In Re Billy F. ( 2018 )

12/14/2018
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT KNOXVILLE
Assigned on Briefs December 3, 2018
IN RE BILLY F.
Appeal from the Juvenile Court for Cocke County
No. TPR-05806 Brad Lewis Davidson, Judge
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No. E2018-01639-COA-R3-PT
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Father appeals the trial court’s finding that termination of his parental rights to his son is
in the child’s best interest. Because we conclude that clear and convincing evidence
supports both the grounds for termination found by the trial court and the trial court’s
best interest finding, we affirm.
Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Juvenile Court Affirmed
J. STEVEN STAFFORD, P.J., W.S., delivered the opinion of the court, in which FRANK G.
CLEMENT, JR., P.J., M.S., and JOHN W. MCCLARTY, J., joined.
Ryan T. Logue, Dandridge, Tennessee, for the appellant, Terry A. T.
Herbert H. Slatery, III, Attorney General and Reporter; Matt D. Cloutier, Assistant
Attorney General, for the appellee, State of Tennessee, Department of Children’s
Services.
MEMORANDUM OPINION1
Background
1
Rule 10 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals of Tennessee provides:
This Court, with the concurrence of all judges participating in the case, may affirm,
reverse or modify the actions of the trial court by memorandum opinion when a formal
opinion would have no precedential value. When a case is decided by memorandum
opinion it shall be designated “MEMORANDUM OPINION”, shall not be published, and
shall not be cited or relied on for any reason in any unrelated case.
On March 27, 2018, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (“DCS”)
filed a petition to terminate the parental rights of Miranda L.F. (“Mother”) and Terry A.T.
(“Father”) to their minor child, born in May 2016.2 The petition alleged that the child
came into DCS custody on July 11, 2017, and was later adjudicated dependent and
neglected on November 2, 2017. With regard to Father,3 the petition alleged that Father
was currently incarcerated, had not visited the child in the four months prior to his
incarceration, and exhibited a wanton disregard for the child prior to his incarceration.
The petition also alleged that Father failed to manifest a willingness and ability to assume
custody of the child.
A trial occurred on August 28, 2018. Mother was not present for the hearing;
Father participated telephonically from jail. Only Father and DCS foster care worker
Kaitlyn Wetzel testified. The proof showed that Father was arrested on January 23, 2018
on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,4 simple possession, and child
endangerment.5 Father remained in jail following his arrest and on May 23, 2018, Father
pleaded guilty to the firearm charge. Father was sentenced to two years of incarceration
and is expected to be released in January 2020.6
The evidence was undisputed that Father visited the child only twice in its life:
once at the child’s birth and once prior to the removal of the child from Mother’s
custody.7 According to Father, however, his failure to visit was the result of Mother’s
efforts to keep him from the child. Father conceded, however, that he knew the location
of the courthouse and had been involved in other litigation concerning the child prior to
his incarceration, but never formally sought visitation even after the child was placed in
DCS custody. Indeed, it appears that Father’s contact with DCS was minimal despite
their efforts to contact him. Only once Father was incarcerated was Ms. Wetzel able to
2
In cases involving termination of parental rights, it is the policy of this Court to remove the
names of minor children and other parties in order to protect their identities.
3
Of course, the petition also alleged grounds against Mother. However, because Mother is not a
party to this appeal, we confine our review only to those facts relevant to the termination of Father’s
parental rights.
4
Father’s prior felony was for aggravated robbery. This crime occurred prior to the birth of the
child.
5
The record does not indicate the factual basis for the child endangerment charge. It does not
appear that Father was convicted of child endangerment or simple possession. Father admitted, however,
that with regard to the simple possession charge, he was in possession of marijuana, but that he “went to
get it for a friend.”
6
Although not entirely clear from the record, it appears that Father’s conviction resulted in a
violation of his probation on the prior aggravated robbery offense. Specifically, the judgment in Father’s
criminal case states that his sentence for the firearm offense is “[c]onsecutive to: Davidson County
robbery conviction and any unserved sentences.”
