in the Interest of T. W., a Child ( 2014 )

NUMBER 13-14-00318-CV
COURT OF APPEALS
THIRTEENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS
CORPUS CHRISTI – EDINBURG
IN THE INTEREST OF T.W., A CHILD
On appeal from the County Court at Law
of Aransas County, Texas.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before Justices Benavides, Perkes, and Longoria
Memorandum Opinion by Justice Longoria
By five issues, appellant, B.W., challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the
evidence supporting a final order terminating her parental rights over her minor son, T.W. 1
See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 161.001(1)(D), (E), (O), (P), 161.001(2) (West, Westlaw
through 2013 3d C.S.). We affirm.
1 We refer to appellant and her children by their initials to protect their privacy. See TEX. R. APP. P.
9.8(b) (providing that in a case where the termination of parental rights are at issue, the court of appeals
shall use an alias to identify a minor and, if necessary to protect the minor’s identity, the minor’s parents or
other family members).
I. BACKGROUND
On April 18, 2013, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (the
Department) received an intake report regarding a police drug raid at a house in Aransas
Pass, Texas. The raid did not disclose any narcotics, but police found “drug
paraphernalia.”2 The intake report described the house as “uninhabitable,” with
inoperable plumbing and holes in the walls exposing studs and wires. Appellant had
recently moved into the house with her boyfriend. At the time of the raid, T.W., appellant’s
two-year-old son, was still living with his father, C.S., but moved into the house with
appellant a few days later. The report further alleged that H.T., appellant’s nine-year-old
daughter, was not present during the raid because H.T.’s paternal grandparents were
preventing her from seeing appellant. H.T.’s relatives acted after H.T. observed C.S.
“choking” appellant and jumped onto C.S.’s back “because she thought he was going to
kill her mom.”
Eric Duncan, the Department investigator initially assigned to the case, interviewed
H.T. at her school. H.T. told Duncan that she witnessed multiple physical altercations
between appellant and C.S. during the time when she and appellant were living with him.
She described how C.S. would “choke” her mother unless he was physically restrained.
However, H.T. did not tell Duncan that she witnessed any drug use by C.S.
Duncan made several attempts to locate appellant and eventually contacted
appellant at her mother’s house in Rockport, Texas. During the interview, appellant told
him that she moved there with T.W. because the electricity had been cut off at the Aransas
2 The “drug paraphernalia” were “cookers,” bags consistent with packaging narcotics, a digital
scale, and a spoon with “burn marks” and with a “powdery substance” in the concave section of it. The
record does not indicate that the substance was tested.
2
Pass house. Appellant admitted to using heroin two weeks prior to the Department’s
involvement, using methadone immediately prior to that, and also recently using
methamphetamines. Appellant also confirmed that she was injured by C.S. in multiple
incidents of domestic violence.
The Department requested that appellant find temporary placements for her
children. Appellant agreed to let H.T. remain in the custody of H.T.’s paternal relatives,
and T.W. was temporarily placed with C.M., a friend of C.S.’s family. Duncan told both
appellant and C.S. that they must submit to a drug screening, but neither appeared at the
initial appointment for the screening. Several weeks later, the Department managed to
contact appellant again. Appellant took a hair follicle test which returned positive for
methamphetamines. Neither appellant nor C.S. cooperated with Duncan’s attempts to
get them to participate in a “Family Team Meeting” to discuss the steps necessary to
regain custody of T.W.3
On May 11, 2013, C.M. informed Duncan that she was no longer able to care for
T.W. The Department asked appellant and C.S. to suggest an alternative placement
option, but appellant and C.S. were unable to suggest another person to care for T.W. for
longer than the weekend. T.W. was placed in foster care and the Department filed a
petition seeking temporary managing conservatorship over T.W.4 The Department later
petitioned the trial court to permanently terminate the parental rights of appellant and C.S.
