Court Opinion

ID: 3075969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 01:16:35.77474+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:03:35.749440
License: Public Domain

Opinion filed February 28, 2014

                                         In The

        Eleventh Court of Appeals
                                      __________

                                  No. 11-13-00268-CV
                                      __________

       IN THE INTEREST OF J.D.B. AND T.T.B., CHILDREN

                     On Appeal from the 318th District Court
                                  Midland County, Texas
                         Trial Court Cause No. FM 54,921

                      MEMORAND UM OPI NI ON
      This is an appeal from an order terminating the parental rights of the mother
and father of J.D.B. and T.T.B. The mother voluntarily relinquished her parental
rights and did not file an appeal. The father timely filed an appeal. In a single
issue on appeal, he challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support
termination. We affirm.
                         Termination Standard and Findings
      The termination of parental rights must be supported by clear and
convincing evidence. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (West Supp. 2013). To
determine if the evidence is legally sufficient in a parental termination case, we
review all of the evidence in the light most favorable to the finding and determine
whether a rational trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction that its
finding was true. In re J.P.B., 180 S.W.3d 570, 573 (Tex. 2005). To determine if
the evidence is factually sufficient, we give due deference to the finding and
determine whether, on the entire record, a factfinder could reasonably form a firm
belief or conviction about the truth of the allegations against the parent. In re C.H.,
89 S.W.3d 17, 25–26 (Tex. 2002). To terminate parental rights, it must be shown
by clear and convincing evidence that the parent has committed one of the acts
listed in Section 161.001(1)(A)–(T) and that termination is in the best interest of
the child. FAM. § 161.001.
      In this case, the trial court found that the father had committed three of the
acts listed in Section 161.001(1)—those found in subsections (D), (E), and (O).
Specifically, the trial court found that the father had placed or allowed the children
to remain in conditions or surroundings that endangered their physical or emotional
well-being, that he had engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the children with
persons who engaged in conduct that endangered the children’s physical or
emotional well-being, and that he had failed to comply with the provisions of a
court order as necessary for him to obtain the return of the children. The trial court
also found, pursuant to Section 161.001(2), that termination of the father’s parental
rights would be in the best interest of the children. In his brief, the father does not
challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support the best interest finding.
                                  Evidence at Trial
      The record shows that, prior to removal, the family was participating in
family-based safety services based on a report received while the mother and the
children were at “Safe Place” due to domestic violence. The Department of Family
and Protective Services subsequently removed the children from their parents’ care
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after the father took the children from their placement and drove a vehicle while he
was intoxicated with the children in the vehicle. The father was arrested and
charged for the offense. At the time of trial, the father was incarcerated in the
Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The father had
been convicted of violating protective orders.       The mother had obtained a
protective order to keep the father away from her, but he repeatedly came to her
place of employment. While this case was pending, the father was in and out of
jail; “[m]ost of the time, it was for assaulting his paramour, [the children’s
mother].” The children told the Department’s caseworker that they had seen their
father hit their mother. According to the caseworker, the father attacked the mother
three times while this case was pending; two of those occurred at the mother’s
place of employment. After one of the attacks, the father fled but was eventually
arrested in Pecos County. Additional evidence relating to the best interest of the
children was also presented at trial but need not be detailed here because the father
does not challenge the best interest finding.
                                      Analysis
      The Department produced clear and convincing evidence from which the
trial court could reasonably have formed a firm belief that the father had engaged
in conduct that endangered the physical or emotional well-being of the children.
See FAM. § 161.001(1)(E). Under subsection (E), the relevant inquiry is whether
evidence exists that the endangerment of the children’s well-being was the direct
result of the parent’s conduct, including acts, omissions, or failures to act. In re
D.O., 338 S.W.3d 29, 33 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2011, no pet.).            Additionally,
termination under subsection (E) must be based on more than a single act or
omission; a voluntary, deliberate, and conscious course of conduct by the parent is
required. In re D.T., 34 S.W.3d 625, 634 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2000, pet.
denied); In re K.M.M., 993 S.W.2d 225, 228 (Tex. App.—Eastland 1999, no pet.).
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The offending conduct does not need to be directed at the child, nor does the child
actually have to suffer an injury. In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d 336, 345 (Tex. 2009).
Domestic violence may constitute evidence of endangerment. Id.; In re C.J.O.,
325 S.W.3d 261, 265 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2010, pet. denied). Additionally, a
parent’s imprisonment is a factor to be considered under subsection (E) when
determining whether the parent engaged in a course of conduct that endangered a
child. See Tex. Dep’t of Human Servs. v. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d 531, 533–34 (Tex.
1987).
      The evidence here showed a course of conduct committed by the father that
endangered his children. The father was arrested and charged with driving while
intoxicated with both children in the vehicle. The father repeatedly engaged in
domestic violence against the mother. He was convicted of violating protective
orders and was incarcerated for that conduct. Based on the record in this case, we
hold that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s
finding under Section 161.001(1)(E). Because a finding that a parent committed
one of the acts listed in Section 161.001(1)(A)–(T) is all that is required under that
statute, we need not address the father’s contentions that the evidence is
insufficient to support the trial court’s findings under subsections (D) and (O). See
TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1. The father’s sole issue on appeal is overruled.
                                   This Court’s Ruling
      We affirm the trial court’s order of termination.

                                                     JOHN M. BAILEY
February 28, 2014                                    JUSTICE
Panel consists of: Wright, C.J.,
Willson, J., and Bailey, J.

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