In re SD, 02-1905.

• Decision Date: 10 September 2003
• Docket Number: No. 02-1905.,02-1905.
• Citation: 671 N.W.2d 522
• Parties: In the Interest of S.D. and K.D., Minor Children, D.D., Father, Appellant.
• Court: Iowa Court of Appeals

671 N.W.2d 522

In the Interest of S.D. and K.D., MinorChildren,

D.D., Father, Appellant.

No. 02-1905.

Court of Appeals of Iowa.

September 10, 2003.

Sally Peck, Iowa City, for appellantfather.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Bruce Kempkes, Assistant Attorney General, Michael Wolf, County Attorney, and Jayme Kirsch, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.

David Pillers, Clinton, for appelleemother.

Thomas Lonergan of Mayer, Mayer, Lonergan & Rolfes, Clinton, for minor child.

Considered by SACKETT, C.J., and MILLER and HECHT, JJ.

SACKETT, Chief Justice.

Appellant-father, David, appeals the decision of the juvenile court finding his children to be in need of assistance under Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(c)(1)(2001).David does not challenge the finding that the children are in need of assistance, but he contends the finding is supported by the children's mother's conduct, not his.David contends the juvenile court abused its discretion in (1) not granting his pro se motion for change of venue and considering it as a motion for recusal of the judge, and (2) denying his request to hire an expert witness.He also contends the court should not have limited the witnesses he sought to introduce from testifying.David further contends his trial attorney was ineffective in a number of instances.We affirm the finding the children are children in need of assistance and affirm on the issues raised.We preserve David's right to challenge the effectiveness of his trial counsel in several respects.

I.BACKGROUND FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS.

David and Kimberly are the parents of the children at issue here, Shawn, born February 2, 1998, and Kerri, born October 30, 1999.The couple never married¹ but did live together for a period of about ten years.Kimberly's older children, Melissa and Jason, also lived with the couple.

What is termed "a founded report" concluding David sexually abused Melissa was filed by the Department of Human Services on August 28, 2001.On March 29, 2002 Kimberly obtained a protective order against David, as a finding was made that he was guilty of domestic abuse.Apparently, criminal charges accusing David of sexual abuse were filed, but after an April 2002 trial he was acquitted of the charges.On April 26, 2002 the protective order against David was modified to allow him supervised visits with his children.David requested that the protective order be cancelled, and after a May 10, 2002 hearing, District Court Judge C.H. Pelton denied David's request.David contends he filed a complaint with the Judicial Qualifications Commission, challenging comments Judge Pelton made during the hearing, indicating he did not consider the fact David had been acquitted of sexual abuse in a criminal trial in deciding the civil issue of placement of his children.David claims Judge Arlen Van Zee was mentioned in this complaint.A copy of the complaint is not a part of the record, nor is there any showing Judge Van Zee ever received a copy of the complaint.

David began exercising supervised visits with the children in April 2002.Kimberly was concerned about Shawn's behavior following the visits.Shawn was referred to Joyce Morrison, LISW, for an evaluation.Morrison reported that during play therapy Shawn made consistent statements telling her David threatened to kill Kimberly and Shawn's siblings, and he demonstrated with knives how David would do it.The statements were made while Morrison and Shawn engaged in what Morrison called play therapy.During several sessions of the play therapy Shawn's statements about David remained consistent.Shawn told Morrison he needed to protect Melissa because David told him he wanted to perform various sex acts with Melissa and then kill her.²Morrison concluded Shawn had symptoms of separation anxiety, emotional distress, and acute stress disorder and was on the verge of developing post-traumatic stress disorder.Following Morrison's evaluation the court issued an ex parte order on July 30, 2002, terminating David's visits with his children.