3 We take the foregoing uncontested facts from Duncan’s affidavit attached to the Department’s
original petition for temporary managing conservatorship. Duncan was no longer employed by the
Department at the time of the termination hearing in this case, but the affidavit was before the trial court
and is in the appellate record. Stephanie Diaz, Duncan’s supervisor and the custodian of the records in
this case, testified to its contents without objection.
4 T.W. did not return to appellant’s care between the time C.M. informed the Department that she
could no longer care for him and the Department’s decision to seek temporary managing conservatorship.
3
over T.W.5 The Department filed a separate case for H.T., who is not a party to this
appeal.
Cynthia Vera, the Department caseworker assigned to the case at the adversary
hearing, testified for the State. Vera testified that at the initial adversary hearing, the trial
court ordered appellant to work with the Department to develop a Family Service Plan
setting out the steps necessary for her to regain custody of T.W. However, appellant did
not appear at the scheduled meeting to develop the plan, and the Department was unable
to contact her. The Department nevertheless developed a family service plan for
appellant.
At a status hearing held on July 9, 2013, appellant signed the plan, and the court
made the plan an order of the court. The plan required appellant to: (1) attend counseling
at the Women’s Shelter of South Texas for victims of domestic violence; (2) attend
individual counseling and a psychosocial assessment with a therapist named Ronald
Morgan; (3) complete a drug assessment and substance abuse counseling with Gulf
Coast Rehabilitative Services; (4) submit to random drug testing; (5) maintain contact with
the Department and complete the requirements in the family service plan; (6) notify the
caseworker of any changes in her contact information or address within 72 hours; (7)
participate in supervised visitation with T.W. and complete parenting classes; (8) obtain
employment with income sufficient to provide for T.W.’s basic needs; (9) obtain safe and
sanitary housing with working utilities; and (10) pay $50.00 in child support per month,
among other requirements.
5Diaz testified that the Department had “minimal contact” with C.S. during the entire course of the
case. C.S. did not file a pleading or appear at any hearing in this case except for the initial adversary
hearing.
4
Vera testified that she and appellant “went step by step over the services that
[appellant] was supposed to comply with,” but that appellant completed only the drug
assessment and counseling. Appellant began the drug and alcohol assessment and
substance abuse counseling on August 8, 2013 and completed them on March 3, 2014.
In October of 2013, appellant tested positive for methamphetamines, opiates,
amphetamines, and hydrocodone. A urine test on March 23, 2014 tested positive for
methamphetamines, amphetamines, and morphine. Later, a hair follicle test returned
positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines.
Vera further testified that during the course of the case Vera had to “search for
[appellant] numerous times,” and that appellant did not maintain contact with the
Department except to inform Vera whether she would be present for a visitation with T.W.
Vera testified that appellant would frequently give Vera a contact address and then move
without informing Vera or anyone else in the Department. Vera told the court that, during
this period, appellant maintained a single residence for no longer than “maybe a month
or so.” However, appellant regularly attended visitations with T.W., except for one just
prior to trial because she had been hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Vera testified
that she spoke with appellant immediately prior to the termination hearing and that
appellant told her that she had successfully completed parenting classes and was set to
start a new job. However, Vera did not have a certificate of completion from the parenting
classes, and appellant did not inform her of the name of her employer or any details of
the new job. Vera also testified that appellant had not obtained employment during the
course of the service plan but had been irregularly “doing odd jobs to get money.”
Appellant did not pay any child support except that which was automatically withheld from
5
her income tax return. Vera testified that, in sum, in her opinion appellant was unable to
provide a safe and stable environment for T.W.
Appellant testified on her own behalf. Appellant told the court that she had been
diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder and had not been medicated during the
entire course of the case. She recently had participated in an initial interview with the
MHMR program, but she testified on cross-examination that she delayed using that
service until just before trial because she “was strung out on drugs.” Appellant testified
that she also unsuccessfully attempted to get admitted to Charlie’s Place, a substance-
abuse treatment center. Appellant attributed her lack of success in finding employment
to her lack of reliable access to transportation and to her drug use. She attributed her
difficulty in keeping a single residence to personality conflicts with people at the various
residences. Appellant testified that she loved T.W. and believed that she could provide
a stable home for him if the trial court gave her a six-month extension.
