1 ... S ee T EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 4. 

## COURT OF APPEALS SECOND DISTRICTOFTEXAS FORT WORTH NO. 2 - 0 7 - 1 0 3 - CV
IN T H E IN T E R E S TO FL .A .W ., A M I N O R C H I LD

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FR O M THE 211TH DI STRI CT CO URT O F DENTO N CO UN TY

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### M E M ORANDU M OP I NI ON 1

----- ----- -- A ppel l ant s Ken ne th W . and C hr i st i na S . appeal t he t r i al court ’ s or der term i n a ti n g the i r pa ren tal ri g h ts to the i r ch i l d , L .A .W . I n tw o p o i n ts, K e n n e th
c o n te n d s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l ya n d fa c tu a l l yi n s u fficie n t to s u p p o rt te rm in a tio n a n d th a t h e w a s d e n ie d e ff e c tiv e a s s is ta n c e o f c o u n s e l a t tr ia l. In
o n e p o in t , C h r is t in a c o n t e n d s t h a tt h e e v id e n c e is le g a llya n d f a c t u a lly in s u f f ic ie n t t o s u p p o rtt e r m in a t io n . B e c a u s e w e h o ld t h a tt h e e v id e n c e is le g a lly and fa c tu a l l y s uf f i ci entt o s upportt he t er m i nat i on oft he par ent al r i ght s of2 ... S ee Tex. F AM . C ODE A NN . § 2 6 3 .4 0 5 (b ), (b -1 ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ). 2 Kennet h a nd Chr i st i na and t hatKenne t h ha s notm ethi s bur den ofpr ovi ng i nef fe c t i ve as si st anc e o fco uns el , w e a f f i r m t he t r i al co urt ’ s or derof t er m i nat i on. I . Ken net h’ s A ppeal

A . N o I neff ect i ve A ssi st ance ofC oun sel I n h i s s e c o n d p o i n t , K e n n e t h c o n t e n d s t h a th e wa s d e n i e d e f f ec t i ve a s s is t a n c e o fc o u n s e l t o t h e e x t e n tt h a tt r ia l c o u n s e l f a ile d t o p r e s e r v e h is poi n ts fo rap pel l at e r evi ew an d w ai ved hi s r i ghtt o di sm i sst he t er m i nat i on pr oce edi ngsf orl ac k o fj ur i sd i ct i on. K enneth r ai ses ( 1) t he absence off i ndi ngs off actand concl usi ons ofl aw a n d o fa re c o r d o ft h e h e a r in g o n h is m o t io n f o rn e w t r ia l a n d (2 ) a n a lle g e d ly def i ci entst at em entof poi nt s t hatal so om i t s an i nef f ect i ve assi st ance cl ai m as potent i al w ays t r i al coun sel f ai l ed t o pr eserve hi s poi nt s f orappeal . W e not e, al t hough Kenne t h doe s not , t hathi s st at em ent of poi nt s w asf i l ed si xt ee n da ys aft ert he or derw ass i gne d a nd t her ef or e w asunt i m el y. 2N e v e rt h e le s s , h is poi nt s ar e p r es erved . I n a b e n c h tr i a l , th e fi l e d rep o rt e r’ s re c o rd p res e rve s c h a l l e n g e s to b o th3 ... K i ssm an v. Ben di

x Hom e Sys. , I

nc. , 587 S. W . 2d 675, 677- 78 ( Tex. 1 9 7 9 ); se e al

so T EX . R. A PP . P. 3 3 .1 (d ).
4 ... T EX . R. A PP . P . 3 3 .1 (d ); T EX . R. C IV . P. 3 2 4 ( a ) , (b ); A l l A m . Bui

lders, I n c . v. Al

l Am. Si

d i ng o f D al las, Inc. , 991 S . W . 2d 484, 487 n. 3 ( Tex. A p p .— F o rt W o rth 1 9 9 9 , n o p e t.).

