In the Matter of: Q.J., Jr., Q.J., Bre.J., Ba.J., Bri.J., and Bro.J., Children in Need of Services, Q.J., Sr. (Father) v. Indiana Department of Child Services

FILED
Jan 17 2018, 7:49 am

CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
and Tax Court

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Trenna S. Parker Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Trenna S. Parker Law Office, P.C. Attorney General of Indiana
Noblesville, Indiana
David E. Corey
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana

IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

In the Matter of: Q.J., Jr., Q.J., January 17, 2018
Bre.J., Ba.J., Bri.J., and Bro.J., Court of Appeals Case No.
Children in Need of Services, 29A04-1706-JC-1482
Q.J., Sr. (Father), Appeal from the Hamilton
Superior Court
Appellant-Respondent,
The Honorable Todd L. Ruetz,
v. Magistrate
The Honorable Steven R. Nation,
Indiana Department of Child Judge
Services, Trial Court Cause Nos.
29D01-1608-JC-1036
Appellee-Petitioner.
29D01-1608-JC-1037
29D01-1608-JC-1039
29D01-1608-JC-1040
29D01-1608-JC-1041
29D01-1608-JC-1042

Najam, Judge.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 1 of 25
 Statement of the Case
[1] Q.J., Sr. (“Father”) appeals the trial court’s adjudication of his six minor

children as children in need of services (“CHINS”).1 The Children are: Q.J.,

Jr., born September 11, 2001; Q.J., born December 28, 2002; Bre.J., born May

19, 2005; Ba.J., born December 31, 2008; Bri.J., born June 25, 2011; and

Bro.J., born May 17, 2013, (“the Children”).2 Father raises four issues for our

review, which we restate as the following three issues:

1. Whether the trial court abused its discretion when it
allowed Dr. Demetris to testify as to statements Q.J., Jr.
had made to her during her examination of him.

2. Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the trial
court’s adjudication of the Children as CHINS.

3. Whether Father was denied the effective assistance of
counsel.

[2] We affirm.

Facts and Procedural History
[3] On August 24, 2016, Q.J., Jr., who was fourteen years old, ran away from

home. Father and B.J. (“Mother”) filed a report with the Carmel Police

Department. Officer Blake Lytle responded to the call and first observed Q.J.,

1
The Children’s mother does not participate in this appeal.
2
Q.J., Jr. and Q.J. are both males and will be referred to collectively as “the Boys.” Bre.J., Ba.J., Bri.J., and
Bro.J. are females and will be referred to collectively as “the Girls.”

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 2 of 25
 Jr. that night wearing a black shirt and blue boxers. When Q.J., Jr. saw Officer

Lytle, he ran. Q.J., Jr. eluded officers until the next morning. On August 25,

officers located Q.J., Jr. and discovered that he had slept under a box in the

woods. Q.J., Jr. had two stolen backpacks with him that were filled with stolen

food. Officer Lytle was present when officers located Q.J., Jr. Officer Lytle

observed Q.J., Jr. limping, so he arranged for a medic to examine him. Officer

Lytle thought that Q.J., Jr. appeared skinny and he was concerned that Q.J., Jr.

was being abused, so he notified his supervisor in order to have a detective

interview Q.J., Jr. While the medics examined him, Q.J., Jr. told Officer Lytle

that “things were going on at home.” Tr. Vol. III at 35.

[4] Master Patrolman David Vanderbeck was also on the scene when officers

located Q.J., Jr. Officer Vanderbeck was shocked by Q.J., Jr.’s appearance. He

observed that Q.J., Jr. was “just like skin and bones. He was really small.” Id.

at 18. Officer Vanderbeck was concerned about Q.J., Jr.’s health and well-

being, so he also called the fire department to have the medics examine him.

When Officer Vanderbeck asked Q.J., Jr. why he ran away, Q.J., Jr. got “all

teary-eyed and stuff” and said he “was too scared to tell [Officer Vanderbeck]

because his mom and dad would find out what he told [Officer Vanderbeck].”

Id. at 19. Officer Vanderbeck suggested to Sergeant Brady Myers that their

investigation division be notified about the situation. Sergeant Myers contacted

Detective Nancy Zellers. Officer Vanderbeck then transported Q.J., Jr. to the

police station.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 3 of 25
[5] After Q.J., Jr. arrived at the police station, Detective Zellers conducted a

forensic interview of him. During the interview, Q.J., Jr. described abuse he

and his siblings endured at home. He said that there were cameras set up in the

home to monitor their behavior and that they were denied ready access to food,

which was kept in the master bedroom closet. Q.J., Jr. also said that he was

being abused and that “food was being withheld and that he was being beaten.”

Tr. Vol. II at 243. Detective Zellers stated that Q.J., Jr. “did not have the

appearance of being a well-nourished child.” Id.

