J-S30009-17
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
R.L.H., IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant
v.
L.C.,
Appellee No. 2100 MDA 2016
Appeal from the Order Entered October 31, 2016
In the Court of Common Pleas of York County
Civil Division at No(s): 2010-FC-001740-03
BEFORE: SHOGAN, RANSOM, and MUSMANNO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM BY SHOGAN, J.: FILED JUNE 22, 2017
R.L.H. (“Father”) appeals pro se from the October 31, 2016 order
awarding him shared legal and physical custody of his minor children,
E.S.H., a son born in 1999, S.S.H., a daughter born in September of 2001,
B.C.H., a daughter born in 2003, and A.A.H., a son born in 2005 (collectively
“the Children”).1 The order directed that Father was to share custody with
L.C., the Children’s mother (“Mother”).2 The order specified that Mother
would have primary physical custody of E.S.H., S.S.H., and A.A.H., with
partial physical custody awarded to Father, and Father would have primary
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1
N.T., 10/26/16-10/27/16, at 10.
2
Father also has a five-year-old son with his current wife, E.H.,
(“Stepmother”). N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 50, 73. The five-year-old son is not
a party and did not participate in these proceedings. Id.
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physical custody of B.C.H., with partial physical custody awarded to Mother.
After careful review, we affirm.
This Court previously set forth the factual background of the custody
litigation between Mother and Father as follows:
Mother and Father were married in 2001 and
separated in 2008. The parties have four minor
children, E.H., S.H., B.H., and A.H. (collectively, “the
Children”). Father originally filed for custody in 2007,
shortly after Mother left Dauphin County for York
County. Father resided in Dauphin County, and filed
for custody in that jurisdiction. It appears that the
matter was settled by agreement at conciliation on
December 11, 2007, providing Mother with majority
physical custody and Father with significant time
every weekend. This [c]ourt does not have access to
the complete Dauphin County records, however,
numerous Dauphin County documents were clocked
into the York County file when the matter was
referred to that jurisdiction on September 17, 2010.
Early in 2009, Father filed an emergency
petition to modify custody. The matter was
ultimately tried before the Hon. Judge Todd Hoover
of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas with
an order entered July 6, 2009. The order modified
custody only slightly, and majority custody remained
in Mother. Father immediately filed an appeal in
Superior Court, which ultimately affirmed Judge
Hoover’s order on March 12, 2010. On the same
day, Father filed a new petition for emergency
custody in Dauphin County, along with a petition to
preclude Judge Hoover from hearing the case as he
had “shown judicial bias.” ...
Without the Dauphin County file, the trial court
is unable to determine precisely how the case was
transferred, but the matter ultimately found its way
to York County, with a significant number of Dauphin
County orders docketed in York County’s
Prothonotary’s file on September 17, 2010. The
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matter was tried before the Hon. Judge Clarence N.
Patterson on January 25, 2011, with an order
entered on February 9, 2011, confirming majority
physical custody in Mother.
At that time, because of concerns developed
during the course of the trial that Father had
significant anger issues, Judge Patterson ordered
Father to enter into a program of anger management
within 30 days of the court order and, upon
completion of the same, to file with the trial court a
certificate of attendance. Father again appealed to
the Superior Court, which affirmed the decision of
Judge Patterson on November 29, 2011.
On March 19, 2012, Father again filed a
petition to modify custody seeking to re-litigate all
issues from 2007, which initiated the instant matter.
Father also filed a petition for civil contempt against
Mother on July 23, 2012, which was ordered to be
addressed at the trial in the custody matter. As a
result of the death of Judge Patterson, the matter
was tried before the Hon. Harry M. Ness on
November 30, 2012. After significant discussion,
Father agreed to proceed only on those issues
arising since the last order of court, as all of the
other issues had been litigated and ruled upon. At
this time, Father also agreed to withdraw his petition
for civil contempt against Mother.
R.H. v. L.H., ___A.3d___, ___, 130 MDA 2013 (Pa. Super. filed September
10, 2013) (unpublished memorandum at 1-2) (quoting Trial Court Opinion,
12/17/2012, at 1-3).
In the amended custody order entered December 18, 2012, the trial
court awarded shared legal custody of the Children to the parties, primary
physical custody to Mother, and partial physical custody to Father. This
Court affirmed the order based upon the finding that Father had failed to
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preserve his claims pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(i)(2) and (b). The
December 18, 2012 order provided that Father was to have partial physical
custody of all four children on alternating weekends. The parties would
alternate physical custody on weekends, and Father was to have physical
custody on alternating weeks during the summer. Each parent was to confer
with the other on all matters of importance relating to the Children’s health.
The parents were to listen carefully and consider the wishes of the Children
in addressing any parenting issues.
The parties do not dispute that, in early 2015 when S.S.H. was
thirteen years old, she became pregnant by the son (“Stepbrother”) of
Mother’s then paramour, now husband (“Stepfather”). Stepbrother was
fourteen years old at the time. At the time of the pregnancy, both
Stepbrother and Stepfather were residing with Mother and the Children.
