In re Ha.S., Hy.S.

Summary

The Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals affirmed the adjudication of two minor children as dependent under Ohio Revised Code 2151.04(C). The court held that competent, credible evidence showed a legitimate risk of harm arising from the father's expressed sexual interest in minors and the resulting threats, exposure, bullying, and assault affecting the family, even absent evidence of physical harm to the children.

Holdings

1. An appellate court reviews the assignments of error set forth in the briefs and does not decide arguments that are not presented as assignments of error; therefore, the court reviewed only the dependency adjudication and not the January 14, 2025 dispositional order.
2. The juvenile court properly adjudicated Ha.S. and Hy.S. dependent because competent and credible evidence established by clear and convincing evidence that the children's environment presented a legitimate risk of harm.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the juvenile court's adjudication of Ha.S. and Hy.S. as dependent children was against the manifest weight of the evidence and unsupported by clear and convincing evidence.
2. Whether the appellate court could review Father's arguments concerning the later dispositional order when his sole assignment of error challenged only the dependency adjudication.

Disposition

affirmed