[6] At the police station, Detective Zellers spoke with Mother. Mother told

Detective Zellers that “she was frustrated, that . . . [Q.J., Jr.] was ruining their

lives.” Id. at 225. She further said that Q.J., Jr. “was evil, he was a liar, he was

a kleptomaniac because he stole food from their pantry, he stole food from

dumpsters and ate it.” Id. Based on Mother’s description of the events,

Detective Zellers became concerned that Q.J., Jr. was being neglected and

abused. Detective Zellers determined that Q.J., Jr. should be taken to the

hospital because “he did not look well. He appeared emaciated and just did not

look well, sunken eyes.” Id. at 224-25.

[7] Detective Zellers obtained a search warrant for Mother and Father’s home to

corroborate Q.J., Jr.’s statements. Detective Zellers executed the search

warrant on the evening of August 25 and found cameras in the home, but there

were no stored images. Another officer determined that there was food in the

master closet.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 4 of 25
[8] Peyton Lill, a Family Case Manager (“FCM”) with the Indiana Department of

Child Services (“DCS”), was assigned to investigate the safety and well-being of

the Children after she received a report that Q.J., Jr. had run away and that

there was physical abuse. Lill went to the police station and interviewed Q.J.,

Jr. On August 27 at approximately 3:00 P.M., Lill was able to speak with all of

the Children except Q.J., Jr. All five of them said they had not yet eaten on

that day.

[9] After Zellers and Lill interviewed Q.J., Jr., he was transported to the hospital

and admitted. On August 26, Doctor Cortney Demetris evaluated him. Dr.

Demetris was concerned about Q.J., Jr.’s “weight and malnutrition as well as

some injuries and some lab abnormalities.” Id. at 96. Dr. Demetris’ initial

concern was that Q.J., Jr. was malnourished because “he was so underweight

and he was so small for his age and he had laboratory findings that were

consistent with malnourishment.” Id. at 99. When he was admitted to the

hospital, Q.J., Jr. weighed approximately seventy-two pounds. Dr. Demetris

reviewed the results of laboratory work that had been done on Q.J., Jr. Dr.

Demetris found that Q.J., Jr. had “an elevated CPK[,] which is an enzyme that

is released from the muscle if there’s time when the muscle is damaged or

stressed. He also had a very low prealbumin[,] which is a marker for nutritional

status, specifically as it relates to proteins and protein malnutrition.” Id. at 107.

In addition to her concerns about malnourishment, Dr. Demetris also observed

an abrasion on Q.J., Jr.’s chin; some tenderness and swelling on his ankle; and

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 5 of 25
 some bruising over his lower back, the top of his buttocks, on one of his hips,

and on his chest.

[10] On August 26, and on two other occasions, Dr. Demetris spoke with Mother

about Q.J., Jr. Mother stated that Q.J., Jr. would eat fruit for breakfast, a

Lunchable or leftovers with some chips for lunch, and a homecooked meal or

dinner out with the family for dinner. Mother further stated that Q.J., Jr.

would frequently steal and exhibit other difficult behaviors and that she “was

going to provide him with the kind of basic three meals a day and he would not

be allowed to have any extra as a result of negative consequences for these

behaviors that he was exhibiting.” Id. at 119. Mother told Dr. Demetris that

Q.J., Jr. would steal food and eat food out of trash cans. She said that he

would also steal nonfood items like protein powder from Mother’s purse. Dr.

Demetris asked Mother if, based on his degree of malnutrition, Mother felt he

was stealing food because he was starving. Mother said she “felt that [Q.J., Jr.]

was getting enough food each day[.]” Id. at 121. Mother said she was not

going to give him any extras beyond three meals a day, which Mother said is

“the minimum she was required to provide him as his parent[.]” Id. at 122.

Mother also told Dr. Demetris that the Children can have extra food if they

speak up about their siblings’ misbehaviors. Dr. Demetris was concerned about

Q.J., Jr.’s siblings “based on the history that was provided to me by [Q.J., Jr.]

and his mother.” Id. at 128. Dr. Demetris recommended that the other

children be evaluated to determine if they were malnourished or if they had any

injuries consistent with physical abuse.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 6 of 25
[11] A few days later, Dr. Demetris examined Q.J., Jr.’s brother, Q.J., who was

thirteen years old. When Dr. Demetris examined Q.J., he had already been

admitted to the hospital because of malnutrition. Dr. Demetris was concerned

about Q.J.’s weight. She was also able to observe bruising on the lower part of

his back and scratches around his ankles or lower extremities. Dr. Demetris

examined Q.J. and ran tests, but she was not able to speak with Q.J.’s parents

because they were unavailable. Q.J. provided Dr. Demetris with very little

history. However, based on Q.J., Jr.’s history and the statements Mother made

to Dr. Demetris at the time Dr. Demetris examined Q.J., Jr., Dr. Demetris was

concerned about Q.J. Q.J. did not specifically talk to Dr. Demetris about

exercise, but Q.J. told the admitting team that his exercise involved “several

hundred repetitions of certain exercise movements and lasting several hours.”