Upon learning of the pregnancy, York County Children Youth and Families
(“CYF”) conducted an investigation. Mother took S.S.H. to Philadelphia,
where the child had an abortion. Subsequently, S.S.H. has remained in
Mother’s home, where Stepfather continues to reside. Stepbrother has
moved into his grandmother’s home. Since the entry of the December 18,
2012 custody order, B.C.H. began residing with Father, who assumed
primary physical custody of the child, with Mother’s agreement. On June 29,
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2016, Father filed a petition to modify custody and a petition for contempt
against Mother.3 In the petition to modify, Father asserted the following:
While in the [M]other’s continuous unsupervised care,
many things have continued to happen against the “Best
Interest” of the [C]hildren. And though I the father have fought
to avoid such things, it has been brought to me [sic] attention
that my daughter was sexually assaulted while in her mother’s
home by [M]other’s paramour’s child, and impregnated through
the assault, and then transported to Philadelphia to terminate
this pregnancy to cover up this act.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner requests your Honorable Court to
modify the Custody Order as follows: Father shall be given full
custody of the younger two children, the older two children shall
remain with [M]other. Though [F]ather is more than willing to
have all four of his children, it is likely that his 14 and 17 year
old continue to rebel and bring more upset than relief to their
lives. At this time this is the father’s request, and any other
relief as your Honorable Court deems just.
Petition to Modify, 6/29/16, at 2. Thus, in the petition for modification,
Father sought primary physical custody of B.C.H. and A.A.H., but not
necessarily E.S.H. and S.S.H. The trial court held an evidentiary hearing on
the modification petition on October 26, 2016, and October 27, 2016.
At the hearing, the parties acted pro se. Father first presented the
testimony of Kristy Rivera, S.S.H.’s therapist, who did not testify concerning
S.S.H.’s treatment due to patient confidentiality. N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 8-
14. With the agreement of the parties, the court then questioned the four
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3
On December 29, 2016, the trial court denied Father’s petition for
contempt. Father did not appeal the order denying his petition for
contempt, and it is not before this Court on appeal.
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children individually, in the courtroom, in the presence of the parties. Id. at
18. When the court completed its questioning of the Children, Father
requested that the trial court return his papers to him on which he had typed
questions he had planned to ask the Children. Id. at 50. The court returned
the papers to Father and, with the agreement of Father and Mother, did not
make them part of the record. Id.
Father then questioned Cynthia Sindlinger, the program specialist at
CYF. N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 51. Ms. Sindlinger testified concerning the CYF
investigation into the allegations that Stepbrother had sexually abused
S.S.H. Id. at 52-57. Ms. Sindlinger also testified concerning prior CYF
investigations of the Children in Mother’s care. Id. at 52-61. Ms. Sindlinger
testified that the assigned caseworker had gone to S.S.H.’s school on
March 22, 2016, after S.S.H. stated that she was engaging in self-harm in
the form of cutting her arm because she did not want to be in Father’s
physical custody. Id. at 61-63.
Next, Father questioned Detective Robert Ryman of the Northern York
County Regional Police Department regarding the police investigation into
the allegations that Stepbrother had sexually assaulted S.S.H. and that
Mother had taken S.S.H. to Philadelphia for an abortion. N.T., 10/26-27/16,
at 66-67. When Detective Ryman spoke with Mother and asked her about
S.S.H., Mother initially responded that “nothing really is going on.” Id. at
67. When Detective Ryman asked about Mother taking S.S.H. to
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Philadelphia to have an abortion, Mother responded, “Oh, that.” Id. She
then related the details of the matter to Detective Ryman. Id. After an
investigation, the District Attorney’s Office closed the case. Id. at 67-68. In
January of 2016, the police received another report that Stepbrother was
telling people at school that he was having sex with S.S.H., and students
were teasing S.S.H. Id. at 68. Police investigated the complaint, and
S.S.H. informed them that she wanted the matter concluded and for
Stepbrother to get help. Id. at 69. On February 11, 2016, Stepbrother was
charged with a number of criminal offenses, but Detective Ryman was
uncertain of the outcome. Id. at 69-70. Detective Ryman said that since
his investigation in January of 2016, there was an allegation that
Stepbrother had come into S.S.H.’s room, exposed himself, and climbed into
bed with her. Id. Both juveniles were fourteen years old at the time. Id.
To clarify his testimony, Detective Ryman stated that Mother was not initially
forthcoming about the fact that she had taken S.S.H. to Philadelphia to have
an abortion. Id. at 71.
Father then presented the testimony of his wife (“Stepmother”). N.T.,
10/26-27/16, at 73. Stepmother described an incident in which Mother and
Stepfather came to Father’s home to take custody of the Children, and
Stepfather allegedly assaulted Father, resulting in criminal charges against
Stepfather. Id. at 82-84.
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Next, Mother presented the testimony of Stepfather, through
questioning by the court. N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 102. Stepfather testified
that Stepbrother was fifteen years old at the time of the hearing and was
fourteen years old at the time of the sexual assault on S.S.H. N.T., 10/26-
27/16, at 106. As a result of the criminal charges against him, Stepbrother
was found to have engaged in indecent contact, and he was placed on
probation for one year. Id. at 107. Stepbrother was in therapy at the time
of the hearing and was instructed not to have any contact with S.S.H. as a
term of his probation. Id. As noted, Stepbrother now lives with his
grandmother, but he attends the same high school as S.S.H. Id. at 107,
119-120. Stepfather stated that pursuant to a court order, Stepbrother
must be kept away from S.S.H. until he has completed his counseling and
therapy. Id. at 109-110.
