In the Matter of the Termination of the Parent-Child Relationship of A.B. (Minor Child) D.F. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services (mem. dec.) ( 2019 )

MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be
Feb 14 2019, 8:59 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any
court except for the purpose of establishing CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Jerry T. Drook Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Marion, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Benjamin Shoptaw
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination February 14, 2019
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of A.B. (Minor Child); 18A-JT-2124
D.F. (Father), Appeal from the Grant Superior
Court
Appellant-Respondent,
The Honorable Dana J.
v. Kenworthy, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
Indiana Department of Child 27D02-1710-JT-34
Services,
Appellee-Petitioner.
Najam, Judge.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 1 of 19
Statement of the Case
[1] D.F. (“Father”) appeals the trial court’s termination of his parental rights over
his minor child A.B. (“Child”). Father presents a single issue for our review,
namely, whether the Indiana Department of Child Services (“DCS”) presented
sufficient evidence to support the termination of his parental rights. We affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] S.B. (“Mother”) and Father are the biological parents of Child, born on January
4, 2011.1 On May 1, 2015, DCS became aware of allegations that Mother was
homeless and had untreated mental illness and substance abuse issues. DCS
also learned “of domestic violence between Mother and her boyfriend” and that
Mother was neglecting Child’s needs. Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 122. DCS
removed Child from Mother’s care and placed her in foster care. Mother
identified Father as Child’s father, but paternity had not been established. In
any event, Father was incarcerated.
[3] On May 6, DCS filed a petition alleging that Child was a child in need of
services (“CHINS”). On September 16, the trial court found Child to be a
CHINS. Almost two years later, on August 23, 2017, after Father had failed to
comply with the court’s order to participate in services at the Department of
1
Mother and Father were never married, and Father has not petitioned to establish his paternity of A.B. But
a DNA test obtained by DCS shows that Father is A.B.’s biological father. Mother has consented to Child’s
adoption and does not participate in this appeal.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 2 of 19
Correction (“DOC”), DCS filed a petition to terminate Father’s parental rights
over Child.
[4] Following a hearing, the trial court granted the petition on August 9, 2018. In
support of its order, the trial court entered the following findings and
conclusions:
7. On or about May 1, 2015, DCS became involved with [Child]
and Mother when DCS investigated a report that [Child] was
being neglected in [Child]’s home. Specifically, Mother
was homeless, had mental health issues, had overdosed, and
could not properly care for [Child]. There was also an allegation
of domestic violence between Mother and her boyfriend.
8. [Child] was removed from Mother’s care on May l, 2015, and
placed into foster care.
9. Paternity for [Child] had not been established at the time of
removal, but Mother identified [Father] as [Child]’s father.
10. On May 6, 2015, DCS filed [a] Verified Petition Alleging
[Child] was a Child in Need of Services (“CHINS”) in Cause
27D02-1505-JC-49 (“CHINS proceeding”).
11. On August 6, 2015, the Court in the CHINS proceeding held
a continued initial hearing. Father appeared via video from the
New Castle Correctional Facility. Father requested and was
appointed counsel.
12. Father remained incarcerated throughout the CHINS
proceeding.
13. Father appeared via telephone or by video connection from
the DOC, and by counsel, at hearings throughout the CHINS
proceedings.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 3 of 19
14. On September 16, 2015, the Court in the CHINS proceeding
entered [an] Order finding [Child] to be a CHINS.
15. On September 24, 2015, the Court in the CHINS proceeding
held [a] dispositional hearing. The Court ordered that [Child]
remain outside her parents’ care, and [it] continued wardship
with DCS. The Court ordered Father to participate in services at
the Department of Correction[] (“DOC”) which could assist him
in reunifying with [Child], and to notify DCS upon his release
from the DOC.
16. The Court issued [a] Dispositional Order in the CHINS
proceeding on September 29, 2015.
17. On October 1, 2015, [Child] was placed into the care of
Foster Mother [W.S.], and [she] has remained in her care
continuously since that time. Foster Mother wishes to adopt
[Child].
