BETHANY Y. v. ADES, A.M.

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NOTICE: THIS DECISION DOES NOT CREATE LEGAL PRECEDENT AND MAY NOT BE CITED EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY APPLICABLE RULES. See Ariz. R. Supreme Court 111(c); ARCAP 28(c); Ariz. R. Crim. P. 31.24 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS STATE OF ARIZONA DIVISION ONE BETHANY Y., ) ) Appellant, ) ) v. ) ) ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC ) SECURITY, A.M., ) ) Appellees. ) __________________________________) DIVISION ONE FILED: 8/13/2013 RUTH A. WILLINGHAM, CLERK BY: mjt 1 CA-JV 13-0065 DEPARTMENT E MEMORANDUM DECISION (Not for Publication 103(G) Ariz.R.P. Juv. Ct.; Rule 28 ARCAP) Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County Cause No. JD20610 The Honorable Joan M. Sinclair, Commissioner AFFIRMED Thomas C. Horne, Attorney General Tucson By Cathleen E. Fuller, Assistant Attorney General Attorneys for Appellees Christina Phillis, Maricopa County Public Advocate By Suzanne W. Sanchez, Deputy Public Advocate Attorneys for Appellant Mesa G O U L D, Judge ¶1 Bethany Y. ( Mother ) appeals the superior court s order terminating her parental rights to A.M. ( Child ) due to substance abuse under Arizona Revised Statutes ( A.R.S. ) section 8-533(B)(3), arguing that Arizona Department of Economic Security ( ADES ) failed to prove that her condition would continue for a prolonged and indeterminate period. For the following reasons, we affirm. Facts and Procedural Background1 ¶2 In January 2011, Child was born exposed to alcohol, cocaine, and pregnancy. methamphetamine due to Mother s drug use during Mother used drugs throughout the pregnancy; her drug use included using crack cocaine the night before she went into labor. Child was born with special needs. Due to Child s prenatal drug exposure, Child Protective Services ( CPS ) has been involved with Child since birth. During the first few months of Child s life, CPS offered services to address Mother s substance abuse issues. ¶3 Mother was responsible for Child s care until August 2011, when CPS removed Child due to domestic violence between Mother and Robert M. ( Father ) and further drug use by Mother. Following that incident, ADES filed a petition for dependency, and the court found Child dependent as to Mother in August 2011. 1 We view the evidence in a severance case in the light most favorable to sustaining the juvenile court s findings. Christina G. v. Ariz. Dep t of Econ. Sec., 227 Ariz. 231, 234, ¶ 13, 256 P.3d 628, 631 (App. 2011). 2 ¶4 Mother began an inpatient substance abuse treatment program, and then progressed to an outpatient stage at a halfway house. and After leaving the halfway house, Mother obtained housing was working treatment. to support herself while continuing her In February 2012, the case manager recommended that Child be returned to Mother because she had stopped using drugs. On March 5, 2012, Child was returned to Mother s care. ¶5 However, Mother later admitted that she had consumed alcohol and obtained and used methamphetamine the night before the child was to be returned to her care, and that when she appeared in court on March 5, she was still under the influence of methamphetamine. Mother s case worker testified that Mother had told her that she had been back in contact and involved with Father during the two months prior to March 4, and that Mother said he was a trigger for participating in treatment. Mother s behavior. He was not Mother s urinalysis testing results were positive for methamphetamine on both March 6 and 14, 2012. At about this time, Mother also quit going to work. Child was in Mother s care until April 1, 2012, when a CPS after hours team was able to locate them and remove Child once again. While Child was in Mother s care, Mother was using methamphetamine, and was in only very sporadic contact with CPS. Mother also failed to take day), Child to daycare (other than one necessary therapy appointments consistently. 3 or to Child s ¶6 After Child was removed, Mother continued to use methamphetamine; she tested positive for methamphetamine again on April 17, 2012. influence Mother ( DUI ) on was April arrested 29, for 2012. driving She then under the subsequently failed to appear and was picked up and spent the night in jail on June 9, 2012 before ultimately pleading guilty to the DUI on July 2, 2012. ¶7 Mother testified that she had last consumed alcohol in July 2012. Her urinalysis results were negative for alcohol and methamphetamine from July December of that year. 2012 until the time of trial in She reentered substance abuse treatment in July 2012 following her earlier period of substance abuse. Mother was not employed at the time of trial. ¶8 Dr. G. Joseph Bluth completed evaluation on Mother on August 27, 2012. amphetamine and alcohol dependence. a psychological Dr. Bluth found both Additionally, he found both depressive and personality disorders. Dr. Bluth also testified that he believed that Mother s struggle with substance abuse was likely to continue into the indefinite future, and that the steps Mother had taken were just a beginning. ¶9 At trial, there was testimony that Mother had been involved with drugs and alcohol since her late teens, including using methamphetamine beginning around that time. There was further evidence that she also had