Mother then questioned Stepfather. N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 109.
Stepfather explained the incident for which he was criminally charged with
simple assault in relation to his altercation with Father. Id. at 110-112.
Stepfather testified that all of the Children have anxiety relating to going to
Father’s house, with the exception of B.C.H. Id. at 112-113. S.S.H. has
stated to him that she was cutting herself because of her anxiety over being
at Father’s home. Id. at 112.
On October 27, 2016, Father presented the testimony of
Vanessa Cattano, Mother’s previous landlord. N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 125,
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129-130. Ms. Cattano testified that during the ten years that Mother lived in
the building she managed, eviction proceedings previously had been brought
against Mother on many occasions, which did not result in her eviction,
because Mother always eventually paid her late rent. Id. at 129-131.
Mother was eventually evicted in August 23, 2016. Id. at 131. Father then
presented the testimony of Mother’s mother, regarding the fact that Mother,
Stepfather, E.S.H., S.S.H., and A.A.H., were staying with her in her one-
bedroom apartment at the time of the hearing. Id. at 133-134.
Finally, Father and Mother testified on their own behalf, questioned by
the trial court. N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 177, 203. Father also questioned
Mother. Id. at 232.
In the October 31, 2016 order, the trial court awarded Mother and
Father shared legal custody of the Children, with Mother having primary
physical custody of E.S.H., S.S.H., and A.A.H., and Father having primary
physical custody of B.C.H. During the school year, the parties were to share
physical custody of the Children on alternate weekends, so that the Children
would be together on all weekends. In the summer, Mother and Father were
each to have custody of all four children on alternating weeks.
On December 1, 2016, Father timely filed a notice of appeal, along
with a concise statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(2)(i) and (b). The trial court, however, entered an order
on December 6, 2016, directing Father to file a concise statement within
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twenty-one days.4 On December 27, 2016, Father filed a second concise
statement, raising an additional issue.5
In his brief, Father raises the following issues for this Court’s
consideration:
1. Whether the trial court erred and abused its discretion by
awarding the mother continued primary custody of the
[C]hildren by misapplying and/or ignoring the factors outlined in
23 Pa.C.A.S. [sic] § 5328(a)?
2. Whether the trial court erred by repeatedly interfering with or
just completely taking over the plaintiff’s questioning and
examination of the witness?
3. Whether the court erred by failing to give proper weight to the
testimony of North Regional Police Detective Robert Ryman,
when testifying to the Sexual Assault of child SSH by the son of
[M]other’s then paramour?
4. Whether the court erred by failing to give proper weight to the
mother’s untruthfulness regarding her knowledge of the sexual
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4
In its Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a) opinion, the trial court explained that it issued this
order because Father had left a numbered paragraph blank, and had failed
to sign the concise statement. Trial Court Opinion, 12/30/16, at 1.
5
The trial court explained that the issue was in addition to Father’s
completion of the paragraph that he had previously left blank. Trial Court
Opinion, 12/30/16, at 1. We will not penalize Father for his filing his
completed concise statement after his notice of appeal, as he complied with
the trial court’s order. See In re K.T.E.L., 983 A.2d 745 (Pa. Super. 2009)
(finding that the appellant’s failure to simultaneously file a Rule 1925(b)
Statement did not result in waiver of all issues for appeal where the
appellant later filed the Statement, and there was no allegation of prejudice
from the late filing). Cf. J.P. v. S.P., 991 A.2d 904 (Pa. Super. 2010)
(finding that the appellant waived issues for appeal by failing to comply with
the trial court’s order directing her to file a Rule 1925(b) Statement within
21 days).
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assault, as well as her attempt to cover it up by taking the child
to Philadelphia for an abortion of the products of said assault?
5. Whether the court erred to truly consider what is in the best
interest of the [C]hildren when learning that while under
investigation as a “Perpetrator by omission” for the sexual
assault of SSH, [M]other decided to have a rushed wedding to
[Stepfather,] the father of the perpetrator against child SSH?
6. Whether the court erred by failing to hold [M]other in
contempt for her perjury, as well as child endangerment when
she denied being informed by child SSH that she had attempted
to overdose on medications when placed in plaintiff’s home by
CYFS [Children and Youth Family Services]?
7. Whether the court erred by failing to hold [M]other in
contempt for withholding the [C]hildren from [Father] for a
period of thirteen (13) [months] despite [Father’s] attempts to
exercise the previous order[?]
8. Whether the court erred by failing to hold [M]other in
contempt for failing to comply with pretrial instructions as she
did not: File a pretrial memorandum, File a parenting plan,
Attend the Co-parenting class, nor did she attend the court
appointed mediation[?]
9. Whether the court erred by failing to ask the [C]hildren the
questions [Father] had written for the court to ask, only to then
ask the same questions to the mother when the [C]hildren were
no longer available for reexamination?
Father’s Brief at 16.
In custody cases under the Child Custody Act (“the Act”), 23 Pa.C.S.
