated by Cindy DeLago, M.D., M.P.H.,
of the Cares Institute. Allison stated that she saw child pornography and naked
people on Tyler's phone. Specifically, she recalled seeing a three-year-old
"baby" touching a two-year old. In addition, she told Dr. DeLago that Tyler
forced her to watch pornography when he put a "CD" in the television, and saw
people removing their clothes and touching their private parts. Allison did not
tell Dr. DeLago about Tyler's sexual abuse of Sasha or Lisa. Allison did inform
Dr. DeLago however that Tyler used an extension cord to hit her on her buttocks.
Dr. DeLago determined that Tyler sexually abused Allison by exposing her to
pornography, and also concluded that Tyler physically abused her when he hit
her with the extension cord.
Sasha was also interviewed and disclosed that Tyler also hit her with an
extension cord and that he similarly hit Lisa with an extension cord when she
defecated on herself. Dr. DeLago concluded that Tyler physically abused Sasha
by striking her with an extension cord and was unable to rule out that Sasha was
sexually abused by Tyler.
During the one-day fact-finding trial, the Division called Owen and
Roman as witnesses and introduced documents into evidence, including the
Cares Institute reports for Allison, Camden County Prosecutor's records,
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videotaped statements of Sasha, Allison, Lucy, and Tyler, an audio statement of
Cattanea, and color photographs of Allison's injuries. All of the Division's
records were admitted without objection.
Tyler testified on his own behalf and admitted that he twice "popped"
Allison, not with an extension cord but a cargo belt, because she had a "plugged
in [electronic] device" in the bathroom. He claimed to have "grabbed" the
device from the wall while yelling at her that she "knew better." He stated that
he called Lucy at work who told him to "whoop her tail." He then "[looked]
around for a belt," and "popped" Allison twice while her mom was on FaceTime.
He also admitted that he was aware of the safety protection plan which did not
permit him to supervise the children.
In its oral decision and conforming order, the court concluded that Tyler
had abused and neglected the children under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c) by physically
abusing Allison, and by sexually abusing Sasha and Lisa. The judge found the
testimony of Owen and Roman credible. The court described Tyler's testimony
as self-serving, confusing, and inconsistent.
With respect to Allison's allegation of physical abuse, the court found that
Tyler's admission to "popping" Allison corroborated Allison's and Sasha's
statements. The court found it "very troubling" that Tyler repeatedly used the
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8
word "popped" to discipline a child. The court further observed that Allison's
and Sasha's statements to Division caseworkers and Allison's guidance
counselor, among others, were consistent. Allison's bruising as testified to by
Roman provided further corroborative proof of the physical abuse allegation.
In concluding that Tyler sexually abused Sasha and Lisa, the court found
that Allison's and Sasha's age inappropriate language corroborated their
statements. Further, the court found that Allison's and Sasha's "testimony was
spontaneous; their testimony was consistent with each other, so in effect the girls
corroborated each other. Again, especially with descriptions that they used that
most children at that age know nothing about." The court also noted that there
were no concerns about the children being "coached" by a parent because, in
this case, "the children were being yelled at by their mother to not say anything
about [Tyler]."
At the conclusion of Tyler's fact-finding trial the court terminated the Title
Nine litigation and this appeal followed. Tyler raises the following arguments
for our consideration:
POINT I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AS A MATTER OF
FACT AND LAW BECAUSE THERE WAS
INSUFFICIENT CREDIBLE EVIDENCE THAT
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9
TYLER HAD SEXUALLY AND PHYSICALLY
ABUSED THE CHILDREN.
POINT II
THE EVIDENCE THAT TYLER SEXUALLY
ABUSED THE CHILDREN WAS INCREDIBLE,
INCONSISTENT, AND UNCORROBORATED.
POINT III
TYLER DID NOT PHYSICALLY ABUSE[]
ALLISON, SASHA, OR LISA. 3
II.
Our review of a trial court's finding of abuse or neglect is guided by
well-established principles. "[W]e accord substantial deference and defer to the
factual findings of the Family Part if they are sustained by 'adequate, substantial,
and credible evidence' in the record." N.J. Div. of Child Prot. & Permanency v.