18. Foster Mother has also had two (2) of [Child]’s siblings in her
care throughout the term of [Child]’s placement with her. Foster
Mother also intends to adopt [Child]’s siblings, and Mother
has consented to their adoption.
19. Father is not the biological father of [Child]’s siblings.
20. [Child] is very bonded with Foster Mother and her siblings,
and they are a well-functioning family unit.
21. On January 26, 2017, the Court in the CHINS proceeding
changed the permanency plan from reunification to initiation of
termination of parental rights proceedings and adoption.
22. Father entered the Delaware County Jail on or about June
11, 2010, approximately six (6) months prior to [Child]’s birth.
Father found out about Mother’s pregnancy a few days prior to
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 4 of 19
his arrest. Father’s arrest occurred on the same day as his
criminal offenses, and he was aware of Mother’s pregnancy at
that time.
23. On January 19, 2011, Father entered a plea of guilty to the
criminal charges in Delaware County, Indiana in Cause 18C05-
1006-FB-14, including two (2) counts of Sexual Misconduct with
a Minor, Class B Felonies, and Contributing to the Delinquency
of a Minor, [a] Class A Misdemeanor. During his guilty plea and
factual basis, Father admitted under oath that he knew the victim
was fifteen (15) years of age, that he was thirty-one (31) years of
age, that he gave the victim vodka to drink and had vaginal, oral
and anal sex with the victim.
24. On April 26, 2011, in Cause 18C05-1006-FB-14 the Court
sentenced Father to twelve (12) years, with ten (10) years
executed and two (2) years suspended on each of the Class B
Felonies, and one (1) year suspended on the Class A
misdemeanor. The Court ordered the sentences to be served
consecutively.
25. On February 17, 2012, in Cause 18C05-1006-FB-14, the
Court issued a Nunc Pro Tunc Order correcting its April 26, 2011
entry, adding “the defendant is found to be a sexually violent
predator pursuant to Ind. Code §35-38-1-7.5(a).” The Court
made this finding after ordering psychological and psychiatric
evaluations of Father. Dr. Frank Krause submitted the
psychological report to the Court, and Dr. Craig Buckles
submitted the psychiatric evaluation.
26. On August 17, 2012, Father filed a Petition for Post-
Conviction Relief in Cause 18C05-1006-FB-14. On July 15,
2016, the Court denied Father’s Petition.
27. Father filed and currently has pending a civil case in Henry
County, Indiana under Cause 33C02-1506-PL-49 related to the
Delaware County case. This case has been pending for three
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 5 of 19
(3) years, and has not advanced beyond the pretrial stage. Father
claims that this case will result in his complete release from his
criminal convictions. The CCS does not support this claim.
28. Father’s earliest possible release date from the DOC is June
11, 2020—more than two years after the fact-finding in this case.
After release from incarceration, Father will be on probation
for five (5) years. Father also acknowledges that he will be
required to register as a sex offender after release from
incarceration.
29. Father admitted that he met Mother while she was in high
school, and they lived together in Muncie, Indiana. Mother’s
date of birth is September 20, 1991.
30. Father has received Social Security Disability since he was a
child. He indicates this is for post-traumatic stress disorder,
anxiety, and a learning disability. Father continued to receive
disability payments until after his conviction on April 26, 2011.
Father states payments were between $600 and $700 per month.
31. Father graduated from high school with a special education
diploma.
32. Father worked at odd jobs as an adult, i.e., “junking,”
painting and construction, until his incarceration in Delaware
County in 2010.
33. Father’s only employment during incarceration was in a
brake shop, earning $150 per month. However, Father indicates
he could not continue this employment due his hands “locking
up.”
34. During his incarceration at DOC since 2010, Father has
completed no programs—either programs designed to enhance
his ability to parent or provide support for [Child], or otherwise.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 6 of 19
Although Father claims that no services have been available to
him, the Court does not find this testimony to be credible.