§§ 5321-5340, our standard of review is as follows:
In reviewing a custody order, our scope is of the broadest type
and our standard is abuse of discretion. We must accept
findings of the trial court that are supported by competent
evidence of record, as our role does not include making
independent factual determinations. In addition, with regard to
issues of credibility and weight of the evidence, we must defer to
the presiding trial judge who viewed and assessed the witnesses
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first-hand. However, we are not bound by the trial court’s
deductions or inferences from its factual findings. Ultimately,
the test is whether the trial court’s conclusions are unreasonable
as shown by the evidence of record. We may reject the
conclusions of the trial court only if they involve an error of law,
or are unreasonable in light of the sustainable findings of the
trial court.
C.R.F. v. S.E.F., 45 A.3d 441, 443 (Pa. Super. 2012) (citation omitted). We
have stated:
The discretion that a trial court employs in custody matters
should be accorded the utmost respect, given the special nature
of the proceeding and the lasting impact the result will have on
the lives of the parties concerned. Indeed, the knowledge
gained by a trial court in observing witnesses in a custody
proceeding cannot adequately be imparted to an appellate court
by a printed record.
Ketterer v. Seifert, 902 A.2d 533, 540 (Pa. Super. 2006) (quoting
Jackson v. Beck, 858 A.2d 1250, 1254 (Pa. Super. 2004)).
In M.A.T. v. G.S.T., 989 A.2d 11 (Pa. Super. 2010) (en banc), we
stated the following regarding an abuse of discretion standard:
Although we are given a broad power of review, we are
constrained by an abuse of discretion standard when evaluating
the court’s order. An abuse of discretion is not merely an error
of judgment, but if the court’s judgment is manifestly
unreasonable as shown by the evidence of record, discretion is
abused. An abuse of discretion is also made out where it
appears from a review of the record that there is no evidence to
support the court’s findings or that there is a capricious disbelief
of evidence.
Id. at 18-19 (quotation and citations omitted). “An abuse of discretion is
not merely an error of judgment; if, in reaching a conclusion, the court
overrides or misapplies the law, or the judgment exercised is shown by the
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record to be either manifestly unreasonable or the product of partiality,
prejudice, bias or ill will, discretion has been abused.” Bulgarelli v.
Bulgarelli, 934 A.2d 107, 111 (Pa. Super. 2007) (quotation omitted).
With any custody case decided under the Act, the paramount concern
is the best interests of the child. See 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 5328, 5338. Section
5338 of the Act provides that, upon petition, a trial court may modify a
custody order if it serves the best interests of the child. 23 Pa.C.S. § 5338.
Section 5328(a) sets forth the best-interest factors that the trial court must
consider. See E.D. v. M.P., 33 A.3d 73, 80-81, n.2 (Pa. Super. 2011). Trial
courts are required to consider “[a]ll of the factors listed in section
5328(a) . . . when entering a custody order.” J.R.M. v. J.E.A., 33 A.3d 647,
652 (Pa. Super. 2011) (emphasis in original).
Section 5328(a) of the Act provides as follows:
§ 5328. Factors to consider when awarding custody
(a) Factors.—In ordering any form of custody, the court shall
determine the best interest of the child by considering all
relevant factors, giving weighted consideration to those factors
which affect the safety of the child, including the following:
(1) Which party is more likely to encourage and
permit frequent and continuing contact between the
child and another party.
(2) The present and past abuse committed by a
party or member of the party’s household, whether
there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an
abused party and which party can better provide
adequate physical safeguards and supervision of the
child.
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(2.1) The information set forth in section
5329.1(a)(1) and (2) (relating to consideration of
child abuse and involvement with protective
services).
(3) The parental duties performed by each party on
behalf of the child.
(4) The need for stability and continuity in the child’s
education, family life and community life.
(5) The availability of extended family.
(6) The child’s sibling relationships.
(7) The well-reasoned preference of the child, based
on the child’s maturity and judgment.
(8) The attempts of a parent to turn the child against
the other parent, except in cases of domestic
violence where reasonable safety measures are
necessary to protect the child from harm.
(9) Which party is more likely to maintain a loving,
stable, consistent and nurturing relationship with the
child adequate for the child’s emotional needs.
(10) Which party is more likely to attend to the daily
physical, emotional, developmental, educational and
special needs of the child.
(11) The proximity of the residences of the parties.
(12) Each party’s availability to care for the child or
ability to make appropriate child-care arrangements.
(13) The level of conflict between the parties and the
willingness and ability of the parties to cooperate
with one another. A party’s effort to protect a child
from abuse by another party is not evidence of
unwillingness or inability to cooperate with that
party.
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(14) The history of drug or alcohol abuse of a party
or member of a party’s household.
(15) The mental and physical condition of a party or
member of a party’s household.
(16) Any other relevant factor.
23 Pa.C.S. § 5328.
Furthermore, we have explained:
Section 5323(d) provides that a trial court “shall delineate the
reasons for its decision on the record in open court or in a
written opinion or order.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5323(d). Additionally,
“section 5323(d) requires the trial court to set forth its
mandatory assessment of the sixteen [Section 5328(a) custody]
factors prior to the deadline by which a litigant must file a notice
of appeal.” C.B. v. J.B., 65 A.3d 946, 955 (Pa. Super. 2013),
appeal denied, 70 A.3d 808 (Pa. 2013). . . .