5 ... InreD .W. , N o. 0 2 -0 6 -0 0 191

- C V , 2008 W L 467328 , at*12 ( Tex. A p p .— F o rt W o rth F e b . 1 9 , 2 0 0 8 , n o p e t. h .) (en b a n c ). 3 t he l egal 3and f act ual 4suf f i ci ency o f th e evi dence. Furt her , t hi s courthas al r ea dy h el d “ t hats ec t i on 263. 405 ( i ) i s . . . voi d as a vi ol at i on oft he se par at i on ofpow er s pr ovi si on oft he Texa s con st i t ut i on” an d t hu s n o t a b a r t o our consi der at i on of i ssues not r ai sed i n a t i m el y st at em ent ofpoi nt s. 5Tr i al counsel t her ef or e d i d not com m i t i nef f ec t i ve as si st anc e b y f ai l i ng t o pr es erve i ss uesf or a p p e a l. Kennet h a l so ar gue s t hatt r i al cou ns el w as i nef f ec t i ve f or not r ai si ng a nd th e re fo re w a i v i n g th e tri a l c o u rt’s l a c ko f j u ri s d i c ti o n t o e n t e r a fi n a l o rd e r. K enneth di d not r ai se t hi s i ssue i n hi s m ot i on f or new t r i al , so w e don’ thave a
r ec or d exp l ai ni ng t he t r i al cou ns el ’ s dec i si ons . O ur r evi ew oft he r ec or d a nd t he l aw l ea ds ust o t he con cl us i on t hatt he t r i al co u rt nev erl ac ke d j ur i sd i ct i on b e fo re s i g n i n g th e fi n a l o rd e r. A t t he t i me t h i s s u i twa s f i l e d , s e c t i o n 2 6 3 . 4 0 1 ( a ) o ft h e f a mi l yc ode pr ovi ded , U nl es s t he cou rtha s r end er ed a f i nal or derorgr ant ed an ext ens i on6 ... Acte f f e c ti v e Se pt . 1, 1997 , 75t h L e g. , R. S. , c h. 600, § 17 , 1997

T e x . G e n . L a w s 2 1 0 8 , 2 1 1 3 ( a m e n d e d 2 0 0 7 ) (cu rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . 2 6 3 .4 0 1 (a ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )). 4 u n d e r S u b s e c ti o n (b ), o n th e fi rs t M o n d a ya fte r th e fi rs t a n n i v e rs a ry oft he dat e t he cou rtr end er ed a t em por ary or derap p o i n ti n g t he d e p a rt m e n ta s t e m p o r a r ym a n a g in g c o n s e r v a t o r , t h e c o u rts h a ll di sm i sst he su i t af f ec t i ng t he par ent - chi l d r el at i ons hi p f i l ed by t he d e p a rt m e n tt h a tre q u e s t s t e r m in a t io n o ft h e p a r e n t -c h ild r el at i ons hi p orr equ es t s t hatt he dep art m entbe na m ed con se r vat or oft he chi l d. 6 Ke nn e t h c on t e nd s t ha t t he t r i a l c ou rtl os tj ur i s di c t i on o n M a r c h 6, 2007 b u t e nt er ed t he or deroft er m i nat i on on M ar ch 7 , 20 07 . The r ecor d show s, how eve r , t hatt he t r i al co urtap poi nt ed Texa s D e p a rtm e ntofFa m i l y a nd Pr o te c ti ve Ser vi ce s ( “t he St at e” ) ast em por ary s ol e m ana gi ng c ons ervat orof L. A . W . on M ar ch 3, 200 6. C ons equ ent l y, t he f i r st M onda y afte r the
a n n i v e rs a ryd a te o f th e o rd e r w a s M a rc h 5 , 2 0 0 7 , th e d a y tri a l b e g a n . B e fo re t es t i m ony beg an, t he t r i al co urts ai d, O ka y. L etm e s ay I hav e got t o st op at a l i t t l e b ef or e 4: 00 t oda y, s o i f y o u h a v e g o t w i tn e s s e s th a t c a n ’t c o m e b a c k to m o rro w o r a pr obl em w i t h c om i ng ba ckt om or r ow , w e n ee d t o putt hem on o ut ofor deri fw e n ee d t o. T ri a l co u n se l m a d e n o o bj e c ti o n . A t t h e en d o f t h e d a y , a fter bo th the S tate and Chr i st i na had r es t ed, Kenne t h’ s t r i al co uns el s t at ed, YourH onor , att hi s t i m e s i nceyou a l r ea dy i ndi ca t ed you’ r e g oi ng to tak e a re c e ss h e re s h o r t ly , w e w o u l d as kfor a rec e ss to r e c o n v e n e in t h e m o r n in g . W e w o u ld lik e a — w e h a v e a p o s s ib le7 ... Acte f f e c t i veSe pt . 1, 2005 , 79t h L e g. , R. S. , c h. 268, § 1. 40, 2005

T e x . G e n . L a w s 6 2 1 , 6 3 6 (am e n d e d 2 0 0 7 ) (cu rr e n t ve rsi o n at T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . 2 6 3 .4 0 1 (b ) (V e rn o n S u p p . 2 0 0 7 )).

