MEMORANDUM DECISION
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D),
FILED
this Memorandum Decision shall not be Sep 27 2018, 6:01 am
regarded as precedent or cited before any CLERK
Indiana Supreme Court
court except for the purpose of establishing Court of Appeals
and Tax Court
the defense of res judicata, collateral
estoppel, or the law of the case.
ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE
Gregory L. Fumarolo Curtis T. Hill, Jr.
Fort Wayne, Indiana Attorney General of Indiana
Abigail R. Recker
Deputy Attorney General
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
In the Matter of the Termination September 27, 2018
of the Parent-Child Relationship Court of Appeals Case No.
of D.K.R. (Child) and D.W.R. 18A-JT-613
(Father); Appeal from the Allen Superior
D.W.R. (Father), Court
The Honorable Charles F. Pratt,
Appellant-Respondent,
Judge
v. Trial Court Cause No.
02D08-1705-JT-104
The Indiana Department of
Child Services,
Appellee-Petitioner
May, Judge.
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[1] D.W.R. (“Father”) appeals the involuntary termination of his parental rights to
D.K.R. (“Child”). Father argues the Department of Child Services (“DCS”)
did not present sufficient evidence to prove the elements required to terminate
his parental rights to Child because he was not given an opportunity to engage
in services prior to termination. As Father’s argument is better framed as one
challenging due process, we will consider whether he was denied due process
during the proceedings. Concluding Father received due process, we affirm.
Facts and Procedural History
[2] Child was born to P.R. (“Mother”) 1 on March 24, 2011. Mother and Father 2
were not married. Mother testified Father was not present at Child’s birth, but
he visited Child “periodically” after she came home from the hospital. (Tr. Vol.
II at 43.) When Child was one and a half years old, Mother moved to Fort
Wayne, Indiana, and Child stayed with Father in Chicago for three to four
months while Mother “settled in.” (Tr. Vol. II at 43.) Mother testified Father
had provided approximately $400-$500 in child support during Child’s lifetime
and he had not seen Child for “three (3) to four (4) years.” (Id. at 45.)
[3] On September 29, 2014, Child and her four siblings 3 were removed from
Mother’s care because Mother “left [Child] unattended and had been arrested
1
Mother’s rights to Child were also involuntarily terminated, but she does not participate in this appeal.
2
Father allegedly established paternity in Illinois, but that document is not in the record before us.
3
Mother’s parental rights to Child’s siblings were also terminated, but they are not the subject of this appeal.
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-JT-613 | September 27, 2018 Page 2 of 8
and convicted of resisting law enforcement, criminal recklessness, reckless
driving and operating a vehicle without a license.” (App. Vol. II at 10.) On
October 1, 2014, DCS filed a petition to adjudicate Child and her siblings as
Children in Need of Services (“CHINS”). Mother provided DCS with Father’s
last known address, and the certificate of service for the petition indicates DCS
sent a copy of the petition to him.
[4] On October 24, 2014, DCS filed an amended petition to adjudicate Child a
CHINS. Father’s address was listed as unknown on that petition. On October
27, 2014, Child and her siblings were adjudicated CHINS after Mother
admitted the allegations contained in the CHINS petition. The trial court
entered a dispositional decree as to Mother the same day, ordering her to
participate in certain services and visit with Child and her siblings. Father did
not appear before the court at these proceedings.
[5] On June 1, 2017, DCS filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of Mother
and Father to Child. DCS sent a copy of the petition to Father’s last known
address. Father’s sister contacted DCS in August 2017, and Father spoke with
the DCS Family Case Manager at that time. The trial court held a dispositional
hearing as to Father in the CHINS case for the Child on September 20, 2017,
but the court did not issue a dispositional order at that time. DCS began the
process to arrange therapeutic visits between Father and Child, and Child
completed the intake appointment on October 26, 2017, but Father did not
complete the required intake appointment.
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[6] On November 6 and 7, 2017, the trial court held fact-finding hearings for the
petition to terminate Mother’s and Father’s parental rights. Father was present
at these hearings, and his counsel cross-examined witnesses, but Father did not
testify. On February 7, 2018, the trial court entered an order terminating
Mother’s and Father’s parental rights to Child based on Mother’s lack of
compliance with services and visitation, as well as the fact that Father “[had]
not visited or provided for [Child].” (Id. at 13.)
Discussion and Decision
[7] Father challenges the involuntary termination of his parental rights on the basis
that there existed insufficient evidence from which the trial court could
conclude termination was appropriate pursuant to the requirements set forth in
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2). 4 However, his arguments center around his
4
To terminate a parent-child relationship, the State must 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.
(iii) The child has, on two (2) separate occasions, been adjudicated a child in
need of services;
(C) that termination is in the best interests of the child; and
(D) that there is a satisfactory plan for the care and treatment of the child.
Ind. Code § 31-35-2-4(b)(2).
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contention he did not receive certain due process throughout the proceedings,
and we will address them as such.
[8] When the State seeks to involuntarily terminate a parent’s right to his child, it
must do so in a manner that meets the requirements of due process. Hite v.