On August 1, 2002 a petition was filed requesting that Shawn and Kerri be found to be children in need of assistance under Iowa Code section 232.2(6)(b) and (c)(1).On August 6, 2002 David's attorney filed a motion requesting that the court dismiss Morrison as a play therapist and hire another play therapist.The motion contended Morrison was prejudiced against David because she was an expert witness in a trial where he was the defendant, and she displayed animosity towards David and would not render an unbiased opinion.The motion asked that another play therapist be hired at State expense.The State resisted the motion, noting that Kimberly had hired the therapist, that the interest of the children was at issue, and that information about David's prior history would be made known to another therapist.On September 10, 2002 David filed a pro se motion to transfer the case out of Clinton County, for the following reasons:

(1) prejudice from recent jury trials, (2) filed a complaint with judicial qualifications committee against Judge Pelton (3) Judge Pelton's comments on May 10th that he didn't care that I was aquitted [sic] because I was still accused of sex abuse I would still have to have supervised visits.

The motion was resisted by Kimberly and the guardian ad litem for the children.

Through his attorney David filed a written response to the petition to have the children found to be in need of assistance, contending Kimberly (1) was treated for substance abuse in 1992; (2) had a criminal record including a domestic abuse report in Sioux City, Iowa; (3) allowed a child to watch an inappropriate movie in October of 2000 which the couple argued about, she hit him, and he called the police; (4) allowed two men with criminal histories to live in her home; (5) allowed Melissa, a minor, to have her boyfriends live in the home; (6) lied to the police when she said David kidnapped her son; (7) allowed Shawn to play with a handgun; and (8) smoked marijuana.David further alleged he was advised in August of 2002 that someone called 911 saying Kimberly was going to kill him.He also alleged Kimberly did not protect his children from their half-siblings and others.

Kimberly filed a "Motion in Limine" seeking to exclude evidence at trial as to (1) her actions and conduct that occurred or transpired more than six months prior, (2) evidence from two previous sexual abuse trials, (3) allegations concerning David's sexual conduct, (4) evidence of her criminal history, and (5) evidence concerning a 911 call in August of 2002.

On September 23, 2002, the date of trial, David's attorney filed a renewed motion to hire at State expense a play therapist for a second opinion.She contended Dr. McEchron, a psychologist from Davenport, had recommended the children be evaluated by a play therapist in Iowa City, who was contacted and agreed to evaluate the children.The motion further indicated the Davenport psychologist had recommended to David's attorney and a Department of Human Services worker that a second opinion from a qualified play therapist was necessary.The motion noted that the allegations in the petition center on Morrison's evaluation of one of the children.The motion was not accompanied by an affidavit, nor was it verified.

The matter came on for hearing before the Honorable Arlen J. Van Zee.The court first addressed the motion for change of venue, denying it because it was not in proper form, and finding even if it were, it failed to state a valid ground for a change of venue.The court further noted Judge Pelton was not sitting on the case.The court also denied the renewed motion to hire a play therapist at State expense.In addition to filing the motion, David's attorney stated that the psychologist had expressed little confidence in Morrison's report.The juvenile court, in denying the motion, reasoned the methodology of the play therapist was not the issue; rather the issue was the statements made by the child.In support of its ruling denying David's request, the court cited the lack of a report or affidavit from the psychologist indicating the second therapist was necessary, as well as the fact that it would delay the proceedings.

The court also addressed the motion in limine filed by Kimberly and joined in by the guardian ad litem and the State.David's position was that he believed the children were children in need of assistance because of Kimberly's conduct, not because of his.³The judge said the State's petition focused on David's behavior and statements made by the children.He stated that was what they were going to deal with that day, and they were not going beyond that issue because that was the issue before the court.The judge further said it did not appear activities six months ago or before were relevant, as the allegations in the petition were recent and those were the allegations they were going to deal with.He noted that absent a statement or offer of proof showing the witnesses had knowledge of the allegations and specifics in the petition, their testimony was not relevant, and the court would not allow it.

David's attorney made no further objection, offered no statements as to the witnesses' testimony, nor did he attempt to make an offer of proof as to the testimony sought to be offered.

On September 30, 2002, prior to the juvenile court's ruling in the child in need of assistance proceedings, David filed a pro se motion for new trial, contending he filed a complaint with the Judicial Qualifications Committee in August of 2002, the complaint included Judge Van Zee, and Judge Van Zee had knowledge of the complaint and was a party or a material witness to it.David requested Judge Van Zee recuse himself.There is no evidence when or if Judge Van Zee was notified of the complaint's filing.

On October 4Judge Van Zee issued the order finding Shawn and Kerri to be children in need of assistance...