[Cite as In re S.D., 2016-Ohio-7057.]
COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
: JUDGES:
:
: Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J.
: Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
IN RE S.D. : Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, J.
:
: Case No. 2016 CA 00124
:
:
:
:
: OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Stark County Court of
Common Pleas, Family Court Division,
Case No. 2015 JCV 00262 A
JUDGMENT: AFFIRMED
DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: September 26, 2016
APPEARANCES:
For Mother-Appellant: For SCDJFS- Appellee:
JENNIFER A. ROBERTS JAMES B. PHILLIPS
401 West Tuscarawas St., Suite 300 300 Market Ave. North
Canton, OH 44702 Canton, OH 44708
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 2
Delaney, J.
{¶1} Mother-Appellant appeals the May 20, 2016 judgment entry of the Stark
County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court Division, granting permanent custody of
her child, S.D., to Appellee Stark County Department of Job and Family Services
(“SCDJFS”).
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
{¶2} Mother has two children, K.A., born in 2008, and S.D., born on August 27,
2014. K.A. and S.D. have different fathers. Mother has a history with SCDJFS based on
her substance abuse. K.A. was in SCDJFS custody and a case plan was developed for
Mother. Mother did not complete the case plan. K.A. was removed from Mother’s custody
and placed with K.A.’s father.
{¶3} On March 17, 2015, Mother and S.D. were observed at a McDonald’s
restaurant for several hours. Mother was holding S.D. while Mother fell asleep, almost
dropping S.D. The McDonald’s employees contacted the police, whom arrested Mother
and charged her with child endangering, possession, and resisting arrest. S.D.’s father
was incarcerated at the time of Mother’s arrest. On the day of Mother’s arrest, J.C., the
mother of S.D.’s half-sibling, came to help with S.D. J.C. met S.D. shortly after she was
born and this was the second contact J.C. had with S.D.
{¶4} SCDJFS filed a complaint alleging dependency and neglect of S.D. on
March 18, 2015. An emergency shelter care hearing was held where the trial court found
probable cause existed and ordered the child in the emergency temporary custody of
SCDJFS.
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 3
{¶5} On June 4, 2015, the trial court found S.D. to be a dependent child. S.D.
continued in the temporary custody of SCDJFS. The trial court also approved and
adopted a case plan for Mother. S.D. was placed in a foster home in March 2015, but she
was moved to a foster-to-adopt home in November 2015.
{¶6} Mother was released from the Stark County Jail in April 2015. Mother had
visitation with S.D. in April, May and June. Mother began her evaluation at NEOBH per
her case plan, but she was violated by her probation officer and sentenced to the Stark
County Jail. Mother was released on August 19, 2015 to the Deliverance House. Mother
was at Deliverance House for a short time before she absconded to Georgia. While in
Georgia, Mother was jailed twice for theft and battery.
{¶7} SCDJFS filed a motion for permanent custody on February 12, 2016.
Mother returned to Stark County in March 2016, but she did not contact SCDJFS until
April 2016. Mother tested positive for marijuana. Mother stated she had employment but
not a permanent residence. SCDJFS attempted to get Mother back on her case plan.
Mother attended one appointment with NEOBH, canceled one appointment, and had
another appointment scheduled for June 2016.
{¶8} On May 9, 2016, Mother filed a motion for change of legal custody. Mother
requested that J.C. be granted legal custody of S.D.
{¶9} The trial court held a trial on the motion for permanent custody and the
motion for legal custody. Sue Snyder, ongoing caseworker from SCDJFS testified at the
trial. Snyder stated Mother did not successfully complete her case plan. Mother had not
visited with S.D. since June 2015, which was more than 90 days. Mother also had an
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 4
active arrest warrant on the day of the permanent custody trial for her failure to complete
inpatient drug treatment.
{¶10} Snyder testified S.D. had some developmental delays, but the child’s delays
were greatly improved since the child had been in the current foster home. There was no
bond between Mother and S.D., but the foster-to-adopt family had a strong bond with S.D.
and desired to adopt the child. The foster family also have another adopted child. This
was the second foster home placement for S.D. SCDJFS explored an out-of-state relative
placement for S.D., but the relative withdrew their request.
{¶11} Snyder further testified that J.C. contacted her in February 2016 regarding
custody of S.D. J.C. and S.D.’s father have a child together. J.C. met S.D. shortly after
the child’s birth and again when J.C. retrieved the child from Mother on March 17, 2015.
J.C. had no other contact with S.D. but S.D.’s half-sibling, who was nine-years-old,
wanted to have a relationship with S.D. J.C. was pursuing licensure to be considered for
pre-adoptive placement if permanent custody was granted.
{¶12} The Guardian ad Litem recommended that custody of S.D. be granted to
SCDJFS. The GAL felt another change in custody for the child would be traumatizing.
{¶13} On May 20, 2016, the trial court issued its judgment entry and findings of
fact and conclusions of law. It determined that despite the reasonable case planning and
diligent efforts of SCDJFS, Mother failed to remedy the conditions that caused S.D. to be
taken into custody. The trial court further found Mother abandoned S.D. As to best
interests, the trial court found it was in the best interests of S.D. that permanent custody
be granted to SCDJFS.
{¶14} It is from this decision Mother now appeals. Father did not file an appeal.