Id. at 139. Dr. Demetris ran diagnostic tests on Q.J. Q.J.’s prealbumin levels

were on “the low end of normal, being 18 in our lab, 18 being the low end of

normal, 17 being considered abnormal, and his was 18.” Id. He also had

elevated liver function tests and low Vitamin D levels. Based on the tests, Dr.

Demetris diagnosed Q.J. with moderate to severe malnutrition with no

underlying medical condition that could explain it. Dr. Demetris was also

concerned about the bruises she found on Q.J. based on the history provided by

Q.J., Jr. Q.J. was discharged from the hospital after a few days. On September

14, Q.J., Jr. was discharged from the hospital after Dr. Demetris saw significant

improvement in his weight. On that date, he weighed eighty-seven pounds and

twelve ounces.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 7 of 25
[12] In the meantime, on August 30, 2016, DCS filed CHINS petitions for each of

the Children. On that same day, the trial court held a detention hearing. After

the hearing, the trial court found that Q.J., Jr. should continue to remain

outside of Mother and Father’s home, and the trial court ordered the removal of

the five other children. Also on August 30, the State charged both Mother and

Father with two counts of neglect of a dependent, as Level 6 felonies, based on

the Boys’ malnutrition. The State later added a third charge against Mother

and Father for neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, as a Level 5

felony, due to Q.J., Jr.’s severe malnutrition.

[13] On November 17, Dr. Sarah Szerlong conducted a clinical interview and

assessment of Bre.J. and Ba.J. After the assessments, Dr. Szerlong completed a

report for each of the girls. In her report for Bre.J., Dr. Szerlong wrote that

Bre.J. had reported that “her parents would make her brothers, [Q.J., Jr. and

Q.J.,] work ‘really hard and do chores until 4 in the morning.’” Ex. at 108.

She had further stated that “her parents would sometimes make her brother run

around outside and would smack him up on the head.” Id. Further, Bre.J.

reported that her father “becomes angry easily and has a history of smacking

her brother.” Id. Bre.J. had also reported “witnessing her father hit her

brothers and engage in corporal punishment, and witnessing verbal arguments

between her parents.” Id. at 113. In her report for Ba.J., Dr. Szerlong reported

that Ba.J. had “shared that her parents have a history of domestic disputes, one

where her mother reportedly held a knife and scissors up to her father’s neck.

She acknowledged feeling fearful when witnessing this and other domestic

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 8 of 25
 violence between her parents.” Id. at 118. Ba.J. had also reported that Father

“has ‘whooped’ her on several occasions.” Id. Ba.J. had “reported incidents of

domestic violence between her parents occurred multiple times.” Id. at 119.

Ba.J. had also “stated she has seen her mother attempt to kill her brother, [Q.J.,

Jr.].” Id. at 122. Dr. Szerlong’s report indicated that “[Ba.J.] is struggling with

a variety of depression, anxiety, and trauma[-]related symptoms.” Id. at 125.

[14] In January 2017, Mother requested an independent medical examination of

Q.J., Jr. and Q.J. Dr. Amanda Beach examined Q.J. on January 23, and she

examined Q.J., Jr. on January 25. For her appointment with Q.J., Jr., Dr.

Beach did a complete physical examination and reviewed the discharge notes

from the hospital. By the time Dr. Beach examined Q.J., Jr. in January, he had

gained thirty-one pounds and had grown two inches since he was discharged

from the hospital. When Dr. Beach examined Q.J. in January, he had gained

six pounds since he was discharged from the hospital.

[15] On March 3 and March 7, 2017, the trial court held a fact-finding hearing on

the CHINS petitions. As a preliminary matter, DCS moved to admit the

clinical interview assessments for Bre.J. and Ba.J. Both Mother and Father

stated that they did not object, and the trial court admitted the assessments as

evidence. During the hearing, DCS presented as evidence the testimony of

Officer Lytle; Officer Vanderbeck; Detective Zellers; Dr. Demetris; Dr. Beach;

Emily Sabau, Q.J., Jr.’s therapist; Lill; FCM Amanda O’Connell; Bertha Push,

the therapist for Bre.J. and Ba.J,; and Robin Allen, the therapist for Bri.J. and

Bro.J.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 9 of 25
[16] Dr. Demetris testified during the hearing about her examination and diagnosis

of Q.J., Jr. The attorney for DCS asked Dr. Demetris what Q.J., Jr. said was

the cause for his malnourishment. Father objected on hearsay grounds, but the

trial court overruled his objection. Dr. Demetris testified that she did not

specifically ask Q.J., Jr. what had caused his malnourishment but, instead,

asked questions about what he ate and what he was offered, but “he gave a

history of a fairly limited amount of food availab[le] to him.” Tr. Vol. II at 97.

Dr. Demetris further testified that Q.J., Jr. “advised that he was restricted from

having access to food as a form of punishment” and “that he would be

restricted from having lunch, for example, if he was in trouble on that day.” Id.