35. Father was enrolled in Thinking for a Change at DOC, but
was removed from that program “for what he calls a
‘misunderstanding or mistake.’”
36. Father testified that he applied to the PLUS program at
DOC, but had not been accepted as of the date of the fact-finding
hearing in this case.
37. During his eight (8) years of incarceration, Father has not
enrolled in or completed any sex offender counseling or
treatment.
38. Father claims that he only pled guilty to the crimes in Cause
18C05-1006-FB-14 due to “extenuating circumstances” and lied
under oath to establish the factual basis for his crimes. The
Court does not find this testimony credible. In fact, the Court
finds Defendant’s minimization of his responsibility for the
crimes for which [he] has been convicted especially troubling.
39. Father claims he provided funds for [Child] from his
disability payments, and that he tried to start child support
payments. No other evidence corroborates these claims, and the
Court does not find Father’s testimony credible.
40. Father has never met [Child], and [he] does not have a
relationship with her. [Child] was four (4) years and four (4)
months of age at the time the CHINS proceeding began. Father
had never filed a court case to pursue paternity or visitation with
[Child] before the onset of the CHINS proceeding.
41. During the CHINS proceeding, Father likewise did not file an
action to establish paternity of [Child]. DNA results received in
the CHINS proceeding on February 2, 2016 indicate that Father
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 7 of 19
is [Child]’s biological father, but he still has not taken steps to
establish legal paternity. [Child] is now seven (7) years of age.
42. Father indicates that he tried but was unable to file for
paternity. The Court does not find this testimony credible. The
Court notes Father’s wealth of correspondence to the Court in
the CHINS and termination of parental rights proceedings, his
filing of a post-conviction relief petition, and his filing of a civil
lawsuit—all while incarcerated—as evidence of his knowledge
of and ability to file legal documents pro se. Father
acknowledges that he never initiated a paternity action.
43. Father requested visits with [Child] during the CHINS
proceeding on September 15, 2015, but the Court denied visits
due to [the] lack of DNA testing or established paternity, as well
as the lack of [a] relationship between Father and [Child]. The
Court continued denial of visits at the April 16, 2016 permanency
hearing until such time as [Child]’s treatment team provided
recommendations to the Court regarding visits. At [the]
November 10, 2016, periodic case review, the Court ordered
[Child] to participate in counseling, and that the therapist provide
written recommendations regarding contact between Father and
[Child]. The Court further ordered that Father have the ability to
send letters for [Child] to FCM Brubaker, who would then
forward the letters to [Child]’s therapist. Again at the January
26, 2017, permanency hearing, the Court ordered that Father
have the ability to send letters for [Child] to FCM Brubaker, who
would forward them to [Child]’s therapist. [Child]’s therapist
never recommended contact with Father.
44. Father sent only one letter for [Child] to FCM Brubaker
throughout the three-year CHINS proceeding.
45. Father has never provided financial support for [Child].
Father has been incarcerated throughout [Child]’s life, and [he]
will remain incarcerated for the next two (2) years.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 8 of 19
46. Father made only one attempt to contact DCS, outside his
contacts during court hearings. This one contact was to send a
letter to DCS one to two weeks prior to the termination case
filing, to inform DCS that he had a lawsuit against DCS, other
officials, and the State in Delaware County. Father admitted
that he received an acknowledgement from DCS that they
received his letter.
47. Father requested that his sister [T.S.] be given the care of
[Child] until he is released from the DOC. He does not want
[T.S.] to adopt [Child], because he wants custody upon his
release.
48. Father gave CASA Crystal Foreman phone numbers for
[T.S.] in November 2016. CASA used these numbers to try to
make contact with [T.S.] in November 2016. One number was
disconnected. CASA left a message at the second number, but
did not receive a response. CASA further found “[T.M.]”
who[m] she believed to be [T.S.] on FaceBook and messaged her
in November 2016, asking for [T.S.] to contact CASA. [T.S.] did
not respond. In the days leading up to the fact-finding trial,
CASA called [T.S.] again on April 20, 2018, using the same
number she used in November 2016. [T.S.] returned this call.