In expressing the reasons for its decision, “there is no required
amount of detail for the trial court’s explanation; all that is
required is that the enumerated factors are considered and that
the custody decision is based on those considerations.” M.J.M.
v. M.L.G., 63 A.3d 331, 336 (Pa. Super. 2013), appeal denied,
[620 Pa. 710], 68 A.3d 909 (2013). A court’s explanation of
reasons for its decision, which adequately addresses the relevant
factors, complies with Section 5323(d). Id.
A.V. v. S.T., 87 A.3d 818, 822-823 (Pa. Super. 2014).
In issues one, three, and four, Father assails the trial court’s
consideration of Section 5328, the weight of the evidence, and Mother’s
credibility. In addressing these issues in its opinion, the trial court adopted
its consideration of the Section 5328 factors that it provided on the record at
the conclusion of the hearing on October 27, 2016. Trial Court Opinion,
12/27/16, at 1-7; N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 255-272. While lengthy, we
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reproduce the trial court’s on-the-record discussion as it aptly addresses
Father’s issues. The trial court reasoned as follows:
Now, I caution you that this is not a situation where I
decide which factors favor which party, then add up the factors
on each side and whoever has more factors wins. That’s not the
way it works. So be aware of that. Some factors have more
weight in some cases than in others.
So the first factor, which party is more likely to encourage
and permit frequent and continuing contact between the child
and another party.
Frankly, from the evidence that I found credible, I don’t
think either one of you is particularly likely to encourage or
permit that kind of contact. But I will say that [M]other has,
without the necessity of court intervention, agreed that one of
the [C]hildren, [B.C.H.], would basically be with [F]ather most of
the time. So to that extent, the factor favors [M]other.
But I again caution you, my impression of both of you,
based upon the testimony I heard, is that, what can I say? You
have, your relationship needs so much work that I’m not sure it
could ever rise to the level of even being able to communicate as
reasonable human beings regarding the best interests of your
children. That’s too bad. I wish that could be changed. At the
present time, it is a nonexistent to negative relationship.
The next factor is the present and past abuse committed
by either party or member of the party’s household, whether
there is a continued risk of harm to the child or an abused party
and which party can best provide adequate physical safeguards
and supervision of the child.
[W]ell, [S.S.H.] was abused by [S]tepbrother while in the
physical custody and in the home of [M]other that resulted in a
CYF investigation, at which time the other children in [M]other’s
household were placed with [F]ather for a period of time. The
[C]hildren were then returned to [M]other and her custody to
live in her household when CYF was satisfied that [S.S.H.] and
the other children were no longer at risk of harm.
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I’m satisfied that [M]other has taken appropriate steps,
either because she has been ordered to or because she thought
it was best, to make sure that [S]tepbrother had no contact with
[S.S.H.]. By the same token, it must be said, if [S.S.H.] was
living with [F]ather[,] the ability of [S]tepbrother to have contact
with [S.S.H.] would be greatly reduced.
This was certainly a traumatic incident for [S.S.H.] and I
think for both of her parents. I am satisfied that [S.S.H.] is safe
with [M]other where she is now. I don’t believe that [M]other is
culpable for the abuse visited upon [S.S.H.] by [S]tepbrother,
and I am satisfied that [M]other has taken appropriate steps to
eliminate the risk of harm to [S.S.H.] by [S]tepbrother.
But it happened. There’s no doubt in my mind that
[F]ather would be vigilant, as I believe [M]other is. So I don’t
believe that that factor substantially favors either party.
The next factor is the information set forth in Section
5329.1(a) relating to consideration of child abuse and
involvement with protective services.
[W]ell, both parents have a long history of involvement
with CYF. I conclude, based upon the testimony that I’ve heard,
that the complaints of one parent, about one parent have been
made by the other parent, and vice versa, with the exception of
the CYF investigation regarding abuse of [S.S.H.] by
[S]tepbrother, I am satisfied that all of those other CYF
investigations were determined by CYF to be unfounded.
Therefore, that factor favors neither party.
The next factor is the parental duties performed by each
party on behalf of the [C]hildren. [W]ell, if we are just judging
who has, who has performed more parental duties, by virtue of
[M]other’s majority physical custody of the [C]hildren, she has.
But I am satisfied also that [F]ather, when the [C]hildren are in
his custody, performs the parental duties that are necessary,
and that if the [C]hildren were in his custody the same amount
of time as [M]other, he would certainly fulfill those duties. I
don’t think the factor favors either party.
The next factor is the need for stability and continuity in
the child’s education, family life, and community life.
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[W]ell, I think these children do need stability and
continuity. I’m not sure there’s any child that doesn’t, and there
is nothing in the evidence I have been presented that would
indicate to me that these children are different in any of those
ways.
Since the parents separated and stopped living together in
one household, the [C]hildren have primarily lived with [M]other.
They have gone to the same -- they have attended school in the
same school district probably for their entire school careers.
That would be [C]entral York. So certainly stability and
continuity regarding education would favor [M]other.
I heard really nothing significant about the community life
of the [C]hildren from either parent, and both parents have
families. It’s clear to me that up to the present most of the
stability and continuity has been provided by [M]other’s family.
So that would be a change if the [C]hildren were to live with
[F]ather primarily.
So that factor does favor [M]other.