N.B., 452 N.J. Super. 513, 521 (App. Div. 2017) (quoting N.J. Div. of Youth &
Family Servs. v. R.G., 217 N.J. 527, 552 (2014)). "Indeed, we recognize that
'[b]ecause of the family courts' special jurisdiction and expertise in family
matters, [we] should accord deference to family court fact finding.'" N.J. Div.
of Youth & Family Servs. v. M.C. III, 201 N.J. 328, 343 (2010) (alteration in
original) (quoting Cesare v. Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 413 (1998)). However, "if
3
We have renumbered Tyler's point headings for ease of reference.
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10
the trial court's conclusions are 'clearly mistaken or wide of the mark[,]' an
appellate court must intervene to ensure the fairness of the proceeding." N.J.
Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. L.L., 201 N.J. 210, 227 (2010) (alteration in
original) (quoting N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. E.P., 196 N.J. 88, 104
(2008)). We owe no deference to the trial court's legal conclusions, which we
review de novo. State v. Smith, 212 N.J. 365, 387 (2012).
"The Division bears the burden of proof at a fact-finding hearing and must
prove . . . harm . . . by a preponderance of the evidence." N.J. Div. of Youth &
Family Servs. v. A.L., 213 N.J. 1, 22 (2013). The Division must sustain that
burden through the admission of "competent, material and relevant evidence."
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(b); N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. P.W.R., 205 N.J.
17, 32 (2001).
Here, the Division's evidence concerning Tyler's alleged abuse or neglect
consists of the children's statements by Allison and Sasha to the caseworker,
representatives of law enforcement, and a health care provider. The court relied
upon these statements as the basis for its abuse or neglect finding. Tyler argues,
however, that the court ignored "inconsistent evidence, material omissions, and
outright fabrications," and that the children's separate statements could not
properly corroborate each other, and therefore there was insufficient evidence
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supporting the court's abuse or neglect finding. See N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4). We
disagree.
"In matters involving the alleged abuse and neglect of children, the New
Jersey Rules of Evidence are supplemented by statute and court rule." N.J. Div.
of Youth & Family Servs. v. L.A., 357 N.J. Super. 155, 166 (App. Div. 2003).
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4) provides that when the Division alleges abuse and
neglect of a child, "previous statements made by the child relating to any
allegations of abuse or neglect shall be admissible in evidence; provided,
however, that no such statement, if uncorroborated, shall be sufficient to make
a fact finding of abuse or neglect."
To establish corroboration of a child's statement under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.46(a)(4), "[s]ome direct or circumstantial evidence beyond the child's
statement itself is required." N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at 522. Corroboration can
be established by varied means. N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. Z.P.R.,
351 N.J. Super. 427, 436 (App. Div. 2002). "The most effective types of
corroborative evidence may be eyewitness testimony, a confession, an
admission or medical or scientific evidence." L.A., 357 N.J. Super. at 166.
"However, corroborative evidence need not relate directly to the accused." Ibid.A-0033-18T2
12
The "evidence 'need only provide support for the out-of-court statements.'"
N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at 521 (quoting L.A., 357 N.J. Super. at 166).
Corroborative evidence that is sufficient to support a court's reliance on a
child's statements for a finding of abuse or neglect may be circumstantial
because there is often no direct physical or testimonial evidence to support a
child's statements. See Z.P.R., 351 N.J. Super. at 436. For example, in Z.P.R.,
we determined that a child's age-inappropriate sexual behavior corroborated the
child's statements about a parent's improper sexual conduct. Z.P.R., 351 N.J.
Super. at 436. In contrast, in N.B., we found insufficient evidence of
corroboration, in part because a psychologist's report stating the child suffered
from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the alleged abuse or neglect
constituted inadmissible hearsay under N.J.R.E. 808. N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at
523-26.
III.
A. Sexual Abuse Allegations
Tyler's claim that the trial record contains insufficient evidence to support
the allegations of sexual abuse against Sasha and Lisa ignores one critical fact
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– Allison's unchallenged statements 4 served as direct, eyewitness evidence of
Tyler's sexual abuse of Sasha and Lisa. As noted, she repeatedly observed Tyler
"put his private part in [Sasha's] butt and "make [Lisa] suck his private part." In
addition to direct evidence of Tyler's abuse, Allison's repeated accounts serve to
corroborate Sasha's statement that Tyler put his penis "inside of [her] butt." See
L.A., 357 N.J. Super. at 166 ("The most effective types of corroborative
evidence may be eyewitness testimony, a confession, an admission or medical
or scientific evidence.")
