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False Allegations of Child Abuse in a Child Custody Case in Arizona

Mon 29th Feb, 2016 Arizona Child Custody Laws

We want to talk to you about what you can do when there are false allegations of child abuse in a child custody case in Arizona.

You will learn about the use of emergency custody orders designed to protect children from child abuse.

We will also discuss the need for a judge to evaluate the credibility of witnesses when an allegation of child abuse is made in a child custody case in Arizona. Lastly, you will see how one judge ruled on child custody issues when the judge concluded the allegations of child abuse were not credible.

In cases of alleged sexual molestation of a child by a parent sharing parenting time and legal decision making, the Court must carefully weigh all testimony, consider the expert opinion, and make accurate interpretations of the law in their efforts to provide for the safety and best interests of the child.

In many situations, such as those seen in the unpublished Arizona Court of Appeals decision in the Flynn v. Brown case, false or misguided accusations of abuse can severely damage relationships that are in the child’s best interests to protect. Amanda C. Flynn (Mother) and Gregory Scott Brown (Father) were divorced in 2011.

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Emergency Child Custody Orders to Protect a Child From Abuse

The dissolution decree awarded Mother sole legal custody and final decision-making authority. The father was granted supervised parenting time. Mother filed a petition to modify parenting time in 2013 claiming that the father abused their child by molesting their daughter.

The family court judge awarded the mother sole legal decision-making authority and suspended the father’s parenting time on an emergency basis until the issue could be addressed in court. After the hearing, emergency temporary orders were affirmed, the child’s counseling was discontinued, and the trial was scheduled.

In the joint pretrial statement, the father requested joint legal decision-making authority. Mother objected. After a three-day trial, the trial court judge concluded that the father did not molest the parties’ daughter.  The mother saw a “hickey” on their daughter’s neck.

Judges Evaluate the Credibility of the Accuser and Witnesses When Child Abuse Allegations are Made

False Allegations of Child Abuse in a Child Custody Case.

When the child was asked what happened, she responded that her father had kissed her neck and the mother jumped to the conclusion the father had molested their daughter. From this point forward, the mother interpreted everything the child said as indicative of sexual behavior or a sign she had been molested. The family court judge found that the mother’s responses to the child held to shape the child’s statements.

Over time, the mother’s behavior also shaped the “child’s interpretation of events” as well as her “emotional responses” to them. The family court judge also found portions of the mother’s testimony regarding the father to be false. The record of the trial made it apparent to the trial court judge that the mother lacked “objectivity and perspective.”

The family court judge denied the mother’s request for a modified order discontinuing the father’s parenting time. The trial court also found that the substantial change of circumstances presented by the case justified changing the mother’s sole legal decision making to joint legal decision making authority. The family court judge also found that in her misguided efforts to protect the daughter from the father, the father/daughter relationship had been damaged and was now at risk.

The Court’s Ruling on False Allegations of Child Abuse in a Child Custody Case

False Allegations of Child Abuse in Arizona.

The court concluded the mother’s insistence that she retain sole legal decision that the father’s parenting time should be discontinued stemmed from an unhealthy mistrust of the father, which was not in the child’s best interests.

The family court judge also noted in its findings that the mother had overstated evidence in support of her allegations.  In some instances, even presenting testimony that was not truthful. It appeared to the Court that the mother convinced herself that the father was a danger to the child and, as a result, adopted an “end justifies the means” approach to the case and accompanying proceedings.

The mother argued that the trial court erred by ordering a modification because the father did not ask the trial court to modify the prior legal decision-making orders and she, therefore, did not have fair notice that the issue would be addressed.

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled that the Joint Pretrial Statement filed by both parties one week before the first day of trial and five weeks before the final day of trial to be an “amending [of] the pleading.” The mother’s objection to the statement serves as evidence that she was duly notified. Additionally, objections regarding procedure must be filed prior to the completion of the case.

The mother also argued on appeal that the trial court erred in its finding of the existence of a changed circumstance since the prior child custody orders were entered, its ruling permitting the father to provide an alternative explanation for the mark on the child’s neck, the trial court’s finding that the father’s alternative explanation was “more consistent with evidence” than the alleged sexual molestation, and the trial court’s dependence on testimony occurring prior to the hearing.

The mother did not provide transcripts of the trial supporting her arguments to the Court of Appeals, nor did she provide any continued development of the arguments for the Court of Appeals of Arizona to consider. The burden of providing all necessary documentation regarding the case and in support of her arguments on appeal was the mother’s responsibility.

Absent such record being transmitted to the Court of Appeals, the Arizona Court of Appeals must assume that the exhibits and trial transcripts would support the trial court’s findings. In addition, based on the limited evidence that was presented on appeal, the mother’s arguments fail.  The Arizona Court of Appeals finds no error or abuse of discretion in the case of Flynn v. Brown and affirmed the trial court’s ruling.

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What We Learned from this Article About False Allegations of Child Abuse in an Arizona Child Custody Case

Arizona child custody laws are designed to protect children from abuse. To do so, Arizona laws allow a court to issue emergency child custody orders to either terminate a parent’s visitation with his or her children or to order that parenting time to be supervised.

When faced with an Emergency Petition to Modify Parenting time based upon accusation a child is being abused by a parent, a judge is required to assume the facts alleged in that petition are truthful solely for the purpose of granting or denying the request for an emergency order.

However, once the case is presented to the court at the trial, however, the judge cannot assume any of the child abuse allegations are true. Instead, the judge is required to evaluate the credibility of witnesses, including the accuser, to determine if the allegations of abuse are true or untrue.

If the court determines a parent has raised a false allegation of child abuse after hearing all of the evidence in the case, the court has the authority in Arizona to change the existing child custody and parenting time orders based upon those false allegations of child abuse in an Arizona child custody case.

Contact Our Attorneys Who Fight False Allegations of Child Abuse in Arizona Child Custody Cases

If you need information about false allegations about child abuse in an Arizona child custody case, you should seriously consider contacting the attorneys at Hildebrand Law, PC. Our Arizona child custody attorneys have decades of combined experience successfully representing clients in child custody cases in Arizona.

Our family law firm has earned numerous awards such as US News and World Reports Best Arizona Family Law Firm, US News and World Report Best Divorce Attorneys, “Best of the Valley” by Arizona Foothills readers, and “Best Arizona Divorce Law Firms” by North Scottsdale Magazine.

Call us today at (480)305-8300 or reach out to us through our appointment scheduling form to schedule your personalized consultation and turn your Arizona child custody case around today.

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