periods of regular cocaine use 4 since her late teens. form or another had Prior to late 2011, substance abuse of one been nearly constant for a period of approximately twenty years. ¶10 The court granted ADES petition to terminate Mother s parental rights.2 The court found grounds to sever under A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(3) (2013) (chronic substance abuse). The court found by clear and convincing evidence that Mother could not discharge her parental responsibilities because of her substantial history of chronic substance abuse and that there are reasonable grounds to believe that this will continue for a prolonged indeterminate period. The court also found by a preponderance of the evidence that it would be in Child s best interests to terminate Mother s parental rights permanence and because the stability. Child was Mother adoptable timely and appeals. deserved We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 8-235(A) and 12-120.21(A)(1). Discussion ¶11 Because the juvenile court is in the best position to weigh the evidence, observe the parties, judge the credibility of witnesses, and make appropriate findings, we will reject the court s findings only if no reasonable evidence supports them. Jesus M. v. Ariz. Dep t of Econ. Sec., 203 Ariz. 278, 280, ¶ 4, 53 P.3d 203, 205 (App. 2002). 2 Father had his parental rights terminated prior to trial in this case. 5 ¶12 While there is a fundamental right to custody of one s own children, it is not absolute. Michael J. v. Ariz. Dep t of Econ. Sec., 196 Ariz. 246, 248, ¶¶ 11 12, 995 P.2d 682, 684 (2000). To justify termination of the parent-child relationship, the trial court must find, by clear and convincing evidence, at least one of the statutory grounds set out in [A.R.S.] [§] 8 533, and also that termination is in the best interest of the child. Id. at 249, ¶ 12. ¶13 to Specifically, terminate parental rights due to substance abuse under A.R.S. § 8-533(B)(3), there must be clear and convincing evidence that: 1) parent has a history of chronic abuse of controlled substances or alcohol; 2) parent is unable to discharge parental responsibilities because of his chronic abuse of controlled substances or alcohol; and 3) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the condition prolonged and indeterminate period. will continue for a Raymond F. v. Ariz. Dep't of Econ. Sec., 224 Ariz. 373, 377, ¶ 15, 231 P.3d 377, 381 (App. 2010). ¶14 On appeal, Mother challenges the sufficiency of the evidence supporting rights. She argues there was not enough evidence to establish a the grounds for terminating her parental reasonable belief that her chronic substance abuse problem would continue for a prolonged and indefinite period. She does not challenge the court s findings that termination is in the best 6 interest of substance the abuse, responsibilities child, or that that due to she she has cannot chronic a history discharge substance of chronic her abuse. parental Her sole argument is that there was insufficient evidence to support a finding that her chronic drug use would continue because the court found that she had been substance abuse free for eight months prior to the ruling. However, this is only one factor of many to be considered. ¶15 At factors trial, that Dr. increased Bluth the testified likelihood that of there were relapse, risk including Mother s psychological condition and stress, which would increase with potential reintroduction of a special needs child into her life. He also testified that Mother would need years of therapy to address her psychological issues and that Mother s struggle with substance abuse would continue indeterminate period of time. for a prolonged and The eight months of sobriety that Mother had achieved at the time of trial was also relatively short when compared with the nearly two decades of substance abuse that occurred prior to that period of sobriety. Finally, Mother testified that she would need six more months of drug treatment, treatment at a minimum. programs, Mother including has programs also prior been to in the various birth of Child, for some time and managed to do well for periods of time, as here, but has nevertheless returned to drug use. 7 ¶16 Mother has not been able to stay free of substance abuse in the type of noncustodial setting where she would be expected to raise a child. See id. at 379, ¶ 29. Temporary abstinence does not outweigh the many years of prior drug abuse. Id. It is not the number of times that [Mother] has tested positive or negative for drug abuse that is key, but rather, it is the fact that [s]he has consistently failed to abstain from drugs and alcohol. Id. (emphasis in original). While remaining sober for eight months is commendable, that fact alone is not enough to outweigh the other evidence that was presented in this case. court s There is sufficient evidence in the record to support the finding severance. that Mother s chronic drug use justifies Accordingly, we affirm. Conclusion ¶17 For the reasons above, we affirm the juvenile court s order severing Mother s parental rights to Child. /S/_____________________________ ANDREW W. GOULD, Presiding Judge CONCURRING: /S/_________________________________ KENT E. CATTANI, Judge /S/_________________________________ PATRICIA K. NORRIS, Judge 8

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