The trial court rendered a judgment finding that the Department had shown by clear
and convincing evidence the existence of four of the statutory grounds for termination and
that termination of appellant’s parental rights was in T.W.’s best interests. See TEX. FAM.
CODE ANN. §§ 161.001(1)(D), (E), (O), (P), 161.001(2). The trial court also rendered
judgment terminating C.S.’s parental rights over T.W. Only appellant perfected an
appeal.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
“The natural right which exists between parents and their children is one of
constitutional dimensions.” In re J.W.T., 872 S.W.2d 189, 194–95 (Tex. 1994). Parents
have a “fundamental right to make decisions concerning ‘the care, custody, and control
6
of their children.’” In re A.B., 437 S.W.3d 498, 502 (Tex. 2014) (per curiam) (citing Troxel
v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 65 (2000)). Because of the importance of the constitutional
interests at issue, we strictly scrutinize termination proceedings and construe all
applicable statutes in favor of the parent. T.W. v. Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs.,
431 S.W.3d 645, 649 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014, no pet.); In re M.C., 352 S.W.3d 563,
565 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.).
A court may order the parent-child relationship terminated on a finding: (1) that
the parent engaged in certain conduct specified in section 161.001(1) of the family code,
and (2) that termination is in the best interests of the child. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 23
(Tex. 2002); see Tex. Dep’t of Human Servs. v. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tex. 1987)
(holding that termination may not be based solely on the trier of fact’s determination of
the child’s best interests). The State has the burden to prove both elements by clear and
convincing evidence. In re A.B., 437 S.W.3d at 502. The family code defines “clear and
convincing evidence” as “the measure or degree of proof that will produce in the mind of
the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the allegations sought to be
established.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 101.007 (West, Westlaw through 2013 3d C.S.).
This is an intermediate standard that falls between the preponderance of the evidence
standard applicable in most civil proceedings and the reasonable doubt standard of
criminal proceedings. In re L.J.N., 329 S.W.3d 667, 671 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2010,
no pet.).
Under this standard, in both a legal and a factual sufficiency review appellate
courts ask whether there is sufficient evidence “that a factfinder could reasonably form a
firm belief or conviction about the truth of the matter on which the State bears the burden
7
of proof.” In re S.Y., 435 S.W.3d 923, 927 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2014, no pet.). However,
we approach the body of evidence differently in both reviews. In a legal sufficiency
review:
To give appropriate deference to the factfinder’s conclusions and the role
of a court conducting a legal sufficiency review, looking at the evidence in
the light most favorable to the judgment means that a reviewing court must
assume that the factfinder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a
reasonable factfinder could do so. A corollary to this requirement is that a
court should disregard all evidence that a reasonable factfinder could have
disbelieved or found to have been incredible. This does not mean that a
court must disregard all evidence that does not support the finding.
Disregarding undisputed facts that do not support the finding could skew
the analysis of whether there is clear and convincing evidence.
If, after conducting its legal sufficiency review of the record evidence, a court
determines that no reasonable factfinder could form a firm belief or
conviction that the matter that must be proven is true, then that court must
conclude that the evidence is legally insufficient. Rendition of judgment in
favor of the parent would generally be required if there is legally insufficient
evidence.
In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002) (internal citations omitted). In a factual
sufficiency review, we must determine:
whether the disputed evidence is such that a reasonable factfinder could
not have resolved the disputed evidence in favor of its finding. If, in light of
the entire record, the disputed evidence that a reasonable factfinder could
not have credited in favor of the finding is so significant that a factfinder
could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction, then the
evidence is factually insufficient.