Dr. Demetris further testified that Mother gave a history about the amount of

food that Q.J., Jr. was provided that was very similar to the history Q.J., Jr.

gave.

[17] Dr. Demetris testified that, at almost fifteen years old, Q.J., Jr. weighed

approximately seventy-two pounds. She testified that the “average weight for a

child of that age is closer to approximately, maybe 130 to 140 pounds.” Id. at

108. She also testified that, based on the history Q.J., Jr. gave her regarding his

food intake, she concluded that he was eating “less than 50 percent of what was

calculated as would be what he would need for his calories for growth.” Id. at

113-14. She further testified that she “was not able to find any underlying

medical condition that would explain his malnourishment.” Id. at 114. Dr.

Demetris testified that “it would take weeks to months for [Q.J., Jr.] to have

that degree of malnourishment.” Id. at 115. She further stated that “he would

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 10 of 25
 be at risk for significant negative health complications, including death, if he

continued to have that degree of malnutrition in the comings weeks to months.”

Id. Dr. Demetris testified that Mother did not believe Q.J., Jr. was

malnourished, even after Dr. Demetris spoke with her “at some length, making

an attempt to help her understand why it was my medical diagnosis that he had

severe malnutrition[.]” Id. at 125.

[18] Dr. Demetris testified regarding her examination and diagnosis of Q.J. She

testified that when Q.J. was admitted to the hospital, he was significantly below

the growth chart for his weight and he was in the 50th percentile for height.

She testified that Q.J.’s level of malnutrition “would have taken at least weeks

to months.” Id. at 140. She further testified that had “he continued to have that

degree of malnutrition he was at risk for medical complications, including

death[,] in the weeks to months in the future.” Id. She also testified that the

malnutrition and the bruises to the back “would not normally be present

without an act or omission by the parents.” Id. at 141. However, she testified

that she could not say for certain that the bruises and scrapes were caused by

Mother or Father. Q.J. weighed sixty-two pounds on August 30, 2016. On

January 23, 2017, he weighed sixty-eight pounds and 6.4 ounces.

[19] DCS also presented the testimony of Lill, a FCM. Lill testified that Mother had

stated that Q.J., Jr. had ruined their lives. Lill further testified that Mother had

“stated they use exercise as a discipline method. They take away snacks. And

at the time they were taking away his clothes. They thought that it was a good

punishment so that he wouldn’t run away. He was only allowed to wear his

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 11 of 25
 underwear.” Tr. Vol. III at 61. Lill testified that she did not recommend

returning the Children to the care of Mother and Father “[b]ased on everything

that [Q.J., Jr.] was telling me, how severely malnourished [Q.J.] and [Q.J., Jr.]

were, the physical abuse, and the marks and bruises on both children, the

behaviors of the other children, and specifically the children, what they had to

say about [Q.J., Jr.], they all called him evil and they hated him, etcetera.” Id.

at 86. In regards to the Girls, Lill testified as to what made her decide that they

should not go back to their parents. She stated:

So we’ll start with [Bri.J.]. She called . . . [Q.J., Jr.] evil multiple
times in [her forensic interview]. She stated, and she’s five. And
she stated that the eating situation and that [Q.J., Jr.] wasn’t
allowed to eat with them and [Q.J., Jr.] actually had to eat
upstairs so that he wouldn’t steal their food. And that shocked
me because it was a five-year-old. [Bre.J.] said the same thing.
She mentioned all the discipline that the parents made [Q.J., Jr.]
do and her and [Q.J.]. She also talked about the food restrictions
and them stealing food. And [Ba.J.], she mentioned how awful
[Q.J., Jr.] was and the discipline and stuff like that so.

Id. at 89-90.

[20] Amanda O’Connell also testified. She was the FCM who was assigned to the

case at the end of December 2016. O’Connell testified that she had

recommended services, including home-based therapy for both parents,

psychological evaluation for both parents, and Father Engagement for Father.

However, those referrals were discharged due to noncompliance. She testified

that she was not able to recommend that the Children return to the care of their

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 12 of 25
 parents out of concerns for their safety. She testified that “for the safety of the

children the parents will need to engage in services. The children need to

continue with their therapy to address their trauma.” Id. at 120.

[21] Bertha Rush is a home-based therapist who has worked with Bre.J. and Ba.J.,

who are eleven and eight years old, since the end of October 2016. She also

testified at the fact-finding hearing. She testified that she works with Bre.J. and

Ba.J. to address “some trauma that’s been reported to me by the girls.” Id. at

127. Rush testified that she would not recommend that Bre.J. and Ba.J. return

to the care of their parents because “they still have quite a bit to work through.

It’s also been told to me by one of the girls that they’re not ready to go home

yet.” Id. at 129.

[22] Finally, DCS presented the testimony of Robin Allen. Allen is a home-based

therapist who has worked with Bri.J., and Bro.J., who are five and three years

old, since early November 2016. Allen testified that she would not recommend

that Bri. J. and Bro.J. return to the care of their parents at this time. She further

testified that Bro.J. “talk[s] about being afraid of visits and going home, things

like that.” Id. at 143.

