Case Information
*1
[Cite as
In re J.E.
,
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT MARION COUNTY
IN RE: CASE NO. 9-17-07 J.E.,
O P I N I O N [SASHA STEELE - APPELLANT]
Appeal from Marion County Common Pleas Court
Fаmily Division Trial Court No. 15 AB 0016 Judgment Affirmed
Date of Decision: October 23, 2017 APPEARANCES:
Robert C. Nemo for Appellant
Justin J. Kahle for Appellee
PRESTON, P.J.
{¶1}
Appellant, Sasha Steele (“Steele”), appeals the March 8, 2017 judgment entry of the Marion County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, granting permanent custody of her minor child, J.E., to appellee, the Marion County Children’s Services Board (“the Agency”). For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
{¶2} J.E. is the minor child of Steele and Jordan Emmons (“Emmons”) born in December of 2014. (Doc. No. 1). [1] On January 6, 2015, the Agency filed a complaint аlleging that J.E. was an abused and dependent child under R.C. 2151.031 and R.C. 2151.04, respectively. ( Id. ). That same day, the Agency filed a “motion for ex parte/emergency orders with notice of hearing.” (Doc. No. 3). Also on January 6, 2015, the trial court granted the Agency pre-dispositional interim custody of J.E. and also granted the Agency’s “motion for ex parte/emergency orders with notice of hearing.” (Doc. Nos. 4, 5). At multiple points in the case, the Agency submittеd case plans to the
trial court, which the trial court approved and incorporated into disposition entries. (Doc. Nos. 36, 63, 99). The Agency also filed semiannual administrative reviews. (Doc. Nos. 31, 38, 61, 83). On January 13, 2015, the trial court appointed a guardian ad litem
(“GAL”) for J.E. (Doc. No. 9). On January 23, 2015, the trial court appointed counsel for Steele. (Doc. No. 13). On March 30, 2016, the trial court appointed counsel for Emmons. [2] (Doc. No. 45).
{¶5} After a shelter-сare and pre-trial hearing on January 28, 2015, the trial court on February 11, 2015 issued an order that temporary custody of J.E. remain with the Agency and scheduled the matter for adjudication on March 13, 2015. (Doc. No. 17). That adjudication was continued on the trial court’s motion because Steel was not transported to the hearing. (Doc. No. 21). On March 27, 2015, Steele stipulated that J.E. was a dependent child
under R.C. 2151.04. (Doc. No. 27). The trial court found J.E. dependent and dismissed the abuse complaint. ( Id. ). On April 15, 2015, the trial court ordered that temporary custody of J.E. remain with the Agency. (Doc. No. 28). At multiple points after adjudicating J.E. a dependent child and awarding temporary custody to the Agency, the trial court reviewed that disposition but did not alter it. ( See Doc. Nos. 33, 35, 37, 47, 70, 72. 75). On April 26, 2016, the Agency filed a motion for permanent custody of
J.E. (Doc. No. 48). The trial court scheduled the permanent custody hearing for July 18, 2016. (Doc. No. 49). On July 7, 2016, Steele filed a motion to continue that hearing. (Doc. No. 65). On July 12, 2016, the Agency filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion to continue. (Doc. No. 66). The trial court granted the motion to continue on August 8, 2016 and rescheduled the permanent custody hearing for November 7, 2016. (Doc. No. 67). The permanent custody hearing set for November 7, 2016 was continued by agreement of the parties. (Doc. No. 97 at 4).
{¶8} On January 6, 2017, Steele filed a motion to continue the permanent custody hearing set for January 12, 2017. (Doc. No. 86). On January 10, 2017, the Agency filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion to continue. (Doc. No. 87). The trial court denied the motion to continue on January 11, 2017. (Doc. No. 88).
{¶9} The trial court held a permanent custody hearing on January 12, 2017. (Doc. No. 97). The guardian ad litem submitted his report and recommendation on January 30, 2017 and recommendеd that the trial court grant the Agency’s motion for permanent custody. (Doc. No. 92). On March 8, 2017, the trial court filed its judgment entry granting the Agency permanent custody of J.E. (Doc. No. 97). On March 30, 2017, Steele filed her notice of appeal. (Doc. No. 101). She brings three assignments of error for our review.
Assignment of Error No. I
The Trial Court Abused Its Discretion When It Denied Appellant’s Motion For [A] Continuance. In her first assignment of error, Steele argues that the trial court abused
its discretion in denying her motion to continue the January 12, 2017 permanent custody hearing. Specifically, Steele argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying her motion for a continuance because she planned to move into a sober living house, had a probation violation hearing scheduled for January 18, 2017, in Delaware County, and needed more time to complete programming and make herself better able to care for her daughter. Steele also argues that the trial court’s one-sentence entry denying her motion to continue did not consider the factors that a court must consider in determining whether to grant a continuance. Steele further argues that the trial court abused its discretion in denying her motion to continue because there was “some haste” on the Agency’s part when it filed its motion for permanent custоdy of J.E. (Appellant’s Brief at 10). “Continuances shall be granted only when imperative to secure fair
treatment for the parties.”