8 ... See i

d. 9 ... Se eI

n reM. S. , 1 1 5 S .W .3 d 5 3 4 , 5 4 4 , 5 4 9 (T e x . 2 0 0 3 ). 5 w i t nes s w e w oul d l i ket o c al l i n t he m or ni ng. The St at e t hen i ndi ca t ed t hat an ext ens i on or derw oul d bene ede d a nd ga ve t he t r i al j u d g e t he or deri tha d pr epa r ed, an d t he t r i al co urts i gne d i tw i t hout obj ec t i on. 7The n e x t day , C hr i st i na r eopen ed hercase, and K enneth r est ed
w i t hou tcal l i ng a w i t ness. The t r i al ended , and t he t r i al courtent er ed t he or der
o f t e rm i n a ti o n o n M a r c h 6 , 2 0 0 7 , w e l l w i th i n the 1 8 0 -da yex ten d e d l i m i t. Th us, t he t r i al court had j ur i sdi ct i on dur i ng t he t r i al and at t he t im e th e o r der
w ass i gne d. 8K e n n e th d o e s n o t a c k n o w l e d g e th e o rde r of e x ten sion i n h i s b ri e f,
nordoes he chal l enge hi s t r i al coun sel ’ s f ai l ur e t o obj ect t o t he or der or hi s t r i al
c o u n s e l’s s t r a t e g ic d e c is io n t o a s kf o rm o r e t im e o n M a r c h 6 t o c a ll a p o s s ib le
w i t nes s w hen t he ot herpa rt i esha d a l r ea dy r es t ed on M ar c h 5 w i t hi n t he
or i gi nal per i od of j ur i sdi ct i on. C onsequ ent l y, K enneth has not m ethi s bur den
o f p r o v in g in e f f e c t iv e a s s is t a n c e o fc o u n s e l. 9 W e o ver r ul e Kenn et h’ s se con d p o i n t. B. L ega l l y a nd F ac t ual l y Suff i ci entEvi den cet o SupportTer m i nat i on I n hi s f i r st p o i n t , Kenne t h c ont end s t hatt he evi den ce i s l ega l l y a nd10 ... S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 16 1. 001( 1) ( D) , ( E) , ( O ) , ( 2) ( Ver no n 2002

& S u p p . 2 0 0 7 ). 6 f ac t ual l y i ns uf f i ci ent t o su pport t er m i nat i on. The t r i al co urtf ound by c l ea ran d convi nci ng evi dence t hatt er m i nat i on w as i n L. A . W . ’ s besti nt er estand t hat Kennet h had kno w i ngl y pl ac ed orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow ed hert o r em ai n i n c ondi t i ons ors ur r oundi ng s w hi ch end ang ert he phys i ca l orem ot i ona l w el l

- bei ng oft he chi l d, ha d e nga ged i n con duc torkn ow i ngl y pl ac ed L. A . W . w i t h pe r so ns w ho eng age d i n c onduc tw hi ch end ang er s t he phys i ca l orem ot i ona l w el l

- bei ng oft he chi l d, a n d “ h a [d ] f ai l ed t o c om pl y w i t h t he se r vi ce pl an . . . an d ha [ d]
c o n ti n u a l l ye n g a g e d i n c ri m i n a l a c ti v i ti e s .” 10 A s w e h a v e e x p l a i n e d i n a s i m i l a r c a s e , U n d e r s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ) o f th e T e x a s F a m i l y C o d e , th e te rm “endang er ” m eans to e xpose t o l oss ori nj ur y, t o j eopar di ze. A c c o rding l y , w h e n an a l y zi n g a j u ry's fi n d i n g s p u rsu a n t t o subsect i on ( E) , w e m ustdet er m i ne w het hersuf f i ci entev id e n ce exi st s t hat t he endan ger m ent of t he chi l d' s physi cal w el l

- bei ng w as t he di r ect r esul t of t he par ent ' s cond uct , i ncl udi ng act s, om i ssi ons, orf ai l ur es t o act . Ter m i nat i on un dersect i on 1 61 . 00 1( 1) ( E) m ust be bas ed on m or e t han a si ngl e a ctorom i ss i on; a vol u n ta ry, d e lib e r a t e , a n d c o n s c io u s c o u r s e o fc o n d u c tb yt h e p a r e n tis r equi r ed. H ow ever , i ti s notnecessary t hatt he pa re n t' s condu ct be di r ec t ed at t he chi l d or t hat t he chi l d ac t ual l y su f f er i nj ur y. The sp ec i f i c d ang ert o t he chi l d' s w el l