49. [T.S.] testified that she had been contacting the Delaware
County Department of Child Services rather than Grant County
DCS. Father and [T.S.] correspond via letters, and [T.S.] has
visited Father a few times during his incarceration. Father never
asked [T.S.] to contact Grant County DCS, never gave her any
specific information about the CHINS case, and did not tell
[T.S.] that the Court had ordered her to contact Grant County
DCS. [T.S.] denies receiving any messages from CASA prior to
April 20, 2018. [T.S.] acknowledges that she has a FaceBook
page under the name “[T.M.]” and that she has had the
same phone number since 2000; this is the phone number used by
CASA in 2016.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 9 of 19
50. The Court finds CASA’s testimony to be credible regarding
her attempts to contact [T.S.], and does not find [T.S.]’s
testimony on this point credible.
51. [T.S.] is willing to become a licensed foster parent for [Child].
However, [T.S.] very clearly stated that she would not allow
Father to have contact with [Child] or any of her other
children after his release from incarceration due to his sexual
misconduct convictions. [T.S.] has strong views on Father’s
crimes, and stated, “If it was my daughter, he wouldn’t be
standing there.”
52. The Court observed [T.S.] very closely during her testimony.
[T.S.] appeared not to particularly like Father. [T.S.] was also
very hesitant when discussing the possibility of taking custody of
[Child]. [T.S.] paused when asked about this possibility, and
stated, “I’m looking in the best interest of the little girl . . . if I
would, I could . . . I could try to re-establish a relationship with
her.” [T.S.] has not seen [Child] since [Child] was two or three
years old. The tenor and implication of this halting and hesitant
answer, in the observation of the Court, was that [T.S.] was not
convinced that change of placement for [Child] away from Foster
Mother and her siblings would be in [Child]’s best interest. [T.S.]
did later state that she would adopt [Child], if permitted.
53. To remove [Child] and place her with [T.S.] would be to
remove her from her siblings, with whom she has always lived, to
a home that is essentially that of a stranger to [Child]. Further,
[T.S.] has been clear that she will not allow Father to have
contact with [Child]. So placing [Child] with [T.S.] will not
maintain the parental relationship.
54. The conditions that led to [Child]’s removal have not been
remedied since her removal on May 1, 2015. [Child] has
remained outside her parents’ care continuously since that time.
The reasons for placement outside the home continue, and are
not likely to be remedied.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 10 of 19
55. DCS recommends termination of parental rights and
adoption of [Child]. FCM Brubaker has been assigned to this
case since November 2016. She has observed that [Child] has a
strong bond with Foster Mother and her siblings. FCM Brubaker
believes termination and adoption is in [Child]’s best interest.
56. CASA Crystal Foreman has represented [Child] and her
siblings since May 24, 2016, and has had regular contact with the
children since that time. CASA has had the opportunity to
observe [Child]’s current living conditions and bond with
placement on many occasions, more than once per month, at
Foster Mother’s home as well as at community events. [Child] is
flourishing in her current home. Foster Mother and [Child] have
a close connection, are affectionate to each other, and love each
other. [Child] shares a bedroom with her sister. All siblings are
very close. [Child] has never mentioned Father to CASA.
CASA believes that termination and adoption are in [Child]’s
best interests, and that it would be detrimental to [Child] to
remove her from her siblings—with whom she has always
lived—and the home where she has lived for nearly two
years.
57. Mother has consented to the adoption of [Child] and her
siblings by Foster Mother.
58. The Court finds that termination of parental rights is in
[Child]’s best interest.
59. The Court finds that continuation of the parent-child
relationship between [Child] and Father poses a threat to
[Child]’s well-being.