Consequently, we are convinced the trial court correctly determined that
Allison's and Sasha's separate statements provided sufficient corroboration of
each other to support the court's finding of abuse or neglect under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.21(c). The record supports the court's determination. As noted, Allison
said Tyler put his "private part" in Sasha's butt, and Sasha independently
reported that Tyler put his penis in her butt. Additionally, both Allison and
Sasha stated that they saw Tyler force Lisa to "suck" or "touch" his penis.
We are not persuaded by Tyler's contention there was insufficient
corroboration because not every fact related by each child was directly
4
We note that Tyler consented to the introduction of the Division's documents,
which includes Allison's and Sasha's statements. Accordingly, we consider any
objection to these statements waived. See M.C. III, 201 N.J. at 341-42.
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corroborated by the others. "The case law does not require that the evidence be
specific before it can be deemed corroborative of [a] child's out-of-court
statements." Z.P.R., 351 N.J. Super. at 435. There must only be some evidence
beyond the solitary assertion of a child. See N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at 522.
We also reject Tyler's contention the children's statements were
insufficient as a matter of law to provide sufficient corroboration under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.46(a)(4). Tyler offers no reasoned basis that the consistent admissible
statements of two children describing acts of abuse or neglect do not provide the
corroboration required under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4). The statute supplemented
the New Jersey Rules of Evidence by rendering admissible "previous statements
made by [a] child relating to any allegation of abuse or neglect." L.A., 357 N.J.
Super. at 166; see also N.J. Div. Of Child Prot. & Perm. v. J.A., 436 N.J. Super.
61, 66-67 (App. Div. 2014) (finding uncorroborated statements of a child are
admissible under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4)). Thus, each child's statement
constituted admissible evidence corroborating what the other children said.
We are mindful that we "must protect against conflating a statement's
reliability with corroboration," and N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4) requires
"independent evidence of corroboration" to support a finding of abuse or
neglect. N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at 522. We conclude Allison's and Sasha's
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statements are sufficiently reliable to be deemed admissible evidence under
N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4). Moreover, under the circumstances presented, each
child's statement provides independent, direct, and admissible evidence
supporting the allegations of abuse or neglect. See N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at 522
(requiring direct or circumstantial evidence supporting the child's out-of-court
statement for corroboration under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4)); L.A., 357 N.J.
Super. at 166 (finding corroboration under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4) requires only
evidence supporting a child's out-of-court statements).
This is not a case where the court relied on the consistent statements of a
single child to support a finding of abuse or neglect. Consistency of the
statements of a child alone does not constitute corroboration under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.46(a)(4). N.B., 452 N.J. Super. at 523. As noted, here, the separate
admissible statements of each of the children provided the independent
corroboration required for a finding of abuse or neglect under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.46(a)(4). Ibid. (finding insufficient corroboration of a child's statements
describing abuse or neglect that were supported only by inadmissible reports
and testimony of a psychologist). 5
5
Tyler does not rely on N.J. Div. of Child Prot. & Permanency v. M.C., 435
N.J. Super. 405, 422-24 (App. Div. 2014), where we discussed, but did not
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B. Excessive Corporal Punishment Allegations
We are also satisfied that Allison's statements, along with Roman's
testimony and his observations of Allison's injuries, which were corroborated
by the photographs taken the next day, provided sufficient credible evidence
supporting the court's finding that Allison was abused or neglected by Tyler's
use of excessive corporal punishment. Tyler, however, contends that the court
failed to make a specific finding that the corporal punishment he administered
was "excessive," and there was no evidentiary basis . . . to infer a finding of
excessive corporal punishment." We are not persuaded.
The phrase "excessive corporal punishment" is not defined in N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.21(c)(4)(b). N.J. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., Div. of Youth &
Family Servs. v. K.A., 413 N.J. Super. 504, 510 (App. Div. 2010). Excessive
corporal punishment cases are fact-sensitive and "idiosyncratic." P.W.R., 205
N.J. at 33. We "ought not assume that what may be 'excessive' corporal
punishment for a . . . child must also constitute . . . excessive corporal
punishment in another setting." Ibid. "[A] parent may inflict moderate
decide, whether children's overlapping statements provide sufficient
corroboration under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.46(a)(4). An argument not briefed on appeal
is deemed waived. Jefferson Loan Co. v. Session, 397 N.J. Super. 520, 525 n.4
(App. Div. 2008).
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correction such as is reasonable under the circumstances of a case," but
punishment is excessive when it goes "beyond what is proper or reasonable."
K.A., 413 N.J. Super. at 510-11.