The availability of extended family. Mother has a number
of extended family members in the York area, particularly her
grandparents, who the [C]hildren interact with probably on what
I remember being a weekly basis, and I’m satisfied that on the
various holidays the extended family celebrates those together
and the [C]hildren are a part of that.
Father has no extended family close by. His family is in
Georgia and Florida. There is certainly communication between
his extended family and the [C]hildren. But it is simply by virtue
of the distance, they are not as available as [M]other’s extended
family, so that factor does favor [M]other.
The [C]hildren’s sibling relationships. I’m satisfied that the
[C]hildren have pretty typical sibling relationships. I’m sure that
they bicker and fight amongst themselves, but at the end of the
day they spend a lot of time with each other and have formed
typical sibling relationships, which are pretty close and the court
believes pretty important.
We will say that they do have a half[-]sibling, and that is
the child of [F]ather and his current wife, and I believe that in
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the time [the] [C]hildren spend with [F]ather they are
developing an affection for their little brother, or little half-
brother, I should say, and that’s an important consideration.
So given all of that, I don’t believe that this factor favors
either [M]other or [F]ather in any substantial way, with the
understanding that if the father had majority physical custody of
[Mother’s] three children, they would have more time to spend
with their young half-sibling.
So[,] to that extent, the factor may favor [F]ather, but
only marginally.
The well-reasoned preferences of the child, of the
[C]hildren based upon the [C]hildren’s maturity and judgment.
Well, I spoke with the four children, [E.S.H.] being the
oldest. His preference was clear, that he wanted to remain with
[M]other primarily. He expressed his equivocal feelings about
spending time with his father.
[S.S.H.] clearly expressed a strong preference to remain
with her mother and, in fact, went out of her way to make it
known to the court that she wanted nothing to do with [F]ather.
[B.C.H.], on the other hand, expressed an interest in living
primarily with [F]ather. She did not indicate that that was
because of any problems that she had with [M]other, and in fact
she told the court that she was in a sense torn because she
misses [F]ather when she is not with him and she misses
[M]other when she is not with her. [W]ell, that’s a reality of life
for children of parents who have separated and divorced.
I will note that I believe that on the whole [B.C.H.] would
opt to live with her father if she could, and I will also note that
[M]other has indicated that that’s okay with her if that’s what
[B.C.H.] wants to do.
[A.A.H.], the fourth child, indicated a preference for
staying primarily with his mother and indicated that he did not
like spending time at [Father’s] house. He’s the youngest of the
four. So[,] I give less weight given his maturity and the manner
in which he talked to the court than I do to his older siblings.
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But I am not discounting it completely. So[,] this is sort of a
mixed bag.
[W]ith regard to at least -- well, with regard to all of the
[C]hildren but [B.C.H.], clearly they prefer staying with their
mother most of the time. [B.C.H.] does not.
The court is concerned about having [B.C.H.] live with her
father most of the time while the other children are living with
their mother, but it strikes the court that whatever custody
arrangements are ordered, it could be tailored so that [B.C.H.]
could spend significant time with her siblings, sometimes when
they’re at [Father’s], sometimes when they’re at [M]other’s.
That being said, for the most part the factor favors
[M]other, with the exception of [B.C.H.], when it favors [F]ather.
The next factor is the attempts of a parent to turn the
[C]hildren against the other parent, except in cases with
domestic violence where reasonable measures are necessary to
protect the child from harm.
[W]ell, the evidence I believe indicates that there have
certainly been occasions when [M]other has spoken unkindly
about [F]ather to the [C]hildren, but we also believe that is true
of [F]ather and, frankly, we believe it is [F]ather to a greater
extent. That’s just one of the primary complaints of the
[C]hildren. So[,] that factor favors [M]other.
Next factor is which party is more likely to maintain a
loving, stable, consistent, and nurturing relationship with the
child adequate for the child’s emotional needs.
I am concerned about the [C]hildren’s reaction to staying
with their father, with the exception of [B.C.H.]. I sense from
the [C]hildren and from the other testimony I believe that there
is a certain amount of estrangement that these three children,
other than [B.C.H.], feel with regard to their father. I do not
sense that with regard to their mother, and I don’t sense that
with regard to any of the four children and their mother, and
that includes [B.C.H.].
Given that current situation, this factor, I believe, favors
[M]other.
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Which party is more likely to attend to the daily physical,
emotional, developmental, educational, and special needs of the
[C]hildren. I don’t have any doubt that both parents can
adequately attend to the daily physical, developmental, and
educational -- well, to the physical and educational and
development of the [C]hildren.
I didn’t hear any evidence that any of the [C]hildren had
special needs with the possible exception of [S.S.H.], regarding
the traumatic incident involving her stepbrother. I am satisfied
that [M]other has taken appropriate steps to have [S.S.H.]
engage in a course of counseling and therapy regarding that
situation that is ongoing.
So[,] when it came to the prior factor, I am concerned
about the ability of [F]ather[,] at this present time[,] to be able
to proactively attend to the [C]hildren’s emotional needs, and I
am not saying that he cannot do that or would not try to do that,
but at least at the present time I think that [M]other is more
likely to be able to do that and, therefore, this factor favors
[M]other, with the exception of [B.C.H.], in which case I think
that both parents are equally capable of attending to those
needs given the lack of estrangement of [B.C.H.] from her
father.