- bei ng m ay be i nfe rre d f r om par ent al m i scondu ctst andi ng al one. To det er m i ne w het hert er m i nat i on i s necessary, court s m ay l o o k t o p a r e n t a l c o n d u c t b o t h b e f o r e a n d a f t e r t h e c h i l d ' s bi r t h. F u rt h e r, a fa th e r' s c o n d u c t pri o r t o th e e sta b l i sh m e n t o f pa tern i ty11 ... InreR.W. , 129 S . W . 3d 732, 738- 39 ( Te x. App . — Fo rtW ort h 2004,

p e t. d e n i e d ) (c i ta ti o n s o m i tte d ). 7 m ay be c o n s i der ed asev i den ce ofan en dan ger i ng c our seof con duc t . Cons equ ent l y, s ci ent eri s onl y r equ i r ed unde rs ubs ec t i on ( E) w hen a par entpl aces t he chi l d w i t h ot her s w ho eng age i n an e n d a n g e ri n g co u rse o f co n d u c t. A s a g ene r al r ul e, co nduc tt hats ubj ec t s a c hi l d t o a l i f e o f uncert ai nt y and i nst abi l i t y endan ger s t he phy si c al and em ot i onal w el l

- bei ng of a chi l d. D r ug us e a nd i t s ef f ec ton a pa r ent ' s l i f e a nd hi s abi l i t y to p a r entm ay es t abl i sh an en dan ger i ng c our seof c o n d u c t. 11 The e vi den ces how ed t hat Kennet h beg an us i ng m et ham phe t am i ne ab out f i ve year s bef or e t r i al , t hat h e g e n e ra ll y used i tpr et t y of t en ( abou tt w i ce a
w ee k) wh e n h e wa s n o t i n c a r c e r a t e d , a n d t h a t h e c o n t i n u e d u s i n g i t u nt i l he
w as i ncar cer at ed i n Janu ar y 20 06 , l ess t han t hr e e w e e k s af t erL. A . W . w as b o r n . H e w a s s t ill in c a r c e r a t e d a tt h e t im e o ft r ia l. H e a d m it t e d t h a te v e r yt im e he us ed dru g s dur i ng t he pr egn anc y, he kn ew t hathe w asi ncr ea si ng t he chance t hathe w oul d not be ar oun d f or L. A . W . af t er she w as bor n, buthe used t hem anyw ay. H e al so adm i tt e d u s ing m et ham phetam i ne af t erL. A . W . w as bor n. He agr ee d t hathe pe rh a p s e m ot i ona l l y e nda nge r ed herby com m i t t i ng fo rge ry d u ri n g the p reg n a n c y , res u l ti n g i n h i s a b se n c e fr o m h e r l i fe fo r ab o u t a y e a rb yt h e t im e o ft r ia l. K enneth al so t est i f i ed t hat he had been i n and out of j ai l f orth e past12 ... 1 7 8 S .W .3 d 4 2 4 (T e x . A p p .— F o rt W o rth 2 0 0 5 , n o p e t.). 13 ... Id. a t426, 428- 31.
14 ... Id. a t426, 429. 8 s e v e ra l y e a rs a n d h a d b e e n to th e p e n i te n ti a rytw i c e , i n c l u d i n g h i s c u rre n t te rm o fc o n f in e m e n t . H e a d m it t e d t h a th e w a s u n a b le t o c a r e f o rL .A .W . a tt h e t im e o ft r ia l. T h e ca se o f I

n re D. J. J. , 12c i te d b yb o th p a re n ts , i s d i s ti n g u i s h a b l e . T h e re i s no e vi den cei n t hatca se o f a n y l ong- t er m dr ug a bus e o ft he f at her , ofan y c ri m i n a l h i s to ryp ri o r to h i s a rre s t w h e n th e m o th e r w a s p re g n a n t w i th D .J .J ., or of w hen he co m m i t t ed t he ac t s f orw hi ch he w asi m pr i so ned . 13 A ddi t i ona l l y, unl i keD . J. J. ’ s f at her , w ho ne verl i ve d w i th o rs aw D . J. J. be f or e t er m i nat i on a n d w a s a rr e ste d w h e n D .J.J .’ s m o th e r w a s o n lythre e m o n th s p reg n a n t, 14 K e n n e t h k n e w a b o u tC h r i s t in a ’s p r e g n a n c y , c h o s e t o d o d r u g s a n d c o m m it ot hercr i m i nal of f enses even th o u g h h e knew about t he pr egnan cy and even t hough he w ason p ar ol e, and ch os e t o us e d r ugsaft erL. A . W . w asbor n a nd15 ... See I n re H. G .H. , No. 14- 06- 00137

- CV , 2007 W L1743 71, a t*8 (T e x . A p p .— H o u s to n [1 4 th D i s t.] J a n . 2 5 , 2 0 0 7 , n o p e t .) (m e m . o p .) ( di st i ng u i s h i n g D . J. J. ba se d on t he f at her ’ s add i t i ona l cr i m i nal of f ens esan d c h o ic e s h e m a d e u p o n h is r e le a s e f r o m t h e p e n it e n t ia r y w h e n H .G .H . w a s s ix w e e k s o l d ).