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 5
ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶15} Mother raises one Assignment of Error:
{¶16} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING PERMANENT CUSTODY TO
THE STARK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES (SCDJFS) AS
SCDJFS FAILED TO SHOW BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT IT IS IN
THE BEST INTEREST OF THE MINOR CHILD TO GRANT PERMANENT CUSTODY.”
ANALYSIS
{¶17} Mother appeals only the best interest portion of the permanent custody
decision. In determining the best interest of the child at a permanent custody hearing,
R.C. 2151.414(D) mandates the trial court must consider all relevant factors, including,
but not limited to, the following: (1) the interaction and interrelationship of the child with
the child's parents, siblings, relatives, foster parents and out-of-home providers, and any
other person who may significantly affect the child; (2) the wishes of the child as
expressed directly by the child or through the child's guardian ad litem, with due regard
for the maturity of the child; (3) the custodial history of the child; and (4) the child's need
for a legally secure permanent placement and whether that type of placement can be
achieved without a grant of permanent custody.
{¶18} The focus of the “best interest” determination is upon the child, not the
parent, as R.C. 2151.414(C) specifically prohibits the court from considering the effect a
grant of permanent custody would have upon the parents. In re C.H., 5th Dist. Stark No.
2016CA00081, 2016-Ohio-5202, ¶ 40 citing In re Awkal, 95 Ohio App.3d 309, 315, 642
N.E.2d 424 (8th Dist.1994). A finding that it is in the best interest of a child to terminate
the parental rights of one parent is not dependent upon the court making a similar finding
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 6
with respect to the other parent. Id. The trial court would necessarily make a separate
determination concerning the best interest of the child with respect to the rights of the
mother and the rights of the father. Id.
{¶19} The trial court made findings of fact regarding the child's best interest. It is
well-established that “[t]he discretion which the juvenile court enjoys in determining
whether an order of permanent custody is in the best interest of a child should be
accorded the utmost respect, given the nature of the proceeding and the impact the
court's determination will have on the lives of the parties concerned.” In re C.H., 2016-
Ohio-5202, ¶ 41 citing In re Mauzy Children, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2000CA00244, 2000 WL
1700073 (Nov. 13, 2000), quoting In re Awkal, 95 Ohio App.3d 309, 316, 642 N.E.2d 424
(8th Dist.1994).
{¶20} As an appellate court, we neither weigh the evidence nor judge the
credibility of witnesses. Our role is to determine whether there is relevant, competent and
credible evidence, upon which the fact finder could base its judgment. Cross Truck v.
Jeffries, 5th Dist. Stark No. CA–5758, 1981 WL 6321 (Feb. 10, 1982). “Reviewing courts
should accord deference to the trial court's decision because the trial court has had the
opportunity to observe the witnesses' demeanor, gestures, and voice inflections that
cannot be conveyed to us through the written record, Miller v. Miller, 37 Ohio St.3d 71,
523 N.E.2d 846 (1988).
{¶21} Mother argues the trial court erred by not granting her motion for change of
legal custody to J.C. In its findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court thoroughly
considered the motion for legal custody. The trial court found it inexplicable that SCDJFS
knew of the existence of J.C. when it changed S.D.’s foster placement in November 2015,
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 7
but did not consider placement with S.D.’s half-sibling in J.C.’s home. J.C. testified she
did not contact SCDJFS until February 2016 because she did not have any prior
experience with the SCDJFS and she did not understand how the custody process
operated. J.C. testified her child was very motivated to have his sibling come to live with
his family.
{¶22} The trial court found the testimony of J.C. to be compelling, but considered
the best interests of S.D. The trial court stated in its findings of fact as to best interests:
It was plainly and painfully obvious to the Court that both the foster parents
and [J.C.] wish to do what is best for [S.D.]. [S.D.’s half-sibling] is aware of
the existence of [S.D.] and wants to have a relationship with [S.D.], but there
has not been enough contact for the two to be bonded at this time. That
bond would have been possible had the agency diligently sought a family
placement when they decided to move [S.D.] in November 2015, but they
did not do so, and now [S.D.] is bonded to her foster parents. * * * An
extension of temporary custody is not appropriate because there is no
reasonable expectation that [S.D.] can be reunified with Mother or Father
within the six month extension time. [S.D.] was removed from her Mother,
from her aunt and from her first foster home. She has made significant
progress in her current home, and, per the Guardian, has gone from an
anxious infant to a happy, healthy toddler. The Guardian sees no benefit to
moving her yet again, but rather the potential for further trauma. The Court
cannot find that a Change in Legal Custody is in [S.D.’s] best interest.
(Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, May 20, 2016).
Stark County, Case No. 2014 CA 00124 8
{¶23} Our review of the record shows there is competent and credible evidence
to support the trial court’s finding it was not in the best interest of S.D. to grant legal
custody to J.C. The circumstances of this case support the trial court’s determination that
it was in the best interests of S.D. that permanent custody be granted to SCDJFS.
{¶24} Mother’s sole Assignment of Error is overruled.
CONCLUSION
{¶25} The judgment of the Stark County Court of Common Pleas, Family Court
Division, is affirmed.
By: Delaney, J.,
Gwin, P.J. and
Hoffman, J., concur.