Id. at 266–67 (citing In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 25). The Texas Supreme Court has
cautioned that our factual sufficiency review must not be so rigorous that the only fact
findings which could survive review are those established beyond a reasonable doubt. In
re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 26.
8
III. STATUTORY GROUNDS
By her fourth issue, appellant argues that there is insufficient evidence to show
that T.W. was “removed because of abuse or neglect.” See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§ 161.001(1)(O). Appellant does not contest that she did not complete the family service
plan or that T.W. had been removed from her care for more than nine months at the time
of the termination hearing.
A. Applicable Law
Section 161.001(1)(O) of the Texas Family Code provides that a court may
terminate the parent-child relationship if the parent:
failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically
established the actions necessary for the parent to obtain the return of the
child who has been in the permanent or temporary managing
conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services for not
less than nine months as a result of the child's removal from the parent
under Chapter 262 for the abuse or neglect of the child.
Id. We interpret the terms “abuse” and “neglect” broadly to include risks or threats
presented by the child’s environment. In re E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d 239, 248 (Tex. 2013).
Part of that analysis necessarily includes the harm suffered or the risk of harm
encountered by other children under the care of the parent, even before the child’s birth.
Id.; see In re K.N.D., 424 S.W.3d 8, 9 (Tex. 2014) (per curiam) (holding that there was
legally sufficient evidence that a newborn was removed for abuse or neglect where the
mother had been injured in an episode of domestic violence a short time before giving
birth to the child, and had recently relinquished her parental rights over an older child for
negligent supervision and medical neglect). Evidence of abuse or neglect submitted in
an affidavit attached to a petition for removal, combined with unchallenged trial court
findings that removal of the child from the parent’s care was necessary because of a
9
“substantial risk of a continuing danger” if the child returned home, are sufficient to
establish that a child was removed from the parent’s custody under chapter 262 for abuse
or neglect. See In re E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d at 248–49.
B. Discussion
We conclude that there is sufficient evidence that T.W. was removed from
appellant’s care for abuse or neglect under chapter 262 of the family code. The
Department attached an affidavit to its original petition alleging that H.T. frequently
witnessed C.S. “choke” appellant, H.T. jumped on C.S.’s back during one of those fights
to try to pull him off her mother, and that appellant confirmed both this altercation and that
she had been injured by C.S. H.T.’s paternal relatives removed H.T. from appellant’s
care because of the violence and because H.T. was frequently absent from school.6 The
affidavit further cited the police raid, the “uninhabitable” condition of the house where T.W.
began living a few days after the raid, and an occasion when H.T.’s grandfather observed
a syringe with an undetermined substance on a table in the same room as H.T. and T.W.
The affidavit also described appellant’s admissions to recently using heroin and
methamphetamines. Appellant did not contest any of these facts before the trial court.
The trial court specifically found that there was “a continuing danger to the physical health
or safety of [T.W.] if [T.W.] is returned to” appellant’s care, findings that are also
unchallenged by appellant. See id. Based on all of the foregoing, we conclude that the
evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that T.W.
was removed for abuse or neglect under chapter 262 of the family code. See In re E.C.R.,
402 S.W.3d at 248–49; In re K.N.D., 424 S.W.3d at 9; see also In re K.L.C., No. 11-14-
6 According to Duncan’s affidavit, H.T. informed him that no one in the house was willing to take
her to school.
10
00019-CV, 2014 WL 3639124, at *3 (Tex. App.—Eastland July 17, 2014, pet. denied)
(mem. op.) (concluding that a child was removed for the mother’s care for abuse or
neglect under chapter 262 because of the conditions of the home and the mother’s drug
use).
We overrule appellant’s fourth issue. Because the Department only needs to prove
one of the statutory grounds for termination, we will not address appellant’s second, third,
and fifth issues in which she challenges the trial court’s findings under subsections
161.001(1)(D), (E), and (P). See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(1)(D), (E), (P); In re
C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 23; see also TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.