16 ... See City of

Kel ler v. W i l so n , 1 6 8 S .W .3 d 8 0 2 , 8 2 7 (T e x . 2 0 0 5 ); In reJ. F. C. , 96 S. W . 3d 25 6, 26 3- 66 ( Tex . 20 02 ) ( t ogetherpr ovi di ng l egal s u fficie n c y s ta n d a rd o f re v i e w ); I nreC. H. , 89 S. W . 3d 17, 25, 28 ( Te x. 2002 ) (p ro v i d i n g fa c tu a l s u fficie n c ys ta n d a rd o f re v i e w ).

17 ... S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ); R. W. , 129 S. W . 3d a t738- 39. 18 ... S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (O ); T EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 1; I nreB. K. D. , 131 S . W .3 d 1 0 , 1 6 ( Tex. A pp. — FortW ort h 2003, pe t . de ni ed) ( A l ong w i t h a besti nt er estf i ndi ng, “a f i ndi ng of onl y one gr oun d al l eged un der s e c ti o n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) i s s u fficie n t to s u p p o rt a j u d g m e n t o f te rm i n a ti o n .” ). 9 wa s l i v i n g wi t h h i m. 15 Based on t he appl i cabl e st andar ds ofr evi ew , 16w e h o ld th a t th e e v i d e n c e i s l e g a l l y a n d fa c tu a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e tri a l c o u rt’s fi n d i n g as to K e n n e th ’s en d a n g e ri n g co u rse o f co n d u c t. 17 W e d o n otr each K e n n e th ’s c o m p l a i n ts re g a rd i n g th e fi n d i n g s u n d e r s u b s e c ti o n (D ) a n d (O ). 18 C oncer ni ng t he besti nt er estfi ndi ng, i n addi t i on t o t he abov e evi dence, K enneth t est i f i ed t hat hi s par ol e dat e w oul d be i n Jun e 20 07 , t hathe w ant ed t o e nt erout pat i entdr ug t r ea t m entw hen he gotoutofpr i so n, an d t hathe
w ant ed t o f i nd w or k a tt hatt i m e. He al so t es t i f i ed t hat h e h a d no con ce r ns a b o u tt h e c a r e t h a tL .A .W .’ s f o s t e r p a r e n t s a r e p r o v id in g a n d t h a ts h e s h o u ld
s t a yw it h t h e f o s t e rp a r e n t s u n t il h e is “ r e le a s e d f r o m ja il a n d s e e if[h e ] a c t u a lly19 ... S e eW i l so n , 1 6 8 S .W .3 d a t 8 2 7 ; J. F. C. , 96 S . W . 3d a t263- 66 (to g e th e r p ro v i d i n g l e g a l s u fficie n c y s ta n d a rd o f r e v i e w ); C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d at 2 5 , 2 8 (p ro v i d i n g fa c tu a l s u fficie n c ys ta n d a rd o f re v i e w ); Ho l le yv. A da ms , 5 4 4 S . W . 2 d 3 6 7 , 3 7 1 -7 2 ( T e x . 1 9 7 6 ) (pro v i d i n g n o n e x c l u sive fac to rs to c o n s i d e r i n d e te rm i n i n g b e s t i n te re s t).10 d e s e r v e [s ] t o h a v e a c h a n c e t o g e th e rb a c k .” H e a d m it t e d t h a tL .A .W . w o u ld
n o t k n o w h i m a n d th a t s h e k n o w s th e fo s te r p a re n ts a s h e r m o th e r a n d fa th e r. Th e f ost erm ot hert est i f i ed t hatherhusband i s C hr i stin a ’s cousi n, t hat L .A .W . h a d b e e n p l a c e d w i th the co u p l e i n A u g u st 2 0 0 6 , th a t t h e yp l a n to ado pthe ri ft er m i nat i on oc cur s, t hatL. A .W . i s w el l ad j us t ed and ha ppy, an d t hatt heyw oul d a l l ow t he bi rt h pa r ent s t o ha ve con t ac t w i th L. A . W . i n t he f ut ur e i ft hey get past t hei r dr ug pr obl em s. Th e C PS casew or ker t est i f i ed t hat t he f os t erpa r ent s hav e a s af e a nd a ppr opr i ate hom e a nd t hatt heypr ovi de excel l entcar e t o L. A . W . The m at er nal gr andm ot hert est i f i ed t hatshe had seen L. A . W . on sever al occa s io ns and t hatL. A . W . has bonded w i t h t he f ost er p a re n ts . Based on t he appl i cabl e st andar d ofr evi ew , 19 w e hol d t hatt he evi dence i s l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entt o su pport t he t r i al co urt ’ s bes ti nt er es tf i ndi ng. Beca us e t he evi den cei s l eg a l l y a nd f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entt o s upportt he
e n d a n g e r in g c o u r s e o fc o n d u c tf in d in g a s w e ll a s t h e b e s tin t e r e s tf in d in g , itis
a l s o l e g a l l ya n d f a c t u a l l ys u fficie n t to s u p p o rt th e te rm i n a ti o n o f K e n n e th ’s20 ... S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (E ), (O ). 11 p a ren tal ri g h ts. W e o v e rr u l e K e n n e th ’s fi rst po i n t. I I . C hr i st i na’ s A ppeal C hr i st i na al so chal l enges t he l egal and f act ual suf f i ci ency of t he evi dence t o s upportt er m i nat i on, buts he doe s notch al l eng e th e b e s ti nt er es tf i ndi ng. Th e t r i al court fo u n d by cl earand conv i nci ng evi dence t hatC hr i st i na had kno w i ngl y pl ac ed orkn ow i ngl y a l l ow e d L .A . W . t o r em ai n i n c ondi t i onsor su r r oundi ngsw hi ch end ang er ed t he phys i ca l orem ot i ona l w el l -b e i n g oft he chi l d, ha d e nga ged i n con duc torkn ow i ngl y pl ac ed L. A . W . w i t h pe r so ns w ho eng age d i n c onduc tw hi ch end ang er s t he phys i ca l orem ot i ona l w el l