[23] Father presented the testimony of William Ellery. Ellery coaches Little League

baseball for Carmel Dad’s Club, and Q.J. was on his team in the spring of 2015.

Ellery testified that “the relationship with [Q.J.] and his dad was just, it was

always good.” Id. at 46. He further testified that the relationship between Q.J.

and Father was always positive and that there was a lot of interaction between

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 13 of 25
 Father, Q.J., and Q.J., Jr. that Ellery said was “a really nice family situation to

see.” Id. at 47. Neither Mother nor Father testified. On March 28, 2017, the

trial court entered its orders, which contained findings and conclusions and

which adjudicated the Children to be CHINS. This appeal ensued.

Discussion and Decision
Issue One: Testimony of Dr. Demetris

[24] Father first contends that the trial court abused its discretion when it allowed

Dr. Demetris to testify about the statements Q.J., Jr. made to her regarding the

source of his bruises and malnutrition because the statements were hearsay. A

trial court’s decision regarding the admission of evidence is squarely within that

court’s discretion, and we afford it great deference on appeal. VanPatten v. State,

986 N.E.2d 255, 260 (Ind. 2013). We will not reverse such a decision unless it

is clearly contrary to the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances of the

case or misinterprets the law. Id. A hearsay statement is one that is not made

by the declarant while testifying at the trial or hearing and that is offered to

prove the truth of the matter asserted. Ind. Evidence Rule 801(c). Hearsay

statements are generally not admissible unless they fall within an exception

outlined in the Indiana Rules of Evidence. Evid. R. 802.

[25] Indiana Evidence Rule 803(4) permits statements made for the purpose of

medical diagnosis or treatment to be admitted into evidence. The rule requires

that the “statements must be ‘made by persons who are seeking medical

diagnosis or treatment and describing medical history, or past or present

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 14 of 25
 symptoms, pain, sensations, or the inception or general character of the cause

or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to diagnosis or

treatment.’” VanPatten, 986 N.E.2d at 260 (quoting Evid. R. 803(4)). The

“exception is grounded in a belief that the declarant’s self-interest in obtaining

proper medical treatment makes such a statement reliable enough for admission

at trial[.]” Id.

This belief of reliability, though, necessitates a two-step analysis
for admission under Rule 803(4): First, “is the declarant
motivated to provide truthful information in order to promote
diagnosis and treatment,” and second, “is the content of the
statement such that an expert in the field would reasonably rely
on it in rendering diagnosis or treatment.”

Id. (quoting McClain v. State, 675 N.E.2d 329, 331 (Ind. 1996)).

[26] Father specifically contends that Q.J., Jr.’s statements to Dr. Demetris were

hearsay because “the record is devoid of testimony to establish that Q.J.[,] Jr.

knew that he was talking to a professional for the purposes of making a

diagnosis” and because “it is not readily apparent that Q.J.[,] Jr. was motivated

to tell the truth.” Appellant’s Br. at 14. To support his contention, Father relies

on Bartrum v. Grant County Office of Family and Children (In re W.B.), 772 N.E.2d

522 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). In that case, the trial court admitted statements that

children had made to their therapists under Indiana Evidence Rule 803(4). On

appeal, this Court concluded that the statements made by the children met the

second prong of the test found in McClain, but we held that the record was

“devoid of any evidence . . . that the children, in making these statements, were

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 15 of 25
 ‘motivated to provide truthful information in order to promote diagnosis and

treatment.’” Id. at 533 (quoting McClain, 675 N.E.2d at 331). In particular, we

observed that the testimony of the children’s therapist “clearly portrayed the

young children as mentally and emotionally incompetent, and no doubt totally

unaware of [the doctor’s] professional purpose.” Id. Further, we stated:

“Where that inference is not obvious, as in this case involving a young child

brought to treatment by someone else, there must be evidence that the declarant

understood the professional’s role in order to trigger the motivation to provide

truthful information.” Id. (quoting McClain, 675 N.E.2d at 331) (emphasis

added). Thus, we held that the doctor’s testimony did not meet the first prong

of the test.

[27] In the present case, Father asserts that, like in In re W.B., the “record is devoid

of testimony to establish that Q.J.[,] Jr. knew that he was talking to a

professional for the purposes of making a diagnosis or treatment.” Appellant’s

Br. at 14. But in In re W.B., the children who made the statements to the

therapist were young. The oldest child in that case was five years old when the

children were determined to be CHINS. Further, the record contained evidence

that the children were mentally incompetent. Because the children were young

and otherwise mentally incompetent, we held that the inference that they were

motivated to provide truthful information in order to promote diagnosis and

treatment was not obvious. Id.