IV. BEST INTERESTS
By her first issue, appellant argues that the Department failed to establish by clear
and convincing evidence that terminating her parental rights was in T.W.’s best interests.
A. Standard of Review and Applicable Law
In addition to a statutory act or omission, the Department must show by clear and
convincing evidence that termination is in the best interests of the child. TEX. FAM. CODE
ANN. § 161.001(2). The Department must rebut the strong presumption that the child’s
best interests are served by maintaining the parent-child relationship. In re C.M.C., 273
S.W.3d 862, 876 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, no pet.) (op. on reh’g). We
consider a list of non-exclusive factors articulated by the Texas Supreme Court to guide
courts in conducting this analysis:
(1) the desires of the child; (2) the present and future physical and emotional
needs of the child; (3) the present and future emotional and physical danger
to the child; (4) the parental abilities of the persons seeking custody; (5) the
programs available to assist those persons seeking custody in promoting
the best interest of the child; (6) the plans for the child by the individuals or
agency seeking custody; (7) the stability of the home or proposed
11
placement; (8) acts or omissions of the parent which may indicate the
existing parent-child relationship is not appropriate; and (9) any excuse for
the parent's acts or omissions.
See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976). However, determining the
best interests of the child does not require proof of any unique set of factors or limit proof
to any specific set of factors. T.W., 431 S.W.3d at 652; see M.C. v. Tex. Dep’t of Family
& Protective Servs., 300 S.W.3d 305, 311 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2009, pet. denied)
(observing that undisputed evidence of just one Holley factor may be sufficient to support
a finding that termination is in the best interests of the child). The same evidence used
to establish grounds for termination under section 161.001(1) may also be probative of
determining whether termination is in the best interests of the child. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d
at 28; T.W., 431 S.W.3d at 652.
B. Analysis
Appellant argues that there is no evidence of any of the Holley factors and that
“[t]he one thing that is certain [sic] in with [appellant] is that she loves and cares for her
child, as is evident in her visitations with him. She maintained her visits, even though she
might have fallen short in other areas.” After a thorough review of the record, we conclude
that there is both legally and factually sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s firm
belief or conviction that termination was in the best interests of T.W.
Regarding the desires of the child, appellant argues that “[t]here was no evidence
that the child did not want to return to his mother.” However, T.W. was only three years-
old at the time of trial, and there is no evidence he was able to articulate his preferences.
This factor is neutral in the best interests analysis. See In re A.M., 385 S.W.3d 74, 82
(Tex. App.—Waco 2012, pet. denied).
12
Regarding appellant’s ability to provide a stable home for T.W. and provide for his
emotional and physical needs, it is uncontested that appellant did not obtain employment
during the course of the case as required by the family service plan adopted by the trial
court. Appellant apparently told Vera that she was set to start a new job on the day of
the termination hearing, but provided no specifics. Appellant was also unable to maintain
a single residence for more than a month and, at one point, she lived with T.W. in a house
described as “uninhabitable.” At the time of the termination hearing, appellant had stayed
a few days with a relative but still had no permanent residence. Furthermore, she
exposed both of her children to domestic violence between her and C.S. and, during one
incident, H.T. became involved when she tried to stop C.S. from choking appellant. See
Id. at 82–83 (holding that evidence of appellant’s history of exposing her children to
domestic violence and of unstable housing, employment, and relationships weighed in
favor of termination); In re T.N., 180 S.W.3d 376, 384 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2005, no pet.)
(“A parent's unstable lifestyle, lack of income, and lack of a home may also be considered
in a determination of a parent's ability to provide for a child's emotional and physical
needs”). At the time of the trial appellant was no longer living with C.S., but we cannot
ignore appellant’s history of drug use, unstable relationships, inability to maintain a stable
residence, and exposure of her children to domestic violence. See In re I.G., 383 S.W.3d
763, 772 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2012, no pet.) (“Past is often prologue.”); see also In re
V.A., No. 13-06-00237-CV, 2007 WL 293023, at *6 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Feb. 1,
2007, no pet.) (mem. op.) (holding that the jury could have inferred that the mother’s past
inability to care for her children, as established by her history of unstable housing,
13
employment, and relationships, was “indicative of the quality of care appellant is capable
of providing in the future”). This factor weighs in favor of termination.