7
Father did not give a specific date for this visitation. Father testified, however, that Mother
informed Father that he would be permitted no more visitation with the child so long as Father brought
his current wife to the visitation. Father also testified that five or six months after the child was born,
Mother blocked him from communicating with her. As such, even when Mother and Father were in
contact, Father visited only twice over an approximate six month period.
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provide him with a copy of the Criteria and Procedures for Termination of Parental
Rights. Father paid no child support for the child until he was ordered to do so in
November 2017.
Following the removal of the child, he was placed in foster care. By the time of
trial, DCS had identified a pre-adoptive home for the child. The child had visited with the
potential parents on numerous occasions and had bonded with these parents. Indeed, Ms.
Wetzel testified that the child refers to the pre-adoptive parents as “mommy and daddy.”
At the conclusion of the proof, the trial court orally ruled that sufficient evidence
was presented to find clear and convincing evidence of abandonment by an incarcerated
parent and failure to manifest a willingness and ability to assume custody of the child.
The trial court also ruled that it was in the child’s best interest for Father’s parental rights
to be terminated. The trial court entered a written order memorializing its oral ruling on
September 4, 2018. Father thereafter appealed to this Court.
Issues Presented
Father raises a single issue in this appeal: whether the trial court erred in finding
clear and convincing evidence that termination of Father’s parental rights is in the child’s
best interest. Pursuant to this Court’s duty established in In re Carrington H., 483
S.W.3d 507 (Tenn. 2016), we will also consider whether clear and convincing evidence
establishes the grounds for termination found by the trial court. Id. at 525–26 (“[W]e
hold that in an appeal from an order terminating parental rights the Court of Appeals
must review the trial court’s findings as to each ground for termination and as to whether
termination is in the child’s best interests, regardless of whether the parent challenges
these findings on appeal.”).
Standard of Review
The Tennessee Supreme Court has explained that:
A parent’s right to the care and custody of her child is among the oldest of
the judicially recognized fundamental liberty interests protected by the Due
Process Clauses of the federal and state constitutions. Troxel v. Granville,
530 U.S. 57, 65, 120 S.Ct. 2054, 147 L.Ed.2d 49 (2000); Stanley v. Illinois,
405 U.S. 645, 651, 92 S.Ct. 1208, 31 L.Ed.2d 551 (1972); In re Angela E.,
303 S.W.3d 240, 250 (Tenn. 2010); In re Adoption of Female Child, 896
S.W.2d 546, 547–48 (Tenn. 1995); Hawk v. Hawk, 855 S.W.2d 573, 578–
79 (Tenn. 1993). But parental rights, although fundamental and
constitutionally protected, are not absolute. In re Angela E., 303 S.W.3d at
250. “‘[T]he [S]tate as parens patriae has a special duty to protect minors. .
. .’ Tennessee law, thus, upholds the [S]tate’s authority as parens patriae
when interference with parenting is necessary to prevent serious harm to a
child.” Hawk, 855 S.W.2d at 580 (quoting In re Hamilton, 657 S.W.2d
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425, 429 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983)); see also Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S.
745, 747, 102 S.Ct. 1388, 71 L.Ed.2d 599 (1982); In re Angela E., 303
S.W.3d at 250.
In re Carrington H., 483 S.W.3d 507, 52223 (Tenn. 2016) (footnote omitted). In
Tennessee, termination of parental rights is governed by statute which identifies
“‘situations in which that state’s interest in the welfare of a child justifies interference
with a parent’s constitutional rights by setting forth grounds on which termination
proceedings can be brought.’” In re Jacobe M.J., 434 S.W.3d 565, 568 (Tenn. Ct. App.
2013) (quoting In re W.B., Nos. M2004-00999-COA-R3-PT, M2004-01572-COA-R3-
PT, 2005 WL 1021618, at *7 (Tenn. Ct. App. Apr. 29, 2005) (citing Tenn. Code Ann. §
36-1-113(g)). Thus, a party seeking to terminate a parent’s rights must prove (1)
existence of one of the statutory grounds and (2) that termination is in the child’s best
interest. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(c); In re D.L.B., 118 S.W.3d 360, 367 (Tenn.
