Court Opinion

ID: 7798080
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-05 09:12:44.035326+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:28:43.903683
License: Public Domain

IN THE
                                   TENTH COURT OF APPEALS

                                            No. 10-22-00070-CV

                             IN THE INTEREST OF K.S., A CHILD

                                    From the 85th District Court
                                        Brazos County, Texas
                                  Trial Court No. 21-000245-CV-85

                                    MEMORANDUM OPINION

           Mother appeals from the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to her

child, K.S.1 After hearing all the evidence, the trial court found by clear and convincing

evidence that Mother (1) knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child to remain in

conditions or surroundings that endanger the child, (2) engaged in conduct or knowingly

placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct that endangers the child, and (3)

failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically established the

actions necessary to obtain the return of the child. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (b) (1)

(D) (E) (O)(West). The trial court further found by clear and convincing evidence that

1   The father of K.S. is not a party to this appeal.
termination was in the best interest of the child. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (b) (2)

(West). We affirm.

                                   MOTION TO RETAIN

        In the first issue, Mother complains that the trial court abused its discretion in

failing to grant her motion to extend the case. Section 263.401 of the Texas Family Code

provides that unless the Court has commenced the trial on the merits or granted an

extension, on the first Monday after the first anniversary of the date the court rendered a

temporary order appointing the Department as temporary managing conservator, the

Court’s jurisdiction over the suit is terminated and the suit is automatically dismissed

without a court order. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 263.401 (a) (West).

        The trial court signed a temporary order appointing the Department as temporary

managing conservator of K.S. on January 29, 2021. Therefore, the trial court’s jurisdiction

over the suit would be terminated on January 31, 2022, and the suit automatically

dismissed. On December 30, 2021, Mother filed her Motion to Retain Suit on Court’s

Docket and Set New Dismissal Date.

        We review a trial court's decision to grant or deny an extension of the dismissal

date under an abuse of discretion standard. In re A.J.M., 375 S.W.3d 599, 604 (Tex. App.

—Fort Worth 2012, pet. denied). The focus on granting this extension "is on the needs of

the child, whether extraordinary circumstances necessitate the child remaining in the

In the Interest of K.S.                                                              Page 2
temporary custody of the Department, and whether continuing such is in the best interest

of the child." Id.

        Section 263.401 (b) sets out the circumstances in which the automatic dismissal

date--and thus the trial court's jurisdiction over the suit--may be extended.

                Unless the court has commenced the trial on the merits, the court
        may not retain the suit on the court's docket after the time described by
        Subsection (a) unless the court finds that extraordinary circumstances
        necessitate the child remaining in the temporary managing conservatorship
        of the department and that continuing the appointment of the department
        as temporary managing conservator is in the best interest of the child. If
        the court makes those findings, the court may retain the suit on the court's
        docket for a period not to exceed 180 days after the time described by
        Subsection (a). If the court retains the suit on the court's docket, the court
        shall render an order in which the court:

TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 263.401 (b) (West).

               When considering under Subsection (b) whether to find that
        extraordinary circumstances necessitate the child remaining in the
        temporary managing conservatorship of the department for a case in which
        the court orders a parent to complete a substance abuse treatment program,
        the court shall consider whether the parent made a good faith effort to
        successfully complete the program.

TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 263.401 (b-2) (West).

        The trial court found that Mother did not make a good faith effort to complete her

service plan. Mother argues that she requested the extension to allow her the opportunity

to complete inpatient drug treatment as required by her service plan. Mother initially

chose not to participate in inpatient treatment. She missed intake appointments and

indicated she did not want to go to inpatient treatment. Later on, Mother indicated that

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                  Page 3
she did want to go to inpatient treatment in order to get K.S. back. However, she did not

meet the admission requirements for inpatient treatment because she told the facility she

had not used drugs. Mother had positive drug tests during the time she told the facility

she had not used drugs. Mother began outpatient drug treatment in September 2021;

however, she missed many of her treatment sessions. We cannot say that the trial court

abused its discretion in finding that Mother did not make a good faith effort to complete

her service plan. We overrule the first issue.

                               SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE

        In issues two and three Mother argues that the evidence is insufficient to support

the trial court’s predicate parental termination findings under Section 161.001 (b) (1) (D)

and (E) of the Texas Family Code. In the fourth issue, Mother argues that the evidence is

insufficient to support the trial court’s findings under Section 161.001 (b) (1) (O). Only

one predicate act under section 161.001 (b) (1) is necessary to support a judgment of

termination in addition to the required finding that termination is in the child's best

interest. In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003). In conducting a legal sufficiency

review in a parental termination case:

        [A] court should look at all the evidence in the light most favorable to the
        finding to determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could have formed
        a firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. To give appropriate
        deference to the factfinder's conclusion 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 be incredible. This does not mean that a court must disregard

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                  Page 4
        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.