[28] In contrast, here, Q.J., Jr. was not a young child. Q.J., Jr. made his statements

to Dr. Demetris while he was in the hospital on August 25, 2016, which was

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 16 of 25
 approximately three weeks prior to his fifteenth birthday. Based on Q.J., Jr.’s

age and the fact that he made the statements to a doctor while in a hospital, the

inference that he knew he was talking to a medical professional and that he was

motivated to provide truthful information is obvious. Therefore, Dr. Demetris’

testimony about Q.J., Jr.’s statements fell within the hearsay exception under

Evidence Rule 803(4), and the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it

admitted those statements.

Issue Two: Sufficiency of the Evidence

[29] Father next contends that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the trial

court’s determination that the Children are CHINS. Our Supreme Court has

recently reiterated our standard of review.

When reviewing a trial court’s CHINS determination, we do not
reweigh evidence or judge witness credibility. In re S.D., 2
N.E.3d 1283, 1286 (Ind. 2014). “Instead, we consider only the
evidence that supports the trial court’s decision and [the]
reasonable inferences drawn therefrom.” Id. at 1287 (citation,
brackets, and internal quotation marks omitted). When a trial
court supplements a CHINS judgment with findings of fact and
conclusions law, we apply a two-tiered standard of review. We
consider, first, “whether the evidence supports the findings” and,
second, “whether the findings support the judgment.” Id.
(citation omitted). We will reverse a CHINS determination only
if it was clearly erroneous. In re K.D., 962 N.E.2d 1249, 1253
(Ind. 2012). A decision is clearly erroneous if the record facts do
not support the findings or “if it applies the wrong legal standard
to properly found facts.” Yanoff v. Muncy, 688 N.E.2d 1259, 1262
(Ind. 1997) (citation omitted).

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 17 of 25
 Gr.J. and J.J. v. Ind. Dep’t. of Child Serv. (In re D.J.), 68 N.E.3d 574, 577-78 (Ind.

2017) (alterations in original).

The Boys

[30] Father asserts that “it was erroneous to find that there was sufficient evidence to

find that Father either physically abused or malnourished the children.”

Appellant’s Br. at 17. DCS alleged that the Boys were CHINS pursuant to

Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1, which provides that a child is a child in need

of services if, before the child becomes eighteen years of age: (1) the child’s

physical or mental condition is seriously impaired or seriously endangered as a

result of the inability, refusal, or neglect of the child’s parent, guardian, or

custodian to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical

care, education, or supervision; and (2) the child needs care, treatment, or

rehabilitation that: (A) the child is not receiving; and (B) is unlikely to be

provided or accepted without the coercive intervention of the court. Our

Supreme Court has interpreted this provision to require “three basic elements:

that the parent’s actions or inactions have seriously endangered the child, that

the child’s needs are unmet, and (perhaps most critically) that those needs are

unlikely to be met without State coercion.” J.B. v. Ind. Dep’t. of Child. Serv. (In re

S.D.), 2 N.E.3d 1283, 1287 (Ind. 2014).

[31] We agree with DCS that the evidence most favorable to the trial court’s

findings supports its conclusion that the Boys were CHINS pursuant to Indiana

Code Section 31-34-1-1. DCS introduced the following evidence at the fact-

finding hearing:
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 18 of 25
 • Officer Lytle’s testimony that Q.J., Jr. had two backpacks full of stolen
food and that he was very skinny when officers found him.
• Officer Vanderbeck’s testimony that Q.J., Jr. looked like he just stepped
out of a World War II prison camp.
• Detective Zellers’ testimony to the following:
• Q.J., Jr. said that food was being withheld.
• Q.J., Jr. did not have the appearance of being a well-nourished child
and he appeared emaciated.
• Mother told her that Q.J., Jr. was ruining their lives and that he was a
kleptomaniac because he stole food from their pantry and from
dumpsters.
• Dr. Demetris’ testimony to the following about Q.J., Jr.:
• He was underweight, he was small for his age, and he had laboratory
findings that were consistent with malnourishment.
• He weighed only seventy-two pounds while the average weight for a
child of that age is approximately 130 to 140 pounds.
• He said that he was restricted from having access to food as a form of
punishment.
• Mother gave a history about the amount of food that Q.J., Jr. was
provided that was very similar to the history Q.J., Jr. gave.
• Mother stated that Q.J., Jr. would steal food and eat food out of trash
cans.
• She could not find any underlying medical condition that would
explain his malnourishment, that it would take weeks to months for
him to have that degree of malnourishment, and that he would be at
risk for significant negative health complications if he continued to
have that degree of malnutrition in the near future.
• Mother did not believe Q.J., Jr. was malnourished, even after Dr.
Demetris spoke with her at length in an attempt to help her
understand why it was her medical diagnosis that he had severe
malnutrition.
• Dr. Demetris’ testimony to the following about Q.J.:
• He had also been admitted to the hospital for malnutrition.
• His prealbumin levels were on the low end of normal, and he had
elevated liver functions tests and low Vitamin D levels.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 19 of 25
 • It would have taken at least weeks to months to have his degree of
malnutrition, there was no underlying medical condition that could
explain Q.J.’s malnutrition, he would be at risk for medical
complications in the near future if he continued to have that degree of
malnutrition.
• Dr. Beach’s testimony that she agreed with Q.J., Jr.’s diagnosis of
malnutrition because his body mass index was less than 1st percentile
and because his labs were low.
• Dr. Beach’s testimony that she agreed with Q.J.’s diagnosis of
malnutrition because his body mass index was less than the 1st
percentile.
• Sabau’s testimony that Q.J., Jr. has been diagnosed with post-traumatic
stress disorder and that he told her that he was forced to walk around the
house in nothing but underwear, forced to exercise all day, hardly ever
got to eat, and that he was punished if he tried to steal food from
somewhere in the house.
• Lill’s testimony to the following:
• When she spoke with the five Children on August 27, they said they
had not yet eaten that day.
• Mother stated that Q.J., Jr. had ruined their lives and Mother talked
about how they discipline Q.J., Jr. using exercise, taking away snacks,
and taking away his clothes so he was only allowed to wear his
underwear.
• Q.J., Jr. he was supposed to be 15 years old soon and he looked like a
9-year-old, he was sickly looking, and he had bruises along his spine.
• Q.J. was so thin you could see his bones and his eyes were all sunken
in and red. He also had similar bruises to Q.J., Jr.