- bei ng oft he chi l d, and had fa il e d t o com pl y w i t h t he pr ovi si ons ofa courtor dert hat
s p e c i fi c a l l ye s ta b l i s h e d th e a c ti o n s n e c e s s a ryfo r th e re tu rn o f L .A .W . 20 Th e t r i al courtt ook j udi ci al not i ce ofi t s f i l e. Jul i e W est l ake, a casew or ker f orthe S tate , h a d s i gn e d a s w or n a f f i da vi ts up po rt i ng t hei ni t i a l M a r c h 2006
rem o v a l o f L.A .W . fr o m h e r p a ren ts. I n th e a ffi d a v i t, J u l i e sta ted tha t t h e S tate had r ec ei ved a r epo rt al l egi ng ne gl ec t f ul s upe r vi si on ofL. A . W . Spec i f i ca l l y, t he i n fo rm a n t state d tha t C h ri sti n a w a s trying t o s e ll L .A .W . to ea rn m o n e yto pur cha se“ i ce ” w i t h a nd t hatChr i st i na w asus i ng “ i ce ” and se l l i ng t he dr ug ou t
o fa m o b ile h o m e p a r k m a n a g e r ’s o f f ic e . W h e n t h e p o lic e a r r iv e d a t t h e m o b ile12

h o m e i n q u e s ti o n , th e y d i d n o t fi n d a n ye v i d e n c e o f d ru g a c ti v i ty , a n d L .A .W . w asnotpr es ent . Theyar r es t ed C hr i st i na on a n out st and i ng w ar r antf ort he f or ger y of f ense she had com m i t t ed w i t h K enneth. A tt r i al , C hr i st i na adm i t t ed t h a ts h e h a d w o r k e d a tt h e t r a ile rp a r kb u t d e n ie d t h a t d r u g s w e r e b e in g s o ld th e re . The e vi den ces how s t hatChr i st i na beg an us i ng m et ham phe t am i n e f our orf i ve year s bef or e t r i al , t hat i t dest r oyed her m ar r i age w i t h t he f at herofher t w o ol derchi l dre n , w ho ar e al so i n t he S t at e’ s car e, and t hatshe used
m et ham phetam i ne t w i ce a w eek w i t h K enneth unt i l she f o u n d outshe w as f ourm ont hs pr egn antw i th L . A . W . She t es t i f i ed t hats he st oppe d us i ng m et ham phetam i n e a lto g e th erw hen she f oun d out she w as pr egnan t . A f ew
w ee ks aft er L. A . W . w as bor n, C hr i st i na beg an us i ng m et ham phe t am i ne aga i n. W hen C hr i st i na w as se ver al m ont hs pr egn ant w i t h L. A . W . , s he part i ci pat ed i n a check f or gi ng sc h e m e w ith K enneth. I n M ar ch 2 00 6, w hen L .A .W . w a s le s s t h a n t h r e e m o n t h s o ld , C h r is t in a w a s a r r e s t e d a tt h e m o b ile hom e a nd j ai l ed f or t hat of f ens e. I n June2006 , s