Vanderburg Cty. Office of Family & Children, 845 N.E.2d 175, 181 (Ind. Ct. App.
2006). “Due process in parental rights cases involves the balancing of three
factors: (1) the private interests affected by the proceeding; (2) the risk of error
created by the State’s chosen procedure; and (3) the countervailing government
interest supporting use of the challenged procedure.” Id.
[9] Here, Father’s private interest in maintaining a relationship with Child is
substantial insomuch as his parental rights have been terminated. See J.T. v.
Marion Cty. Office of Family & Children, 740 N.E.2d 1261, 1264 (Ind. Ct. App.
2000) (“a parent’s interest in the care, custody, and control of his child is
‘perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests’”) (quoting Troxel v.
Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65 (2000)), reh’g denied, trans. denied, abrogated on other
grounds by Baker v. Marion Cty. Office of Family & Children, 810 N.E.2d 1035, 1041
(Ind. 2004) (abrogated regarding sufficiency of counsel). However, the State of
Indiana also has a compelling interest in protecting the welfare of children. In
the Matter of E.M., 581 N.E.2d 948, 952 (Ind. Ct. App. 1991), trans. denied.
Thus, we must consider the risk of error in the chosen procedure.
[10] Here, Father was identified by name as alleged father of Child in the September
30, 2014, petition to adjudicate Child as a CHINS. His date of birth and
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address were also listed on the petition. (Ex. Vol. II at 60.) 5 The petition
indicates it was served on Father. (Id. at 63.) The certificate of service on the
trial court’s Preliminary Inquiry Order, entered on October 1, 2014, indicated
Father was served with that order. (Id. at 67.) The certificate of service for the
order on initial hearing and detention order, entered on October 1, 2014,
indicated Father was served with that order. (Id. at 76.) However, the
certificate of service for the amended petition to adjudicate Child a CHINS,
filed on October 24, 2014, indicates Father’s address was unknown. (Id. at 84.)
[11] On May 30, 2017, DCS filed its verified petition for involuntary termination of
the parent-child relationship between Father and Child. In that petition, DCS
listed Father’s address, which was a different address than was provided for
Father in 2014. (Id. at 13.) On September 27, 2017, the publisher of The
Chicago Crusader signed an affidavit that she had published legal notice of the
termination proceedings in The Chicago Crusader on September 9, 16, and 23,
2017. (Id. at 18.) On October 5, 2017, an employee of Evolution Process
Service filed an Affidavit of Service indicating he had served the notice of the
termination of parental rights proceedings to “Mona Parker” at the address
provided for Father, and “Mona Parker” verified Father resided at that address.
(Id. at 6.)
5
The pages of the Exhibit Volume are not numbered, so we identify the page based on the page indicated by
the electronic version of the record.
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[12] Father appeared at a dispositional hearing on September 20, 2017, and the trial
court indicated it would enter a dispositional order as to Father as part of the
CHINS proceedings. Shortly following the dispositional hearing, DCS
requested therapeutic visits be held between Father and Child, and Child was
brought for the initial intake for those visits on October 26, 2017. Father did
not complete an assessment prior to the termination hearing on November 6,
2017. Father attended the termination hearings on November 6 and 7, 2017.
[13] At the hearing, Mother testified she spoke with Father “every other week” and
affirmed that throughout the proceedings they had been communicating at least
monthly. (Tr. Vol. II at 49.) Mother testified Father “ask[ed] about [Child] all
the time.” (Id. at 52.) Mother affirmed she had told Father that Child was no
longer in her care, and they “talked over the years about it and how to get
[Child] back and everything.” (Id. at 53.) Mother indicated Father knew Child
had been removed from her care by Child’s birthday in March 2015. While
Father attended the hearing and his counsel cross-examined witnesses, Father
did not testify.
[14] The record simply does not demonstrate that Father was denied the opportunity
to participate in the proceedings. The record indicates DCS contacted Father at
the address given for him as long as an address was provided, and Father did
not testify that he did not receive notice of the CHINS proceedings. Mother
testified Father knew Child was no longer in her care since at least 2015, but
Father did not contact the court to appear in the CHINS proceedings at that
point. Thus, we conclude the risk of error is not substantial because Father was
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given the opportunity to participate in the latter portions of the CHINS action
and in the termination proceedings, and Father has not demonstrated he failed
to receive service of those items sent to him at the initiation of the proceedings.
See Hite, 845 N.E.2d at 184 (risk of error not substantial because father was not
denied the opportunity to be heard in the latter portions of the CHINS action
and during the termination proceedings). Father cannot ignore notice of
CHINS proceedings and then attempt to prolong the process by suddenly
appearing after DCS files a termination petition almost three years after Child
was removed from Mother’s care. See In re E.M., 4 N.E.3d 636, 648 (Ind. 2014)
(permanency is a paramount need for children, and “children cannot wait
indefinitely for their parents to work toward preservation or reunification”).
Conclusion
[15] Father’s due process rights were not violated as part of the CHINS or
termination of parental rights processes. Accordingly, we affirm the trial
court’s involuntary termination of Father’s parental rights to Child.
[16] Affirmed.
Baker, J., and Robb, J., concur.
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