60. The Court further finds that DCS’s plan of adoption is more
than satisfactory. Adoption would allow [Child] to remain with
her siblings, and for the family unit that has developed and
solidified over the last two years to remain intact.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 11 of 19
CONCLUSIONS
***
Father cites Rowlett v. Vanderburgh County OFC, 841 N.E.2d 615(2006) in support of his position that the Court should give him
further time to reunify with [Child]. In Rowlett, the Indiana
Court of Appeals reversed termination of parental rights where
the father had availed himself of thousands of hours of
programming while incarcerated, had an established relationship
with his child prior to his incarceration, had demonstrated a
commitment to maintaining a positive relationship with
his child during incarceration, had shown improved insight
regarding the criminal offenses for which he was incarcerated,
was due to be released from incarceration within six weeks after
the fact-finding hearing, had a plan for stability following release,
and the child was placed with father’s relatives who were
supportive of father’s relationship with the child.
This case is distinguishable from Rowlett in nearly every respect.
First, Father has never had a relationship with [Child], and has
never initiated a case to establish legal paternity of [Child].
Father sent only one letter for [Child] throughout the three-year
CHINS proceeding. Second, despite the multitude of programs
available to inmates at the DOC, Father has completed no
programming while incarcerated for the past eight years. Third,
unlike Rowlett, Father is incarcerated for sexual offenses
involving a fifteen-year-old girl. Fourth, unlike Rowlett, Father
has demonstrated no insight into his criminal offenses. In fact,
Father claims that he lied under oath to establish the factual basis
for his sex crimes. Father’s minimization of his sex crimes, in
conjunction with his sexually violent predator status, are of
particular concern to the Court when it considers [Child]’s best
interests. Fifth, Father’s earliest possible release date is more
than two years after the date of the fact-finding trial. Father will
then be on probation for five years following his release. Sixth,
[Child] is placed in foster care, not with relatives. The only
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 12 of 19
possibility of a relative placement, [Child]’s paternal aunt, never
contacted Grant County DCS to seek custody, did not respond to
CASA’s messages until days before the second day of the
termination trial, is wishy-washy regarding taking custody of
[Child], and clearly states she would not allow Father to have
contact with [Child] due to his sex crimes. Seventh, [Child] is
currently placed with her siblings in a pre-adoptive foster home.
To give Father additional time would be to force [Child] to wait
for permanency for at least another two years—very likely
more—and potentially separate her from her siblings. In short,
Rowlett does not favor Father’s position in this case.
[Child] is in need of, and deserves, stability and permanency in
her life. Long-term foster care, even in an excellent home,
cannot provide such permanency. [Child] is entitled to
permanency and her needs are paramount. . . . [Child]’s
involvement in the system began in May 2015. Children cannot
wait indefinitely for their parents to work toward preservation
and reunification. In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 649 (Ind. 2014).
[Child] has waited for three years for her parents to make
progress, and she should not be expected to wait any longer.
Based upon the above and foregoing, the Court concludes that
DCS has met its burden of proof, proving its petition to terminate
Father’s rights by clear and convincing evidence, to wit:
1. The child was removed from the home and custody of the
parents, has been under the supervision of DCS for at least fifteen
(15) of the most recent twenty-two (22) months, and has been
removed from the parents for more than six (6) months pursuant
to the terms of the dispositional decree.
2. There is a reasonable probability that:
a. The conditions which resulted in the child’s
removal and continued placement outside the home
will not be remedied; and
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 13 of 19
b. Continuation of the parent-child relationship poses
a threat to the child’s wellbeing.
3. Termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interests.
4. There is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the
child, that being adoption.
Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 122-132. Thus, the court terminated Father’s
parental rights as to Child. This appeal ensued.
Discussion and Decision
[5] 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 Fam. & Child. (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 Cty. Off. of Fam. & Child. (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.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 14 of 19
[6] Before an involuntary termination of parental rights can occur in Indiana, DCS
is required to allege and prove:
(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.
***
(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) (2018). 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 Cty. Off. of
Fam. & Child. (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 of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 15 of 19
court’s unique position to assess the evidence, we will set aside the court’s
judgment terminating a parent-child relationship only if it is clearly erroneous.