[32] That evidence demonstrates that the Boys had been deprived of food to the

point of severe malnourishment. That evidence shows that the parent’s actions

or inactions have seriously endangered the Boys, that the Boys’ needs are

unmet, and that those needs are unlikely to be met without State coercion. See

In re S.D., 2 N.E.3d at 1287. We therefore hold that sufficient evidence

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 20 of 25
 supports the trial court’s findings, and its findings support its conclusions with

respect to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1. 3

[33] Father also asserts that the trial court erred when it relied on Dr. Demetris’

testimony that Q.J., Jr. and Q.J. were malnourished and had been physically

abused. This is simply a request that we reweigh the evidence which we cannot

do. See In re D.J., 68 N.E.3d at 577.4

The Girls

[34] Father also asserts that the court erred when it found that the Girls are CHINS

because there was insufficient evidence to show “that their physical and

emotional conditions were seriously impaired or seriously endangered by their

exposure to their parents and home life.” Appellant’s Br. at 28. He further

asserts that DCS’ witnesses could only testify as to “what could happen to the

four female children, rather than testifying to existing neglect or physical

abuse.” Id. (emphasis in original).

3
The trial court also adjudicated the Boys to be CHINS pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-2.
Because we hold that there is sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s adjudication of the Boys as
CHINS pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-1, we need not decide whether there was sufficient
evidence to support the trial court’s finding that the Boys are CHINS under Indiana Code Section 31-34-1-2.
4
Father also contends that Dr. Demetris erred in relying on statements that Q.J., Jr. made to her when she
determined that Q.J., Jr. was only receiving fifty percent of his recommended caloric intake. Father asserts
that it was error for her to rely on the statements because Q.J., Jr. was unable to provide specific portion sizes
and because there would be some error in the calculation. However, it is clear from the record that Dr.
Demetris did not only rely on Q.J., Jr.’s statements. Dr. Demetris also spoke with Mother who gave a
similar history regarding the amount of food Q.J., Jr. ate. Dr. Demetris also reviewed the laboratory data,
which supported her diagnosis of malnutrition.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 21 of 25
[35] DCS alleged that the Girls were CHINS pursuant to Indiana Code Section 31-

34-1-1, which again requires that the parent’s actions or inactions have seriously

endangered the child, that the child’s needs are unmet, and that those needs are

unlikely to be met without State coercion. See In re S.D., 2 N.E.3d at 1287.

[36] We agree with DCS that the evidence most favorable to the trial court’s

findings supports its conclusion that the Girls were CHINS pursuant to Indiana

Code Section 31-34-1-1. DCS introduced the following evidence at the fact-

finding hearing:

• The clinical interview and assessment of Bre.J., in which Bre.J. reported
that her parents make her brothers work hard and do chores until 4:00
A.M., that Father has a history of smacking her brother, that she has
witnessed Father hit her brother, and that she has witnessed verbal
arguments between Mother and Father.
• The clinical interview and assessment of Ba.J., in which Ba.J. reported
that her parents have a history of domestic disputes, including one
incident where her mother reportedly held a knife and scissors up to her
father’s neck; that she is fearful when she witnesses the domestic violence
between her parents; that Father has whooped her on several occasions;
that she has seen Mother attempt to kill Q.J., Jr.; and that she is
struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms.
• Lill’s testimony to the following:
• When she spoke with five of the Children on August 27 at 3:00 PM,
they said they had not yet eaten that day.
• Bre.J. said she had been getting whooped.
• Rush’s testimony that:
• She works with Bre.J. and Ba. J. to address trauma that the two girls
have reported to her.
• The two girls told her they were not ready to go home.
• Bre.J. reported that there were some very physical punishments and
that food was removed as a punishment.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 22 of 25
 • Bre.J. said there was a lot of arguing in the home.
• Bre.J. and Ba.J. told her that their siblings were deprived of food and
that there was physical abuse.
• Bre.J. and Ba.J. both said that they were encouraged to participate in
the physical abuse of a sibling when that sibling was in trouble.
• Allen’s testimony that Bro.J. is afraid of visits and of going home.

