In Re Llewellyn, Unpublished Decision (12-18-2002)
In Re Llewellyn, Unpublished Decision (12-18-2002)
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 2} The case proceeded to trial in the Fairfield County JuvenileCourt. At that time, the court took judicial notice of the testimonyheard in the permanent custody trial involving Brian, Kyle, andVictoria. The evidence at that trial demonstrated that Kyle and Brianwere in foster care in Perry County from October of 1997, to October of1998, at which time they were returned to appellant. In March of 2000,when Victoria was an infant, all three children were removed fromappellant's home due to physical abuse perpetrated on Victoria. The evidence reflected that protecting the children from physical abusein the home was a grave concern. Mr. Featheroff, who was incarcerated atthe time of Aaron's birth, had committed domestic violence againstappellant. Appellant was very dependent on others, specifically men.Although she maintained employment for a period of time, she gave all ofher money to Featheroff, and when he was incarcerated, she befriendedanother male. After he was released from jail, she became pregnant byFeatheroff with Aaron. One of the persons appellant permitted to care forthe children had been convicted of sex crimes, and another physicallyabused Victoria. There was evidence that appellant placed herrelationship with Featheroff before her relationship with her children.
{¶ 3} The evidence also demonstrated that appellant was unable tomeet the children's basic needs by improving hygiene in the home. Thehome remained unclean throughout the entire history of appellee'sinvolvement with the family. While appellant was generally consistentwith her visits with the children, during a four week period in Septemberof 2000, she left the area to be with Featheroff as he worked on thecarnival circuit, and did not notify her mother or appellee of thisfact, prompting her mother to file a missing persons report. In 1998,when Brian and Kyle were living with appellant, they were sent toprotective daycare every day, and appellant frequently requested that thefoster parents and others take the children for the weekend, even thefirst weekend they were returned home.
{¶ 4} At the time of the hearing concerning the permanent custodymotion of Aaron, appellant stated that permanent custody concerning theother three children was a good decision for them, as they were betteroff with people who could have given them the care that they needed. Thecourt found that since the granting of permanent custody of the otherthree children, appellant had failed to satisfactorily address any of theagency's previous concerns, and some of the agency's concerns havestrengthened. The court concluded that appellant had demonstrated a lack ofcommitment towards Aaron, and demonstrated an unwillingness to provide anadequate permanent home for Aaron. The court terminated appellant'sparental rights, and granted permanent custody to appellee. Appellantassigns a single error on appeal.
{¶ 5} "The trial court erred in ordering permanent custody ofAaron Llewellyn to Fairfield County Children's Services as such wasagainst the manifest weight of the evidence."
{¶ 6} Appellant first argues that the court erred in failing torequire appellee to implement a case plan regarding Aaron, and attempt toreunify the family. She argues that at the time the initial complaint wasfiled, immediately after Aaron's birth, permanent custody of the childrenhad not been granted to appellee, and thus the agency was required tomake efforts to reunify.
{¶ 7} At the time the complaint in the instant case was filed,February of 2002, permanent custody of Brian, Kyle, and Victoria had beengranted to appellee. Pursuant to R.C.
{¶ 8} The assignment of error is overruled.
{¶ 9} The judgment of the Fairfield County Common Pleas Court,Juvenile Division, is affirmed.
By Gwin, J., Hoffman, P.J., and Wise, J., concur.
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