Judy S. v. Noble Cty. Off. of Fam. & Child. (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 Cty. Off. of Fam. & Child., 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] On appeal, Father contends that the trial court erred when it concluded that:
(1) the conditions that resulted in Child’s removal and the reasons for her
placement outside of his home will not be remedied; and (2) there is a
reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent-child relationship
poses a threat to the well-being of Child.2 Because the statute is written in the
2
To the extent Father purports to challenge the trial court’s conclusion that termination of his parental rights
is in Child’s best interests, he does not present cogent argument in support of that contention, and it is
waived. Father does not challenge the trial court’s conclusion that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and
treatment of Child.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 16 of 19
disjunctive, we need not address the court’s conclusion that there is a
reasonable probability that the continuation of the parent-child relationship
poses a threat to Child’s well-being. I.C. § 31-35-2-4(b)(ii).
[10] Father maintains that “the conditions justifying [Child]’s removal had little to
do with [Father], in that he was already incarcerated at the time the initial
CHINS petition was filed.” Appellant’s Br. at 15. He acknowledges that
Child’s “continued placement in foster care is directly related” to his
incarceration, but he “contends that this problem will be remedied by his
release to probation” in June 2020. Id. Father’s argument misses the mark.
[11] This court has clarified that, given the wording of the statute, it is not just the
basis for the initial removal of the child that may be considered for purposes of
determining whether a parent’s rights should be terminated, but also any basis
resulting in the continued placement outside of a parent’s home. Inkenhaus v.
Vanderburgh Cty. Off. of Fam. & Child. (In re A.I.), 825 N.E.2d 798, 806 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2005), trans. denied. Here, the trial court properly considered the
conditions leading to the continued placement outside of Father’s home rather
than simply focusing on the basis for the initial removal of Child. Father does
not challenge the trial court’s findings underlying its conclusion on this issue.
[12] And the evidence supports the trial court’s findings and conclusion. To
determine whether there is a reasonable probability that the reasons for Child’s
continued placement outside of Father’s home will not be remedied, the trial
court should judge Father’s fitness to care for Child at the time of the
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 17 of 19
termination hearing, taking into consideration evidence of changed conditions.
See E.M. v. Ind. Dep’t of Child Servs. (In re E.M.), 4 N.E.3d 636, 643 (Ind. 2014).
However, the court must also “evaluate the parent’s habitual patterns of
conduct to determine the probability of future neglect or deprivation of the
child.” Moore v. Jasper Cty. Dep’t of Child Servs., 894 N.E.2d 218, 226 (Ind. Ct.
App. 2008) (quotations and citations omitted). Pursuant to this rule, 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. Moreover, DCS is not required to rule
out all possibilities of change; rather, it need establish only that there is a
reasonable probability the parent’s behavior will not change. Id.[13] The trial court found, and the evidence supports, that: Father has never met
Child, who was seven years old at the time of the termination hearing, nor has
he ever spoken with Child by telephone; Father attempted to communicate with
Child on one occasion during the CHINS proceedings, when he sent her a card
via DCS; “despite the multitude of programs available to inmates at the DOC,
Father has completed no programming while incarcerated for the past eight
years”; and “[t]o give Father additional time” to establish custody of Child after
his release from incarceration in June 2020 “would be to force [Child] to wait
for permanency for at least another two years [from the time of the termination
hearing]—very likely more—and potentially separate her from her siblings.”
Appellant’s App. Vol. II at 131 (emphases original).
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 18 of 19
[14] Father’s argument on appeal is simply an invitation for this Court to reweigh
the evidence and judge the credibility of the witnesses, which we cannot do.
Based on the totality of the circumstances, including Father’s complete absence
from Child’s life since her birth more than eight years ago and his refusal to
participate in any services towards demonstrating his ability to someday be a
parent to Child, we hold that the trial court’s findings support its conclusion
that the conditions that resulted in Child’s removal and the reasons for her
placement outside of his home will not be remedied.
[15] Affirmed.
Pyle, J., and Altice, J., concur.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-2124 | February 14, 2019 Page 19 of 19