Court Opinion

ID: 4350019
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-12-13 12:47:24.995075+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:17.281114
License: Public Domain

Fourth Court of Appeals
                                       San Antonio, Texas
                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION

                                          No. 04-18-00659-CV

                               IN THE INTEREST OF E.X.G., a Child

                      From the 131st Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
                                   Trial Court No. 2017-PA-01161
                             Honorable Richard Garcia, Judge Presiding

Opinion by:       Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice

Sitting:          Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
                  Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
                  Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice

Delivered and Filed: December 12, 2018

AFFIRMED

           S.G. appeals the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to E.X.G. The only issue

presented on appeal is whether the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial

court’s finding that termination was in E.X.G.’s best interest. We affirm the trial court’s order.

                                             BACKGROUND

           On May 30, 2017, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services filed a petition

to terminate S.G.’s parental rights to E.X.G. On the date the petition was filed, E.X.G. was five.

           A bench trial was held on July 25, 2018. At the conclusion of the trial, the trial court

terminated S.G.’s parental rights, and she appeals.
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                    STANDARD OF REVIEW AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS

       To terminate parental rights pursuant to section 161.001 of the Texas Family Code, the

Department has the burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence: (1) one of the predicate

grounds in subsection 161.001(b)(1); and (2) that termination is in the best interest of the child.

See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 161.001, 161.206(a); In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003).

In this case, the trial court found clear and convincing evidence of the following four predicate

grounds under subsection 161.001(b)(1) to terminate S.G.’s parental rights: (1) engaged in conduct

or knowingly placed E.X.G. with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers his physical

or emotional well-being; (2) constructively abandoned E.X.G.; (3) failed to comply with the court-

ordered service plan; (4) used a controlled substance in a manner that endangered E.X.G.’s health

and safety and failed to complete a court-ordered substance abuse treatment plan. See TEX. FAM.

CODE ANN. §§ 161.001(b)(1)(E), (N), (O) (P); see also In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 28 (Tex. 2002)

(noting evidence that proves one or more statutory grounds for termination may be probative in

proving termination is in the child’s best interest). The trial court also found clear and convincing

evidence that termination of S.G.’s parental rights was in E.X.G.’s best interest.

       We evaluate the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s

findings under the standards of review established by the Texas Supreme Court in In re J.F.C., 96

S.W.3d 256, 266-67 (Tex. 2002). Under these standards, “[t]he trial court is the sole judge of the

weight and credibility of the evidence, including the testimony of the Department’s witnesses.” In

re F.M., No. 04-16-00516-CV, 2017 WL 393610, at *4 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Jan. 30, 2017,

no pet.) (mem. op.).

                                     BEST INTEREST FINDING

       In determining the best interest of a child, courts apply the non-exhaustive Holley factors

to shape their analysis. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72 (Tex. 1976). Those factors

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include: (1) the desires of the child; (2) the present and future emotional and physical needs of the

child; (3) the present and future emotional and physical danger to the child; (4) the parental abilities

of the individuals seeking custody; (5) the programs available to assist these individuals to promote

the best interest of the child; (6) the plans held by the individuals seeking custody of the child; (7)

the stability of the home of the parent and the individuals seeking custody; (8) the acts or omissions

of the parent which may indicate that the existing parent-child relationship is not a proper one; and

(9) any excuse for the acts or omissions of the parent. Id. The foregoing factors are not exhaustive,

and “[t]he absence of evidence about some of [the factors] would not preclude a factfinder from

reasonably forming a strong conviction or belief that termination is in the child’s best interest.” In

re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 27. “A trier of fact may measure a parent’s future conduct by his past

conduct [in] determin[ing] whether termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest.”

In re E.D., 419 S.W.3d 615, 620 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013, pet. denied).

        The testimony established E.X.G. was removed from S.G.’s care because she was smoking

methamphetamines while E.X.G. was present in the home. By the time of trial, S.G. had not

completed any services despite the caseworker’s efforts to personally transport her on multiple

occasions to and from appointments. See In re S.B., 207 S.W.3d 877, 887-88 (Tex. App.—Fort

Worth 2006, no pet.) (noting failure to comply with family service plan supports a finding that

termination is in the best interest of the child). S.G. either failed to attend appointments to be

screened for drug treatment or was dismissed from treatment as unsuccessful. Two months before

trial, S.G. was arrested for possession of heroin. Although she was released from jail, the charge

remained pending. See In re L.G.R., 498 S.W.3d 195, 204 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016,

pet. denied) (noting parent’s drug use supports a finding that termination is in best interest of the

child). S.G. began an outpatient drug treatment program one month before trial; however, the

caseworker testified S.G. began demonstrating aggressive behavior the week before trial which

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S.G. previously described as a symptom of her drug use. Two days before trial, S.G. refused to

take a drug test and was cussing at the caseworker. S.G. testified she was frustrated because she

was undergoing weekly drug tests through her outpatient treatment.

        S.G.’s visits with E.X.G. were contingent on negative drug tests, and she failed to attend

many of her drug tests. Since February of 2018, five months before trial, S.G. had visited with

E.X.G. only seven times, and six of those visits occurred after she was arrested and released in

May of 2018. See K.M. v. Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 388 S.W.3d 396, 405 (Tex.

App.—El Paso 2012, no pet.) (discussing parent’s failure to visit child as a factor supporting a

decision that the best interest of the child required termination). S.G. admitted she was not

employed and was living with her mother; however, she testified her relationship with her mother

involved “a lot of altercations.” See In re M.R., 243 S.W.3d 807, 821 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth

2007, no pet.) (noting parent’s inability to provide a stable home supports a finding that termination

is in the best interest of the child).

        S.G. was also a victim of domestic violence. The caseworker observed bruises on S.G.’s

face and arms, and S.G. admitted to the caseworker that one man threatened to kill E.X.G. to get

back at her. The caseworker testified the domestic abuse continued throughout the pendency of

the case. In re O.N.H., 401 S.W.3d 681, 685-86 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013, no pet.)

(considering evidence of domestic violence as relevant to a child’s best interest).

        Although E.X.G. stated he loved his mom, he felt disappointed and betrayed when she

failed to visit. E.X.G. was placed with his maternal uncle in 2016 during family based services

before the Department filed the petition to terminate S.G.’s parental rights. E.X.G. is bonded with

his uncle who wants to adopt him.

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        Having reviewed the record, we hold the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to

support the trial court’s finding that termination of S.G.’s parental rights was in E.X.G.’s best

interest.

                                            CONCLUSION

        The order of the trial court is affirmed.

                                                     Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice

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