The proximity of the residences of the parties. It’s about a
45-minute drive, basically suburban Harrisburg to the [C]ity of
York. I don’t think that really favors either party. It might not
be a pleasant drive, but it is certainly not a drive that cannot be
undertaken on a regular basis by both parents. So I don’t think
that favors either party.
Each party’s availability to care for the [Children] or ability
to make appropriate childcare arrangements. I don’t think that
factor favors either party. I am satisfied based upon what the
parties told me and the other evidence that I believe that when
the [C]hildren are in their care, if they can’t care for them
personally, they have appropriate arrangements to see that they
are properly cared for. And at least the oldest two of them are
pretty much getting to the age where they really don’t need
intensive, if any, childcare services.
The next factor is the level of conflict between the parties
and the willingness and ability of the parties to cooperate with
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each other. I have already alluded to this. There’s a high level
of conflict between these parents. While each one of them has
expressed some willingness and ability to cooperate with one
another, it’s clear to me that to the extent they do that, it’s the
exception rather than the rule.
Frankly, I’m not sure they even bother listening to each
other anymore. And I don’t see from the evidence I believed
that there’s any light at the end of that particular tunnel.
So I, frankly, don’t think that factor favors either parent.
The next factor is the history of drug or alcohol abuse by
either party or member of the party’s household.
I don’t think that favors or disfavors either party. I am
satisfied that by their testimony and the other evidence I
believed that neither one of them has problems in those areas.
So[,] that doesn’t favor or disfavor either party. The mental and
physical condition of a party or a member of a party’s household.
There is no evidence I found credible that indicates that this
factor should favor one parent over the other.
CYF involvement. There certainly has been a lot of that.
But for the incident involving [S.S.H.] and her stepbrother, it
appears to the court that the other CYF involvement is more
reflective of the parents’ attitudes towards each other than
anything else. Having said that, I don’t think the evidence
regarding CYF involvement favors or disfavors either party.
Any other relevant factor. I’m not sure there are any
other relevant factors. I will comment on [F]ather’s insistence
that these children need a father in their life and that, in fact, his
role as a father is somehow being put on the back burner.
I disagree with that. I am a father. I had a father.
Neither I nor the law of Pennsylvania discounts the importance
of a father to his children or the importance of a mother to her
children. But when the parties have separated and, in the case
of these parties, divorced and no longer make up a single
household, unfortunately compromises have to be made. That’s
the nature of these cases.
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I don’t believe it would be in the best interests of these
children at this point to remove them from the primary custody
of their mother to [F]ather for a number of reasons, not only for
educational stability, but also because of estrangement of three
of the children from their father.
I believe [M]other when she indicates that the temporary
living arrangements or the living arrangements she has are
temporary and that, in fact, she will be securing residence in the
Central York School District so the [C]hildren can continue their
education in that school district without interruption.
I will say that if the only decision I had to make is which
living arrangement at the present time better serves the
[C]hildren or is more appropriate, I believe [F]ather’s current
situation is preferable to [M]other’s current situation. But,
again, I believed [M]other when she said that was temporary.
And that, to me, is not a primary consideration because I’m also
satisfied that although [M]other’s situation is not as favorable as
[F]ather’s, it’s okay and the [C]hildren are okay and are being
cared for properly.
To [F]ather’s credit, it sounds as if he has a very stable
environment, has lived in the same townhouse for a number of
years, is a veteran, has had very responsible jobs, is furthering
his education, and I think he is sincere in his desire for wanting
what is best for his children. But having all of the [C]hildren
uprooted from the only real family situation that they have
known and placed in the primary physical custody of [F]ather at
this time is not in their best interest.
I believe that [F]ather, if he continues to have ongoing
contact with his children, in the hopes that he will be able to
start to bridge the gap that clearly exists between three of those
children and him. Three of the four children are teenagers.
Teenagers are tough under the best of circumstances. Frankly, I
think these children have done fairly well given what I would say
are less than the best of circumstances given the attitudes of
their parents regarding each other.
I would urge both parents to at least temporarily set aside
the animosity they hold for the other and give their children a
break. I can’t believe that either of these parents would not like
to give these children an opportunity to enjoy their childhood
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without all the drama that’s being engendered by the
antagonistic relationship that these parents have with each
other. I don’t think either parent has done a very good job of
that.
I remind the parents it is their job to be the grownups. It’s
the [C]hildren’s job to be children.
Now, look, I believe that with some changes the amended
custody order of December 18, 2012[,] should remain in effect
or should go back into effect.
That gives [D]ad [alternating] weekends during the school
year, but more importantly it gives him half the summer. It
gives him time for the [C]hildren to be settled down, get to know
their father, and he them, in a more relaxed basis, and I think
that’s important, and I want that to continue.
Differences would be, I believe -- I was impressed, I was
impressed by all the [C]hildren, but particularly by [B.C.H.] and
the manner in which she described to me what she would like. I
thought it showed a fair amount of maturity for a young lady. It
is clear to me that so far, of all of the four children, she is the
best at trying to negotiate the tricky path that her parents have
created regarding their relationship.
Furthermore, I think, given the terms and conditions of the
amended custody order, [B.C.H.] can still spend the entire
summer with the other three children and spend every weekend
with them, and I think that’s, given their ages, I think that will
be fine for her.
