IN RE KIMBERLY ROOKER;CAMERON & HAROLD WARD II
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
__________________________________________
In the Matter of KIMBERLY ROOKER, HAROLD
WARD, II, AND CAMERON WARD, Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
September 26, 1997
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 200346
St. Clair Juvenile Court
LC No. 95-000271
HAROLD WARD, SR.,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
ANGELA WARD,
Respondent.
Before: Markey, P.J., and Neff and Smolenski, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from the juvenile court order terminating his parental
rights to the minor children under MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii), (c)(i), (c)(ii), (g), and (j); MSA
27.3178(598.19b)(3)(a)(ii), (c)(i), (c)(ii), (g), and (j). We affirm.
Respondent-appellant first argues that the juvenile court had no jurisdiction. We disagree. This
case was undoubtedly within the court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Further, respondent-appellant
consented to the court’s exercise of jurisdiction over the children and may not now collaterally attack it.
In re Hatcher, 443 Mich 426, 437-439; 505 NW2d 834 (1993).
Next, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the four-year-old child’s hearsay
statements accusing respondent-appellant of sexually abusing her. The statements were admissible
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under MCR 5.972(C)(2). Therefore, the probate court did not clearly err in finding that the statutory
grounds for termination were established by clear and convincing evidence. MCR 5.974(I); In re
Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989).
Lastly, the juvenile court did not abuse its discretion in denying respondent-appellant’s
motion for rehearing. The statements of his mother and younger sister, even if true, would not cause the
court to reconsider its decision in this case. See MCR 5.992(A); In re Toler, 193 Mich App 474,
478; 484 NW2d 672 (1992).
Affirmed.
/s/ Jane E. Markey
/s/ Janet T. Neff
/s/ Michael R. Smolenski
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