In re Distafano
, 3d Dist. Seneca No. 13-06-14, 2006-
Ohio-4430, ¶ 11, quoting Juv.R. 23. “A decision by the trial court to deny a motion
for continuance is within the sound discretion of the trial court and should not be
reversed absent a showing of abuse of that discretion.”
Id.
, quoting
In re Miller
, 3d
Dist. Auglaize No. 2-04-02,
the length of the delay requested; (2) whether other continuances have been
requested and granted; (3) any inconvenience to parties, witnesses, opposing
counsel, and the court; (4) whether the requested delay is for a legitimate purpose
or is instead dilatory, purposeful, or contrived; (5) whether the defendant
contributed to the situation that gives rise to thе motion for a continuance; and (6)
other relevant factors, depending on the unique facts of a case.
In re J.D.
, 3d Dist.
Hancock No. 5-10-34,
2151.414(A)(2) provides that “[t]he court shall hold the hearing * * * not later than one hundred twenty days after the agency files the motion for permanent custody, except that, for good cause shown, the court may continue the hearing for a rеasonable period of time beyond the one-hundred-twenty-day deadline.” In re J.C. at ¶ 46, quoting R.C. 2151.414(A)(2). Here, the Agency filed its motion for permanent custody on April 26, 2016. (Doc. No. 48). Thus, the trial court had already significantly exceeded the deadline imposed by the statute by the time Steele filed the pertinent motion to continue; therefore, the court did not abuse its discretion by denying the motion. In re J.C. at ¶ 46. We further consider, as a unique factor relevаnt to this case, the fact
that a continuance would likely not have changed the outcome of the case.
In re
J.C.
, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 10AP-766,
judgment entry denying her motion to continue is unpersuasive.
In re J.D.
, 3d Dist.
Hancock No. 5-10-34,
{¶20} Based on the reasoning above, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Steele’s motion for a continuance. Steele’s first assignment of error is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. II
Appellant Was Denied Her Right To Effective Assistance Of Counsel. In her second assignment of error, Steele argues that she was denied
her right to effective assistance of trial counsel. Specifically, she argues that she was denied effective assistance of trial counsel because her trial counsel did not object to two instances of hearsay testimony pertaining to the availability of a kinship placement for J.E. at the permanent custody hearing. “In permanent custody proceedings, where parents face losing their
children, we apply the same test as the test for ineffective assistance of counsel in
criminal cases.”
In re E.C.
, 3d Dist. Hancock No. 5-15-01,
{¶23}
In the instant case, Steele has not established that the result of the
proceeding would have been different but for the alleged errors of counsel as noted
above. A trial court is not required to consider the availability of a kinship
placement prior to granting permanent custody of a child to an agency.
In re S.G.
,
3d Dist. Defiance No. 4-16-13,
need not address whether Steele’s trial counsel’s performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness, as any showing of ineffective assistance requires the defendant to satisfy both prongs of the applicable legal test. In re E.C. at ¶ 41. For the reasons explained above, Steele’s second assignment оf error
is overruled.
Assignment of Error No. III
The Trial Court’s Decision To Award Appellee Permanent Custody Was Against The Manifest Weight Of The Evidence And Contrary To Law. In her third assignment of error, Steele argues that the trial court’s
decision to award the Agency permanent custody of J.E. was against the manifest weight of the evidence and was contrary to law. Specifically, Steele argues that the trial court erred when it did not specifically enumerate which bеst-interest factors it found supported the granting of permanent custody to the Agency. Steele further argues that, even if the trial court properly considered the best-interest factors as the statute requires, the trial court erred when it found that it was in J.E.’s best interest to grant permanent custody to the agency. The right to raise one’s child is a basic and essential right. In re
Murray,
court must comply with the statutory requirements set forth in R.C. 2151.414.
See
In re C.E.
, 3d Dist. Hancock Nos. 5-09-02 and 5-09-03,
may grant permanеnt custody of a child to a movant if the court determines at the hearing held pursuant to division (A) of this section, by clear and convincing evidence, that it is in the best interest of the child to grant permanent custody of the child to the agency that filed the motion for permanent custody and that any of the following apply: (a) The child is not abandoned or orphaned, has not been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period, * * * and the child cannot be placed with either of the child's parents within a reasonable time or should not be placed with the child’s parents.
* * *
(d) The child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or privatе child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period * * *.
R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a), (d). “[T]he findings under R.C. 2151.414(B)(1)(a) and R.C.
2151.414(B)(1)(d) are alternative findings, [and] each is independently sufficient to
use as a basis to grant the Agency’s motion for permanent custody.”
In re M.R.
, 3d
Dist. Defiance No. 4-12-18,
2151.414(B)(1) applies, the trial court must determine, by clear and convincing
evidence, whether granting the agency permanent custody of the child is in the
child’s best interest.” (Emphasis sic.)
In re A.F.
, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-11-27, 2012-
Ohio-1137, ¶ 55, citing
In re D.M.
, 3d Dist. Hancock Nos. 5-09-12, 5-09-13, and 5-
09-14,
[T]he court shall consider all relevant factors, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with the child’s parents, siblings, relatives, foster caregivers and out-of-home providers, and any other person who may significantly affect the child;
(b) The wishes of the child, аs expressed directly by the child or through the child’s guardian ad litem, with due regard for the maturity of the child;
(c) The custodial history of the child, including whether the child has been in the temporary custody of one or more public children services agencies or private child placing agencies for twelve or more months of a consecutive twenty-two-month period * * *; (d) The child’s need for a legally secure permanent plаcement and whether that type of placement can be achieved without a grant of permanent custody to the agency;
(e) Whether any of the factors in divisions (E)(7) to (11) of this section apply in relation to the parents and child.
R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(a)-(e). “Clear and convincing evidence is more than a preponderance of the
evidence but not as much evidence as required to establish guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt as in a criminal case; rather, it is evidence which provides the trier of fact with
a firm belief or conviction as to the facts sought to be established.”
In re H.M.K.,
3d
Dist. Wyandot Nos. 16–12–15 and 16–12–16, 2013–Ohio–4317, ¶ 42, citing
In re
Meyer,
98 Ohio App.3d 189, 195 (3d Dist.1994), citing
Cincinnati Bar Assn. v.
Massengale,
her parents within a reasonable period of time. (Doc. No. 97 at 7-8). Steele does
not challenge any of the trial court’s findings as to R.C. 2151.414(B)(1); rather, she
claims that the trial court erred by not adequately considering and applying the best-
interest factors enumerated in R.C. 2151.313(D)(1)(a)-(e). (Appellant’s Brief at
14). This argument is unpersuasive becаuse a trial court need not consider each
best-interest factor separately in its judgment entry.
In re A.M.
, 3d Dist. Marion No.
9-14-46,
“In accordance with [R.C.] 2151.414(D), the Court finds that the grant of permanent custody [of] J.E. to [the Agency] is in the best interests of said child.” (Doc. No. 97 at 9). See In re M.R. at ¶ 78 (“While it is far from the better practice, we find that the trial court’s citation to the appropriate statute when making its best interest finding meets its obligation, albeit to the minimum extent possible, in demonstrating that the R.C. 2151.414(D) factors were considered.”). Additionally, in its judgment entry, the trial court made findings relevant to the R.C. 2151.414(D) factors. ( See Doc. No. 97 at 7-9). See In re M.R. at ¶ 78 (“Moreover, * * * there is clear and convincing evidence in the record to support the trial court's finding that it is in M.R.’s best interest to grant the Agency's motion for permanent custody.”). The record supports the trial court’s factual findings relevant to the R.C. 2151.414(D) factors. Regarding R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(a), J.E. was born in December of 2014 and placed with a foster family shortly after her birth. (Jan. 12, 2017 Tr. at 6); (Doc. No. 97 at 3). Foster mother Gina Tighe (“Tighe”) testified that she and her husband are bonded with J.E. and that J.E. refers to them as “mommy” and “daddy,” respectively. (Jan. 12, 2017 Tr. at 10). Steele spent much of the time between J.E.’s birth and the permanent custody hearing incarcerated. ( Id. at 45-48). Regarding R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(b), the trial court seems to have duly regarded J.E.’s young age by noting that she was born in December of 2014, making her approximately 27 months old at the time of the trial court’s decision. ( See Doc. No. 97 at 1). Regarding R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(c), the triаl court noted that J.E. has been in the temporary custody of the agency and in the physical custody of the Tighe family since January of 2015. ( Id. at 2). J.E. was in the temporary custody of the agency continuously for more than 12 months of a consecutive 22-month period. (Doc. No. 97 at 5, 8). Regarding R.C. 2151.414(D)(1)(d), the evidence demonstrated that Steele and Emmons are unable to provide a legally secure, permanent placement for J.E. ( Id. at 8, 9); (Jan. 12, 2017 Tr. at 70, 75, 80). For the reasons above, we conclude that clear and convincing evidence supports the trial court’s determinations under R.C. 2151.414 that it was required to make, and did make, in granting the Agency’s motion for permanent custody. The trial court made the proper findings under 2151.414(B)(1) and properly found that it is in J.E.’s best interest to grant permanent custody to the Agency. The trial court’s decision to grant the Agency’s motion for permanent custody is not against the manifest weight of the evidence. The trial court did not err in granting the Agency’s motion for permanent custody. Steele’s third assignment of error is overruled. Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the
particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
Judgment Affirmed ZIMMERMAN and SHAW, J.J., concur.
/jlr
Notes
[1] The complaint describes Emmons as the “alleged father.” (Doc. No. 1). He was determined to be the biological father of J.E. after the filing of the complaint. (Doc. No. 97 at 2).
[2] Because only Steele filed an appeal, we will not discuss any filings by Emmons.