2003); In re Valentine, 79 S.W.3d 539, 546 (Tenn. 2002).
Considering the fundamental nature of a parent’s rights, and the serious
consequences that stem from termination of those rights, a higher standard of proof is
required in determining termination cases. Santosky, 455 U.S. at 769. As such, a party
must prove statutory grounds and the child’s best interest by clear and convincing
evidence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-113(c); In re Valentine, 79 S.W. 3d at 546. Clear
and convincing evidence “establishes that the truth of the facts asserted is highly probable
. . . and eliminates any serious or substantial doubt about the correctness of the
conclusions drawn from evidence[,]” and “produces in a fact-finder’s mind a firm belief
or conviction regarding the truth of the facts sought to be established.” In re M.J.B., 140
S.W.3d 643, 653 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004).
In termination cases, appellate courts review a trial court’s factual findings de
novo and accord these findings a presumption of correctness unless the evidence
preponderates otherwise. Tenn. R. App. P. 13(d); In re Carrington H., 483 S.W.3d at
52324 (citing In re Bernard T., 319 S.W.3d 586, 596 (Tenn. 2010); In re M.L.P., 281
S.W.3d 387, 393 (Tenn. 2009); In re Adoption of A.M.H., 215 S.W.3d 793, 809 (Tenn.
2007)). Our supreme court further explains:
The trial court’s ruling that the evidence sufficiently supports termination
of parental rights is a conclusion of law, which appellate courts review de
novo with no presumption of correctness. In re M.L.P., 281 S.W.3d at
393 (quoting In re Adoption of A.M.H., 215 S.W.3d at 810). Additionally,
all other questions of law in parental termination appeals, as in other
appeals, are reviewed de novo with no presumption of correctness. In re
Angela E., 303 S.W.3d at 246.
In re Carrington H., 483 S.W.3d at 524.
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Lastly, in the event that the “resolution of an issue in a case depends upon the
truthfulness of witnesses, the trial judge, who has had the opportunity to observe the
witnesses and their manner and demeanor while testifying, is in a far better position than
this Court to decide those issues.” In re Navada N., 498 S.W.3d 579, 591 (Tenn. Ct.
App. 2016) (citing McCaleb v. Saturn Corp., 910 S.W.2d 412, 415 (Tenn. 1995);
Whitaker v. Whitaker, 957 S.W.2d 834, 837 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1997)). This Court therefore
“gives great weight to the credibility accorded to a particular witness by the trial court.”
In re Christopher J., No. W2016-02149-COA-R3-PT, 2017 WL 5992359, at *3 (Tenn.
Ct. App. Dec. 4, 2017) (citing Whitaker, 957 S.W.2d at 837).
Discussion
Grounds
The trial court found two grounds to terminate Father’s parental rights: (1)
abandonment by an incarcerated parent for willful failure to visit; and (2) failure to
manifest a willingness and ability to assume custody. We will briefly consider each
ground in turn.
I.
Abandonment is a statutory ground for termination of parental rights. Tenn. Code
Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(1). For purposes of this appeal, Tennessee Code Annotated section
36-1-102 defines “abandonment,” in relevant part, as
A parent or guardian is incarcerated at the time of the institution of an
action or proceeding to declare a child to be an abandoned child, or the
parent or guardian has been incarcerated during all or part of the four (4)
months immediately preceding the institution of such action or proceeding,
and either has failed to visit or has failed to support or has failed to make
reasonable payments toward the support of the child for four (4)
consecutive months immediately preceding such parent’s or guardian’s
incarceration, or the parent or guardian has engaged in conduct prior to
incarceration that exhibits a wanton disregard for the welfare of the child.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-102(1)(A)(iv) (providing additional guidance on how to
calculate the four month period in some situations).
