Rodenberg v. Rodenberg, WD

• Citation: 767 S.W.2d 594
• Decision Date: 07 March 1989
• Docket Number: No. WD,WD
• Parties: Kenneth Wayne RODENBERG, Appellant, v. Marla Gail RODENBERG, Respondent. 40543.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Missouri (US)

Page 594

767 S.W.2d 594

Kenneth Wayne RODENBERG, Appellant, v. Marla Gail RODENBERG, Respondent.

No. WD 40543.

Missouri Court of Appeals,

Western District.

March 7, 1989.

Rehearing Denied May 2, 1989.

James A. Rahm, Carrollton, for appellant.

J.D. Gorham, Richmond, for respondent.

Before MANFORD, P.J., and TURNAGE and LOWENSTEIN, JJ.

LOWENSTEIN, Judge.

This is an appeal by the father and concerns the custody of three children; two girls, ages ten and seven and a boy age five. The father brought an action for dissolution, but custody of the children was granted to Marla Rodenberg, the mother.

At the outset it must be noted the father's point relied on does not comply with Rule 84.04(d). Since the case involves the best interests of children in a custody dispute, the defective point on appeal will only hinder but not preclude appellate review. J.L.E. v. D.J.E., 675 S.W.2d 456, 458 (Mo.App.1984). In addition to the best interests test, review here is under Murphy v. Carron, 536 S.W.2d 30, 32 (Mo. banc 1976), and as applicable here, a determination will be made of whether the evidence is against the weight of the evidence. A reversal of the decree on that ground will occur only "with caution and the firm belief" the decree is wrong. Id. It is presumed the trial court after hearing and studying the evidence made a ruling in the children's best interests. Fastnacht v. Fastnacht, 616 S.W.2d 98, 101 (Mo.App.1981).

Even under the scope of review, the children's wishes to stay with the mother and the lack of presently demonstrated problems with the children, the evidence here shows such a lack of judgment on the part of the mother as to call for a reversal.

The father is a mechanic, the mother is an assistant manager of a convenience store. Following the couple's separation in August, 1987, the mother admitted to having had a male friend stay and sleep in her bedroom five or six nights a week, while the three children were in her custody. There was however, no evidence of sexual relations taking place in front of the children. The younger girl and the boy slept in the same bedroom. One of the bedrooms in the house was taken up with her male friend's weight lifting equipment.

There was some evidence of the children being left alone when the mother worked. Babysitters employed by the mother included a fifteen year old girl who invited two boys into the home and had sex with one of them. Her sister Vicki also was used as a sitter. Vicki earlier had pleaded to three felony counts of selling a controlled substance and had completed probation. Her ex-husband testified she still had a drug involvement with marijuana, cocaine and speed during her babysitting tenure. Although married at that time, she would entertain her boyfriend Kim while babysitting in her sister's house. Before this trial Kim went to state prison for burglary and the stealing of guns. One such weapon showed up in the hands of the mother's boyfriend, apparently as security, for a loan he made to Kim. Though the judge did not have to believe the testimony, there was evidence Kim was on a combination of drugs and alcohol while in the presence of the children. The...