[37] Thus, the evidence most favorable to the trial court’s findings shows that at

least two of the Girls have been physically abused, that all of the Girls have

been exposed to domestic violence between Mother and Father that has

occurred in the home, that the Girls were exposed to the abuse and extreme

punishment of the Boys, and that the Girls were encouraged to participate in

the violence against a sibling when that sibling was in trouble. The evidence

supports the trial court’s findings that the parent’s actions or inactions have

seriously endangered the Girls, that the Girls’ needs are unmet, and that those

needs are unlikely to be met without State coercion. See In re S.D., 2 N.E.3d at

1287. And those findings support the trial court’s judgment. In light of the

evidence most favorable to the judgment, we cannot say that the trial court’s

adjudication of the Girls as CHINS is clearly erroneous.5

5
In its brief on appeal and in its appendix, DCS provided evidence that Father pleaded guilty to one count
of neglect of a dependent, as a Level 6 felony, and one count of neglect of dependent resulting in bodily
injury, as a Level 5 felony. DCS argues that “[t]he Indiana Supreme Court and this Court ha[ve] held that
parties are required to let this Court know of ‘post-judgment events which may affect the outcome of a
pending appeal.’” Appellee’s Br. at 33 (quoting In re C.B.M., 992 N.E.2d 687, 693 (Ind. 2013)). And DCS
asserts that Father’s guilty plea would affect the outcome of his appeal because it contradicts Father’s
argument that there is insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s finding that the Children are CHINS.
In his reply brief, Father claims DCS’ inclusion of his guilty plea was improper because it was not part of the
record on appeal, DCS failed to file the proper motions to bring the additional evidence before this Court,
and because the inclusion does not render his appeal moot. However, the error, if any, in the inclusion of

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 23 of 25
 Issue Four: Effective Assistance of Counsel

[38] Finally, Father asserts that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel.

Specifically, he claims that, following the CHINS determinations, his court-

appointed counsel should have filed a motion for relief from judgment under

Indiana Trial Rule 60(B)(2) because the psychological evaluation of Q.J. was

not conducted until June 9, 2017, and the report was not filed with the trial

court until August 14, 2017, almost five months after the trial court issued its

order that adjudicated the Children to be CHINS on March 28, 2017.

[39] Indiana Code Section 31-34-4-6 entitles Father to an attorney at each court

proceeding on a CHINS petition. But Father was represented by counsel in the

trial court at each proceeding on the CHINS petitions. And Father has not

directed us to any case law that says that that statute creates a cause of action

for ineffective assistance of counsel in a CHINS proceeding, or under what

standard such a claim might be determined.

[40] In any event, we need not decide whether this claim is available to him for the

purposes of this appeal because we conclude that, had his attorney filed a

motion for relief from judgment, it would not have been successful. Indiana

Trial Rule 60(B)(2) provides relief from judgment for newly discovered

evidence. “Relief from judgment based on newly discovered evidence requires

a showing that the newly discovered evidence is material, is not merely

Father’s guilty plea is harmless. As discussed above, there is ample evidence in the record to support the trial
court’s findings that the Children are CHINS without considering Father’s guilty plea.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 24 of 25
 cumulative or impeaching, was not discoverable by due diligence, and would

reasonably and probably alter the result.” Outback Steakhouse of Fla., Inc. v.

Markley, 856 N.E.2d 65, 85 (Ind. 2006) (emphasis added).

[41] Father asserts that some of the statements Q.J. made in his psychological

evaluation “are in direct contrast to the testimony of Dr. Demetris regarding

statements made by Q.J.[,] Jr.” Appellant’s Br. at 30. In essence, Father claims

that Q.J.’s psychological evaluation could be used to impeach Dr. Demetris.

Because the newly discovered evidence would merely be impeaching, Father

would not have been entitled to relief from judgment. See Outback Steakhouse,

856 N.E.2d at 85. Because a Trial Rule 60(B)(2) motion would have failed, he

cannot show that he was denied the effective assistance of counsel.

[42] In sum, we hold as follows: the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it

allowed Dr. Demetris to testify about the statements Q.J., Jr. made to her

regarding the source of his bruises and malnutrition; there was sufficient

evidence to support the trial court’s finding that the Children are CHINS; and

Father was not denied the effective assistance of counsel. As such, we affirm

the trial court’s adjudication of the Children as CHINS.

[43] Affirmed.

Mathias, J., and Barnes, J., concur.

Court of Appeals of Indiana | Opinion 29A04-1706-JC-1482 | January 17, 2018 Page 25 of 25