The trial court made the following findings on this ground:
The Court finds that, at the time of the filing of the Petition, [Father]
was incarcerated on charges of Child Endangerment, Felon in Possession of
a Firearm, and Possession of Schedule VI. [Father’s] incarceration only
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serves as the triggering event; the Court has considered [Father’s] pre-
incarceration behavior which includes a failure to visit the child for the past
18 months, even before the child entered State’s custody. The Court finds
unconvincing [Father’s] testimony that the child’s mother kept him from
visiting, in particular given that [Father] was aware of the location of the
courthouse and attended child support court and still made no pleadings or
attempts to obtain visitation through legal means. In addition to that, the
Court finds particularly troubling that one of the charges that [Father]
received was for Child Endangerment, although unfortunately there was no
clear evidence as to how that charge was resolved, if it has been.
The evidence does not preponderate against the trial court’s findings on this issue. Father
was incarcerated when the termination petition was filed and remained in incarceration at
the time of trial. The evidence shows that in the relevant four month period, from
September 23, 2017, to January 23, 2018, when Father was incarcerated, Father did not
visit the child a single time. Even before this time, Father visited the child no more than
two instances in the child’s entire life and made no effort to enforce his visitation rights
despite ongoing litigation concerning the child of which Father had notice. Even once the
child was placed in DCS custody, thereby eliminating Mother’s alleged interference in
Father’s visitation, Father still made no real effort to visit the child. This failure to visit,
coupled with Father’s decision to possess a firearm as a felon, which apparently resulted
in a violation of his probation, and his failure to pay consistent support also show a
wanton disregard for the welfare of the child. Cf. In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d 838, 867–
68 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005) (“We have repeatedly held that probation violations, repeated
incarceration, criminal behavior, substance abuse, and the failure to provide adequate
support or supervision for a child can, alone or in combination, constitute conduct that
exhibits a wanton disregard for the welfare of a child.”). As such, we conclude that clear
and convincing evidence supports this ground for termination.
II.
The trial court also found that Father failed to manifest an ability and willingness
to assume custody of the child pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated section 36-1-
113(g)(14). This ground may be found when
A parent or guardian has failed to manifest, by act or omission, an ability
and willingness to personally assume legal and physical custody or
financial responsibility of the child, and placing the child in the person’s
legal and physical custody would pose a risk of substantial harm to the
physical or psychological welfare of the child.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(g)(14). We have previously held that evidence was
sufficient to meet this ground when it showed that the parent voluntarily chose to live a
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lifestyle that lacked stability. See In re Morgan K., No. M2018-00040-COA-R3-PT,
2018 WL 5733291, at *13 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 31, 2018).
The trial court made the following findings regarding this ground:
[Father] has likewise shown no attempt to parent this child. Despite
knowing the location of the courthouse, [Father] made no effort to file
pleadings to have visitation or custody of the child. Then, [Father] chose to
engage in acts that displayed a disregard for the child’s welfare, including
racking up charges for Child Endangerment and Felon in Possession of a
Firearm. There is no doubt that his continued incarceration creates an
environment that would not be safe for the child to return.
Again, the evidence does not preponderate against these findings. Due to Father’s
criminal activity and incarceration, he has no current ability to parent the child. Likewise,
in declining to make real effort to establish a relationship with the child even prior to his
incarceration, Father has shown that he is largely unwilling to take the steps necessary to
assume custody of the child. See In re Jonathan M., No. E2018-00484-COA-R3-PT,
2018 WL 5310750, at *5 (Tenn. Ct. App. Oct. 26, 2018) (“Parents must have
demonstrated their willingness by attempting to overcome the obstacles that prevent them
from assuming custody or financial responsibility for the child.”). Moreover, given
Father’s repeated criminality and the fact that he has no relationship with the child,
placing the child in Father’s care would create a substantial risk of harm to the child.
Thus, this ground is supported by clear and convincing evidence.