Regarding the programs available to assist appellant, appellant did not make use
of most of the programs that were available to her. See A.S. v. Tex. Dep't of Family &
Protective Servs., 394 S.W.3d 703, 715 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2012, no pet.) (holding that
the fact the parent recognized that he had a problem with anger but did not take
advantage of available programs weighed in favor of termination). Appellant did not
complete therapy or domestic violence classes and only had an initial interview with the
MHMR program just before the termination hearing. Appellant freely admitted at trial that
she did not start to make use of the MHMR program earlier because she was “strung out
on drugs.” See id. Appellant did complete a drug assessment and substance-abuse
counseling, but it took her eight months instead of the usual three. Appellant tested
positive for methamphetamines, opiates, amphetamines, hydrocodone, and morphine at
various times both during and after she completed the program. A parent’s pattern of
drug use, especially after completing a substance abuse program, can weigh in favor of
termination. See In re A.C., 394 S.W.3d 633, 642 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012,
no pet.); Robinson v. Tex. Dep't of Protective & Regulatory Servs., 89 S.W.3d 679, 688
(Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2002, no pet.) (“The evidence shows the programs
appellant attended were insufficient to help her . . . stay off drugs.”). This factor weighs
in favor of termination.
More generally, the unchallenged findings that appellant did not comply with the
requirements in the family service plan also weigh in favor of termination. See In re
E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d at 249 (holding that findings under section 161.001(1)(O) can also
14
be probative in the best interests analysis); In re E.A.F., 424 S.W.3d 742, 752 (Tex.
App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. filed) (same). Appellant did not maintain contact
with the Department or inform them of the changes in her address, even though she was
able to timely notify the Department that she would be present for scheduled visitations
with T.W. Appellant also continued to use illegal drugs after agreeing in the family service
plan to avoid that activity. See Toliver v. Tex. Dep't of Family & Protective Servs., 217
S.W.3d 85, 102 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (holding that parent’s
continued use of illegal drugs once the parent was aware that her parental rights were in
jeopardy can support finding that termination is in the best interests of the child).
Regarding the future plans for T.W. of the parties seeking custody, appellant was
asked about her future plans for T.W. during the termination hearing, but responded by
requesting to stop testifying. She resumed testifying after a break, but did not mention
any plans for T.W.7 Diaz testified that the Department could place T.W. with certain
distant relatives of C.S. Those relatives expressed a desire to adopt T.W., had a
successful visit with him, and completed a favorable home study. This factor weighs in
favor of termination. See H.N. v. Tex. Dep't of Family & Protective Servs., 397 S.W.3d
802, 814–15 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2013, no pet.).
In sum, considering appellant’s pattern of drug use, her inability during the course
of the case to maintain a constant residence, obtain employment as ordered by the trial
court, or complete the other requirements of the family service plan, and given the
exposure of her children to domestic violence, we conclude that the evidence is legally
7 Appellant’s trial counsel told the court that appellant has great difficulty speaking in front of groups
and asked appellant several times to confirm that she was not under the influence of drugs during the
hearing. Appellant denied that she was under the influence of drugs but told the court that she was
disturbed because her mother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer the day before the hearing.
15
and factually sufficient to support the factfinder’s firm belief or conviction that termination
is in the best interests of T.W. See In re S.Y., 435 S.W.3d at 927. We overrule appellant’s
first issue.
V. CONCLUSION
We affirm the judgment of the trial court.
NORA L. LONGORIA
Justice
Delivered and filed the
3rd day of December, 2014.
16