he w asar r es t ed and j ai l ed f or f ai l i ng t o a ppe ari n c ourt . She w asul t i m at el y pl ac ed on de f er r ed adj udi ca t i on c o m m u n it ys u p e r v is io n f o rf o r g e r yin m id -A u g u s t2 0 0 6 a n d re le a s e d f r o m ja il. T h e w e e kafte r sh e w a s p l a c e d o n d e ferred ad j u d i c a ti o n co m m u n i ty super vi si on, C hr i st i na f ai l ed a dr ug t est , t est i ng po si t i ve f orm et ham phetam i ne.13

S he adm i t t ed att r i al t hatshe had al readyr ecei ved t he ser vi ce pl an and t hat usi ng dr ugs vi ol at ed t he servi ce pl an. The S t at e f i l ed a m ot i on t o adj udi cat e, and Chr i st i na w aspl ac ed bac k i n j ai l i n Novem b e r 2 0 0 6 t o a w ai tt he adj udi ca t i on he ar i ng. Chr i st i na t es t i f i ed t hat sh e us ed dr ugs eve r y day aft ers he
w a s re l e a s e d fro m j a i l i n A u g u s t u n ti l s h e w a s i n c a rc e ra te d a g a i n i n N o v e m b e r. A tt he t i m e o ft he t r i al on t er m i nat i on, Chr i st i na r em ai ned i n j ai l , al t hough
s h e c la im e d t h a ts h e w a s g o in g t o e n t e ra p le a t h e f o llo w in g w e e kt h a tw o u ld al l ow he rt o ge tr el ea se d. Upon herr el ea se , sh e w ant ed t o e nt eri npa t i entdr ug r eha bi l i t at i on. She adm i t t ed t hats he had ha d a ch anc e t o d o t hatw hen s he had be en r el ea se d on def er r ed adj udi ca t i on c om m uni t y s upe r vi si on bu tha d not f ol l ow ed t hr ough. C hr i st i na adm i t t ed t hatherdr ug use af t er L. A . W . w as bor n endan ger ed L .A .W . C h ri sti n a tes ti fi e d tha t sh e d i d n o t rea l i ze th a t sh e h a d a p rob l e m w i th
m et ham phetam i ne unti l she w as r el eased f r om j ai l i n A ugu st20 06 , despi t e her tes ti m o n ytha t “i t ha d ev e ryth i n g ” to d o w i th th e b rea k u p o f h e r m a rr i a g e tw o year s ear l i er . S h e a ls o adm i t t ed t hatshe w as addi ct ed and t hati thad t aken b e i n g l o c k e d u p i n j a i l to s to p h e r fro m u s i n g m e th a m p h e ta m i n e . Befor e herconf i nem enti n j ai l , C hr i st i na used m et ham phetam i ne t o cope. She a dm i t t ed t hats he w asaw ar e t hat us i ng dr ugsw hen r es pons i bl e f ort ak i ng c a re o f a b a b yi s d a n g e rou s, tha t sh e fel t t h a t he r d rug u se afte r L.A .W .’ s b i rt h14

