Opinion
01-07-2016
In the Matter of ANTOINETTE LL. and Others, Alleged to be Severely Abused Children. Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families, Respondent; Ralph MM., Appellant.
Mitch Kessler, Cohoes, for appellant. Carly M. Mousseau, Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families, Albany, for respondent. Carol R. Stiglmeier, Albany, attorney for the children.
Mitch Kessler, Cohoes, for appellant.
Carly M. Mousseau, Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families, Albany, for respondent.
Carol R. Stiglmeier, Albany, attorney for the children.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., EGAN JR., ROSE, LYNCH and CLARK, JJ.
McCARTHY, J.P.Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Albany County (M. Walsh, J.), entered December 1, 2014, which granted petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b, to adjudicate respondent's children to be severely abused, and terminated respondent's parental rights.
In a previous proceeding, respondent, the father of Ralph LL. (born 2002), Ray LL. (born 2006) and Antoinette LL. (born 2011), was found to have, among other things, abused and/or seriously abused the subject children (Matter of Aleria KK. [Ralph MM.], 127 A.D.3d 1525, 1525–1527, 8 N.Y.S.3d 472 [2015], lv. denied 25 N.Y.3d 1193, 16 N.Y.S.3d 51, 37 N.E.3d 109 [2015] ). Such findings were supported by evidence consisting of "corroborated allegations of horrendous, repeated acts of sexual and physical abuse perpetrated by respondent against his children" (id. at 1527, 8 N.Y.S.3d 472 ). In February 2014, petitioner commenced the instant proceeding, pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b, to, among other things, terminate respondent's parental rights of the subject children. Thereafter, Family Court granted petitioner's motion for summary judgment adjudicating the children to be severely abused pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b (8)(a)(ii). As a result, Family Court held a dispositional hearing and, thereafter, issued an order terminating respondent's parental rights. Respondent now appeals.
Respondent's sole contention, that the best interests of the children do not support terminating his parental rights, is without merit. Competent evidence introduced at the dispositional hearing established that Ray LL. and Antoinette LL. were both thriving in foster homes with foster parents who wished to adopt those children if the opportunity arose in the future. It was further established that Ralph LL. was currently residing in an inpatient psychiatric ward. Ralph LL.'s therapist testified that Ralph LL. had indicated to her that respondent had forced him to perform oral sex on respondent and that respondent had anally raped him. According to that therapist, Ralph LL. had explained to her his belief that he and the remainder of his family would be safe because respondent would remain incarcerated for the rest of his life. CONSIDERING THIS Evidence, we find a sound and substantial basis for the conclusion that the best interests of the children supported terminating respondent's parental rights (see Matter of Bradly A. [Lawrence A.], 97 A.D.3d 931, 932, 947 N.Y.S.2d 842 [2012], lv. denied 19 N.Y.3d 814, 2012 WL 5200299 [2012] ; Matter of Dakota Y. [Robert Y.], 97 A.D.3d 858, 860–861, 948 N.Y.S.2d 176 [2012], lv. denied 20 N.Y.3d 852, 2012 WL 5950420 [2012] ).
The therapist testified further regarding the lengths that she and other staff members took to create a therapeutically safe environment to inform Ralph LL. that the premise of his belief was incorrect and that respondent was no longer incarcerated.
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ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.
EGAN Jr., ROSE, LYNCH and CLARK, JJ., concur.