I’m going to go out on a limb here, and I’m not going to
decide which parent ought to have sole legal custody. Generally
speaking, the law is clear, if parents cannot cooperate at least to
the extent to share in major decisions regarding their children,
the court is to award sole legal custody regarding those decision-
making prerogatives to one parent.
I’m hesitant to do that because I do not want either parent
to have difficulty accessing the [C]hildren’s medical or
educational records or being able to participate in the
[C]hildren’s activities, including medical appointments, school
meetings. It won’t be too long before the 16-or 17-year-old
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might want to be talking about college. So I’m going to continue
it that way, fully knowing that I’m not sure it’s going to succeed,
but I would rather give the parents a chance for it to succeed.
[Mother] doesn’t do everything that’s best for these
children; neither does [Father]. Maybe together, if only in a
very limited and stilted way, they can at least communicate
regarding major decisions, and their children they might come
up with a better solution than either one of them might have on
their own.
Now, I have made my decision. However, I will entertain
comments either one of you has regarding whether in the
context of the decision I have made the rest of the terms and
conditions of the December 18, 2012 order are appropriate.
N.T., 10/26-27/16, at 255-272.
This Court has stated:
[t]he parties cannot dictate the amount of weight the trial court
places on evidence. Rather, the paramount concern of the trial
court is the best interest of the child. Appellate interference is
unwarranted if the trial court’s consideration of the best interest
of the child was careful and thorough, and we are unable to find
any abuse of discretion.
S.M. v. J.M., 811 A.2d 621, 623 (Pa. Super. 2002) (quoting Robinson v.
Robinson, 645 A.2d 836, 838 (Pa. 1994)).
After our careful review of the record, we find that the trial court’s
conclusions are not against the weight of the evidence or unreasonable in
light of the sustainable findings of the trial court, which are supported by the
evidence in the record. C.R.F., 45 A.3d at 443. The trial court thoroughly
considered, weighed, and explained its findings with respect to each of the
section 5228(a) factors. Thus, we find Father is entitled to no relief on
issues one, three, and four.
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Next, we conclude that Father has waived issues, two, five, and nine,
because those issues were not presented in his concise statement of errors
complained of on appeal filed pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a)(i)(2) and (b).
See Krebs v. United Refining Company of Pennsylvania, 893 A.2d 776,
797 (Pa. Super. 2006) (holding that an appellant waives issues that are not
raised in both his concise statement of errors complained of on appeal and
the Statement of Questions Involved in his brief on appeal); see also
Greater Erie Indus. Development Corp. v. Presque Isle Downs, Inc.,
88 A.3d 222, 224 (Pa. Super. 2014) (reiterating that the failure to comply
with the minimal requirements of Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b) will result in automatic
waiver of the issues raised) (citation omitted). However, even were we to
assume Father preserved issues two and nine, we would find no impropriety
in the trial court’s questioning of the witnesses and the Children. As this
Court has explained:
It is well settled that a trial court always has the right, and
sometimes even the duty to interrogate witnesses, in order to
clarify evidence, or to elicit new information that is necessary to
ensure a fair trial. A new trial is required, therefore, only when
the trial judge’s questioning amounts to an abuse of discretion.
Because a charge of this nature is of the most serious type,
however, the record must clearly show prejudice, bias,
capricious disbelief or prejudgment before an abuse of discretion
will be found.
Fleck v. Durawood Inc., 529 A.2d 3, 5 (Pa. Super. 1987) (quoting Pratt
v. Stein, 444 A.2d 674, 687 (Pa. Super. 1982)) (quotations and citations
omitted).
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Here, were we to reach these issues, we would conclude that there
was no abuse of the trial court’s discretion in questioning the witnesses and
the Children, as the trial court was seeking to clarify the record concerning
whether it was in the Children’s best interests to modify custody. The trial
court did not exhibit partiality, prejudice, bias, or ill will toward Father in its
questioning.
Similarly, if Father properly preserved issue five, we would conclude
that it lacks merit because the timing of Mother’s marriage to Stepfather was
of no significance to the trial court’s decision on the best-interest factors. It
is a challenge to the weight that the trial court afforded the evidence.
Because we have already concluded that the trial court’s decision was
supported by competent evidence in the record in our discussion of issues
one, three, and four, we discern no merit to this issue.
In issues six, seven, and eight, Father asserts that the trial court erred
in failing to hold Mother in contempt for perjury, child endangerment, and
failing to comply with the trial court’s pretrial orders. With regard to the
pretrial orders, the trial court stated that it did not find Mother in contempt,
noting that Father did not request the trial court to do so. Trial Court
Opinion, 12/27/16, at 5. This Court has held that issues not raised in the
trial court are waived, and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. In
re C.P., 901 A.2d 516, 522 (Pa. Super. 2006); Pa.R.A.P. 302.
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More importantly however, the trial court’s order denying Father’s
petition for contempt is not on appeal. Thus, these issues are not properly
before this Court. See In the Interest of M.B., 514 A.2d 599, 600 (Pa.
Super. 1986) (stating that courts cannot rule on matters that are not
properly before them).
For the reasons set forth above, Father is entitled to no relief.
Accordingly, we affirm the October 31, 2016 order.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 6/22/2017
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