Best Interest
Having determined that at least one ground for termination is supported by clear
and convincing evidence, we proceed to consider whether clear and convincing evidence
supports the trial court’s determination that termination of Father’s parental rights is in
the child’s best interests. “Upon establishment of a ground for termination, the interests
of the child and parent diverge, and the court’s focus shifts to consider the child’s best
interest.” In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d 838, 877 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2005). Even where a
parent is unfit, termination may not necessarily be in the best interests of the child. Id.Tennessee’s termination statute lists the following factors to be used in the best
interest analysis:
(1) Whether the parent or guardian has made such an adjustment of
circumstance, conduct, or conditions as to make it safe and in the child’s
best interest to be in the home of the parent or guardian;
(2) Whether the parent or guardian has failed to effect a lasting adjustment
after reasonable efforts by available social services agencies for such
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duration of time that lasting adjustment does not reasonably appear
possible;
(3) Whether the parent or guardian has maintained regular visitation or
other contact with the child;
(4) Whether a meaningful relationship has otherwise been established
between the parent or guardian and the child;
(5) The effect a change of caretakers and physical environment is likely to
have on the child’s emotional, psychological and medical condition;
(6) Whether the parent or guardian, or other person residing with the parent
or guardian, has shown brutality, physical, sexual, emotional or
psychological abuse, or neglect toward the child, or another child or adult
in the family or household;
(7) Whether the physical environment of the parent’s or guardian’s home is
healthy and safe, whether there is criminal activity in the home, or whether
there is such use of alcohol, controlled substances or controlled substance
analogues as may render the parent or guardian consistently unable to care
for the child in a safe and stable manner;
(8) Whether the parent’s or guardian’s mental and/or emotional status
would be detrimental to the child or prevent the parent or guardian from
effectively providing safe and stable care and supervision for the child; or
(9) Whether the parent or guardian has paid child support consistent with
the child support guidelines promulgated by the department pursuant to §
36-5-101.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i).
The Tennessee Supreme Court has explained that:
Facts considered in the best interests analysis must be proven by a
preponderance of the evidence, not by clear and convincing evidence. After
making the underlying factual findings, the trial court should then consider
the combined weight of those facts to determine whether they amount to
clear and convincing evidence that termination is in the child’s best
interests. When considering these statutory factors, courts must remember
that the child’s best interests are viewed from the child’s, rather than the
parent’s, perspective. Indeed, a focus on the perspective of the child is the
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common theme evident in all of the statutory factors. When the best
interests of the child and those of the adults are in conflict, such conflict
shall always be resolved to favor the rights and the best interests of the
child.
In re Gabriella D., 531 S.W.3d 662, 68182 (Tenn. 2017) (internal citations omitted).
Furthermore, “[a]scertaining a child’s best interests does not call for a rote examination”
of the statutory factors. In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d at 878. The analysis requires “more
than tallying the number of statutory factors weighing in favor of or against termination.”
In re Gabriella D., 531 S.W.3d at 682 (citing White v. Moody, 171 S.W.3d 187, 19394
(Tenn. Ct. App. 2004)). “The facts and circumstances of each unique case dictate how
weighty and relevant each statutory factor is in the context of the case,” and the analysis
“must remain a factually intensive undertaking.” In re Gabriella D., 531 S.W.3d at 682.
Thus, “[d]epending upon the circumstances of a particular child and a particular parent,
the consideration of one factor may very well dictate the outcome of the analysis.” Id.
(citing In re Audrey S., 182 S.W.3d at 878). In undertaking this analysis, the court must
examine all of the statutory factors, as well as other relevant proof put forth by the
parties. Id.Father contends that the trial court erred in finding that it was in the child’s best
interest to terminate his parental rights, citing the dissent in In re Gabriella D., No.
E2016-00139-COA-R3-PT, 2016 WL 6997816, at *21 (Tenn. Ct. App. Nov. 30, 2016)
(Stafford, J., dissenting), perm. app. granted (Tenn. Mar. 8, 2017), rev’d, 531 S.W.3d
662 (Tenn. 2017). According to Father, this case supports his argument that “there is
insufficient proof to indicate Father will not be able to make progress in parenting the
child when he exits the Warren County Jail.” Respectfully, we disagree that the In re
Gabriella case provides support for Father’s position.