e n d a n g e r e d t h e b a b y , a n d t h a t s h e h a s n o t s h o w n a n ya b ilit yt o b e a b le t o h o ld herl i f e t ogetherand f ol l ow t hr oug h i n t he car e ofherchi l d. She ad m i t t ed t hat sh e h ad gone t o j ai l se ver al t i m es i n t he se ver al ye ar s pr ec edi ng t r i al , t hats he coul d und er st and w hy t he S t at e and t he t r i al courtm i ght be concer ned w i t h her st abi l i t y i n t he f ut ur e, and t hatshe has consi st ent l y chosen dr ugs overal l t hr ee o f h e r c h i l d re n . C h r is t in a h a d n o t s e e n L .A .W . s in c eS e p t e m b e r2 0 0 6 , a p p r o x im a t e lys ix
m onths ear l i er , and had n otseen herm or e t han f i ve t i m es si nce t he case began a y ea rea r l i er . C hr i st i na adm i t t ed t hats he had ch os en nott o s ee L. A . W . f or so m e o ft he r egu l ar l y s che dul ed vi si t s eve n w hen notco nf i ned i n j ai l . Chr i st i na al so adm i t t ed t hatL. A . W . w a s d o ing w el l w i t h t he f ost erpar ent s butst at ed th a t s h e “ w o u l d l i k eth e c h a n c e to g e t o u t a n d try to g e t h e r b a c k .” H o w e v e r, sh e a gr ee d t hats he cou l d nott ak e p hys i ca l cu st ody ofL. A . W . a t t he end of t r i al i fhe rr i ght s w er e n otte r m i nat ed butw oul d ne ed a p er i od oft r ans i t i on. She w as“ notr ea l s ur e”w her e s he w oul d l i ve aft erbe i ng r el ea se d f r om j ai l , nor di d she have any defi ni t e i nf or m at i on abou t j ob pr ospect s. She ad m i t t ed t hat b e i n g c o n fi n e d i n j a i l a n d j u s t b e i n g o ff d ru g s h a d n o t re h a b i l i ta te d h e r. C hr i st i na, unl i ke D .J. J. ’ s f at her , m ade a choi ce t o com m i tcr i m i nal of f enses af t er she knew she w as pr egnan tand af t erL. A . W . w as bor n and w as l i vi ng w i t h her , ch os e t o us e m et ham phe t am i ne f r equ ent l y a f t erL. A . W . ’ s bi rt h,21 ... See D. J. J. , 178 S. W . 3d a t426, 428- 31.
22 ... See W

i l so n , 168 S . W . 3d at82 7 ; J. F. C. , 96 S . W . 3d a t263- 66 (to g e t h e r p ro v i d i n g l e g a l s u fficie n c ys ta n d a rd o f re v i e w ); C. H. , 89 S. W . 3d at 2 5 , 2 8 (p ro v i d i n g fa c tu a l s u fficie n c ys ta n d a rd o f re v i e w ).

23 ... S eeT EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(E ); R. W. , 129 S. W . 3d a t738- 39.
24 ... S ee T EX . F AM . C ODE A NN . § 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 )(D ), (O ); T EX . R. A PP . P. 47. 1; B. K. D. , 1 3 1 S .W .3 d a t1 6 (A lo n g w it h a b e s t in t e r e s t f in d in g , “ a f in d in g o fo n ly o n e g rou n d all e g e d u n d e r se c tio n 1 6 1 .0 0 1 (1 ) i s s u ffi c i e n t t o su p p o rta j u d g m e n t o f te rm i n a ti o n .” ). 15 us i ng da i l y f r om Augu s t t o Nov e m be r w he n s he w a s no t i n j a i l , ch o se n o t t o se e h er chi l d aft er t he r em ova l on s om e o cc as i ons , an d di d nott ak e a dva nt age o f i n p a ti e n t d ru g re h a b i l i ta ti o n w h e n i t w a s o ffe re d to h e r. 21 Based o n t he appl i cabl e st andar ds ofr evi ew , 22w e hol d t hatt he evi dence i s l e g a l l ya n d f a c t u a ll ysu ffi c i e n t t o su p p o rtthe tr i a l co u rt ’s fi n d i n g as to C h ri sti n a ’s e n d a n g e ri n g c o u rse o f co n d u c t. 23W e d o n o t r e a c h h e r co m p l a i n ts
re g a rd i n g th e fi n d i n g s u n d e r s u b s e c ti o n (D ) a n d (O ). 24B e c a u s e t h e e v id e n c e is l egal l y and f act ual l y suf f i ci entt o su p p o rt th e endang er i ng cou r se ofcondu ct fi n d i n g a n d b e c a u s e C h ri s ti n a d o e s n o t c h a l l e n g e th e b e s t i n te re s t fi n d i n g , w e hol d t hatt he evi den cei s l ega l l y a nd f ac t ual l y s uf f i ci entt o s upportt he term i n a ti o n o f C h ri sti n a ’s p a ren tal ri g h ts. W e o v e rr u l e C h ri sti n a ’s so l e p o i n t.16 I I I . Concl us i on H avi ng ov er r ul ed al l of K enneth and C hr i st i na’ s poi nt s, w e af f i r m t he t r i al
court ’ s or dert er m i nat i ng t hei rpar ent al r i ghts .

P E R CU R I AM PA N EL F: DA U PH I N O T, G A RD N ER, an d W A LKER, JJ. DEL I VERE D: M a r c h 20, 2008