N.J.A.C. 10:129-2.2(a) lists injuries and risks of harm that "may be abuse
or neglect[,]" including "[c]uts, bruises, abrasions, welts or oral injuries."
N.J.A.C. 10:129-2.2(a)(9). Where the alleged abuse does not correspond exactly
with one of the types of injuries or risks of harm listed, the determination of
whether a parent's action amounts to abuse or neglect requires consideration of
the nature of the child's injury and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
K.A., 413 N.J. Super. at 512.
Tyler likens that the circumstances here to those in K.A. and, for that
reason, the record is insufficient to support the court's abuse or neglect finding.
In K.A., we found an isolated incident with a "psychologically disruptive child,
unable or unwilling to follow verbal instructions or adhere to passive means of
discipline" did not constitute abuse or neglect where the parent struck the child
with a closed fist and caused four small bruises on the child's shoulder. Id. at
506, 512. We concluded that the "[b]ruises, although, visible, never exposed
[the child] to any further harm if left untreated[,]" and the parent's action was
"not part of a pattern of punishment." Id. at 512; see also P.W.R., 205 N.J. at
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36 (finding no abuse or neglect where a parent slapped a teenage child on the
face as a form of punishment but did not cause any bruises or injury).
We found the isolation of the incident, the reasons underlying the actions,
and the frustrating circumstances the defendant faced due to the child's conduct
provided "the prism through which we determine whether . . . actions [are]
indeed 'excessive.'" Ibid. When a child's injuries do not establish "per se
excessive corporal punishment," we must consider such factors to determine
whether a defendant's actions "amount[] to excessive corporal punishment."
Ibid. (alteration in original).
Here, there is no evidence Allison was disruptive or presented trying
circumstances to Tyler. See ibid. Instead, the evidence shows Tyler inflicted
corporal punishment by using an extension cord on Allison's near naked body,
not for purpose of taking control of an unruly or defiant child as in K.A, but to
inflict excessive punishment or repeatedly "pop" her, in his words, for bringing
an electronic device into the shower. That response was unreasonable and
disproportionate under the circumstances. In this regard, we note that Tyler
admitted that he had unplugged the device prior to striking Allison repeatedly
and she did not refuse his requests to remove herself from the shower. Under
the circumstances, we deem the court's conclusion, as expressed in its order, that
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Tyler's punishment was excessive, fully supported by the record at the fact
finding proceeding. See N.J. Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. S.H., 439 N.J.
Super. 137, 146-47 (App. Div. 2015) (finding the defendant's use of implements
and infliction of corporal punishment was unjustified and excessive in response
to the child's misbehavior and use of profanity); K.A., 413 N.J. Super at 510-11
(finding punishment is excessive when it is "beyond" what is reasonable).
Further, the evidence shows that unlike in K.A., Tyler's use of an
extension cord as a method of corporal punishment was not an isolated incident.
See K.A. 413 N.J. Super. at 513 (finding no abuse or neglect in part because the
incident was "aberrational to this family"). According to Allison and Sasha,
Tyler beat them both with extension cords, and also hit Lisa when she defecated
in her pants. We also we reject Tyler's argument that the fortuitous circumstance
that Allison's injuries did not require medical intervention requires reversal of
the court's abuse or neglect finding. See, e.g., N.J. Dep't of Children & Families,
Div. of Youth & Family Servs. v. C.H., 414 N.J. Super. 472, 476 (App. Div.
2010) (affirming an abuse or neglect finding where the injuries did not require
any medical attention).
Tyler also differs from the defendant in K.A. in a significant respect. In
K.A., the defendant "accepted full responsibility for her actions, was contrite,
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and complied with Division-sponsored counseling." K.A., 413 N.J. Super. at
512. After the "isolated incident," the situation improved and the Division was
no longer required to be involved. Ibid. Here, however, Tyler never took
responsibility for his actions. Instead, he denied that he used an extension cord,
and excused his conduct as authorized by Lisa and warranted under the
circumstances. The court determined Allison's statements were credible and
rejected Tyler's explanation as "self-serving" and without corroboration. In
addition, in light of the children's allegations, the court barred him from contact
with the children.
Viewing the evidence through the prism of factors we established in K.A.,
it is clear the court correctly concluded Tyler abused or neglected the children
by imposing excessive corporal punishment. See K.A., 413 N.J. Super. at 512.
Punishment is excessive if a parent's intentional act exposes a child to "the
substantial probability that injury would result from [the caregiver's] conduct."
M.C. III, 201 N.J. at 345.
Affirmed.
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