In In Re Gabriella, the children were removed from the mother’s care due to
serious allegations of child neglect. 531 S.W.3d at 666. By the time of the termination
trial, however, the children had been returned to the mother for a period of about two
years. Id. at 672. During this two-year trial home visit, the mother had shown significant
improvement in her parenting skills; indeed, no new issues had arisen during the trial
home visit. Id. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeals ruled that termination of the mother’s
parental rights was appropriate, focusing largely on the prior neglect of the children. Id.
at 679 (citing 2016 WL 6997816, at *20). Judge Stafford dissented on the basis that the
evidence was not clear or convincing enough on the issue of best interest given the proof
of the mother’s lasting adjustment of circumstances. Id. at 680 (citing 2016 WL 6997816,
at *22).8 The Tennessee Supreme Court thereafter reversed, concluding that termination
8
In his appellate brief, counsel for Father repeatedly states that the dissent was written by Judge
L. Marie Williams. Judge Williams was the trial judge in In re Gabriella. 531 S.W.3d at 664. The
undersigned authored the dissent.
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was not in the children’s best interest given the evidence of Mother’s progress. Id. at
685–86.
The record in this case contains no similar evidence of progress by Father to gain
custody of the child. While the children in Gabriella were appropriately parented by the
mother for a period of two years at the time of trial, Father has only visited with this child
twice in his entire life. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(3). Moreover, Father has not
shown a similar lasting change in circumstances. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(1).
Rather, at the time of trial, Father was incarcerated and unable to parent the child. See
Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(7). Indeed, although Father testified that he would have a
home upon his release in 2020, he testified that his wife is currently residing in a motel
room.
Importantly, Father’s failure to be a part of this child’s life also means that Father
and the child have no meaningful relationship and that a change in caretakers would have
a detrimental effect on the child. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(4), (5). We have
previously held that this factor is generally given considerable weight in determining a
child’s best interest. See In re Addalyne S., 556 S.W.3d 774, 795 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2018),
perm. app. denied (Tenn. July 30, 2018) (citing In re Jayvien O., No. W2015-02268-
COA-R3-PT, 2016 WL 3268683, at *9 (Tenn. Ct. App. June 7, 2016); In re Terry S.C.,
No. M2013-02381-COA-R3-PT, 2014 WL 3808911, at *18 (Tenn. Ct. App. July 31,
2014)) (“This Court has previously indicated that in some cases the lack of a meaningful
relationship between a parent and child is the most important factor[.]”). Additionally,
although Father did eventually pay some support, he did so only for a short period of time
following a court order to do so, despite knowing of the child’s existence since his birth.
See Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-1-113(i)(9).
Here, the evidence shows that the child has an excellent chance of becoming
adopted should termination be granted. Although the child did not live with the pre-
adoptive parents at the time of trial, he has visited with these potential parents more than
with his own father and has become bonded to these individuals. Regardless of Father’s
protestations that he can provide a safe and loving home for the child, the evidence
presented simply does not show that his words have been accompanied by tangible
progress. By the time of trial, the child had been in DCS custody for over a year. Due to
his incarceration, the result of Father’s voluntary criminal activity, Father has made no
progress in providing a stable home for the child.9 Respectfully, the child is not required
to wait for Father to finally show that his actions live up to his promises. The trial court’s
finding that termination is in the child’s best interest is therefore affirmed.
Conclusion
9
In particular when asked “what steps have you taken to get your life straight upon exiting from
the Warren County jail?”, Father replied with the actions that he plans to take in the future.
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The judgment of the Juvenile Court of Cocke County is affirmed. This cause is
remanded to the trial court for all further proceedings as are necessary and in accordance
with this Opinion. Costs of this appeal are taxed to Appellant Terry. A.T., for which
execution may issue if necessary.
_________________________________
J. STEVEN STAFFORD, JUDGE
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