In re J.P.B., 180 S.W.3d 570, 573 (Tex. 2005) (per curiam) (quoting In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d

256, 266 (Tex. 2002)) (emphasis in J.P.B.).

        In a factual sufficiency review,

        [A] court of appeals must give due consideration to evidence that the
        factfinder could reasonably have found to be clear and convincing.... [T]he
        inquiry must be "whether the evidence is such that a factfinder could
        reasonably form a firm belief or conviction about the truth of the State's
        allegations." A court of appeals should consider whether disputed
        evidence is such that a reasonable factfinder could not have resolved that
        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.

In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266-67 (Tex. 2002) (quoting In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 25 (Tex.

2002)) (internal footnotes omitted) (alterations added).

ENDANGERING THE CHILD

        To endanger means to expose to loss or injury, to jeopardize. Texas Department of

Human Services v. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d 531, 533 (Tex. 1987). The specific danger to a child's

physical or emotional well-being need not be established as an independent proposition,

but it may be inferred from parental misconduct. Boyd, 727 S.W.2d at 533.

        When termination of parental rights is based on section D, the endangerment

analysis focuses on the evidence of the child's physical environment, although the

environment produced by the conduct of the parents bears on the determination of

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                     Page 5
whether the child's surroundings threaten his or her well-being. In the Interest of E.M.,

494 S.W.3d 209, 221 (Tex. App. —Waco 2015, pet. den’d). Section D permits termination

if the petitioner proves parental conduct caused a child to be placed or remain in an

endangering environment. Id. It is not necessary that the parent's conduct be directed

toward the child or that the child actually be injured; rather, a child is endangered when

the environment creates a potential for danger which the parent is aware of but

disregards. Id. Conduct that demonstrates awareness of an endangering environment is

sufficient to show endangerment. Id. In considering whether to terminate parental

rights, the court may look at parental conduct both before and after the birth of the child.

Id. Section D permits termination based upon only a single act or omission. In the Interest

of E.M., 494 S.W.3d at 222.

        Under subsection 161.001 (b) (1) (E), the relevant inquiry is whether evidence exists

that the endangerment of the child's physical well-being was the direct result of the

parent's conduct, including acts, omissions, or failures to act. Id. Under subsection (E) it

can be either the parent’s conduct or the conduct of a person with whom the parent

knowingly leaves the child that endangers the physical or emotional well-being of the

child. In either instance it is thus the direct result of the parent’s conduct that results in

the termination of the parental rights. It is not necessary, however, that the conduct be

directed at the child or that the child actually suffer injury. In the Interest of E.M., 494

S.W.3d at 222.

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                 Page 6
        Mother has four children. The oldest child is an adult and not part of these

proceedings. The Department of Family and Protective Services filed an original petition

for the protection of Mother’s children, J.S., T.S., and K.S. The father of J.S. and T.S. was

appointed as their sole managing conservator. Mother was appointed as their possessory

conservator. J.S. and T.S. are not subject to this appeal.

        The Department first became involved with Mother in November 2008 because of

allegations of abuse against J.S. and T.S. Mother was referred for services, but she did not

complete them. The Department again became involved with Mother in June 2011 over

concerns of domestic violence.

        The Department next became involved with Mother on January 3, 2021 when

Mother was stopped for a traffic violation and law enforcement found methamphetamine

in her vehicle. T.S. and K.S. were in the vehicle with Mother at the time of the traffic stop.

Mother was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. T.S., who was fifteen years-

old at the time, was also in possession of drugs and was placed in juvenile detention.

There was another incident around that time where Mother was in possession of

methamphetamine while T.S. and K.S. were with her. Mother said that the drugs

belonged to her sister, but admitted that she was addicted to methamphetamines. The

Department filed for protection of J.S., T.S., and K.S.

        K.S. was six years-old at the time Mother was arrested for possession of

methamphetamine. Mother wanted K.S. to be placed with her parents when he was

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                 Page 7
removed from her care, but there were concerns of drug use in her parents’ home. At the

time of the removal, J.S. was on runaway status and T.S. was in juvenile detention.

        Keandra Jones, the Department Conservator Specialist assigned to this case,

testified that a service plan was developed for Mother in March 2021 which required

Mother to complete inpatient treatment for substance abuse and drug test monthly. Jones

stated that Mother tested positive for methamphetamines on her “hair follicle” test on

more than one occasion. Jones further stated that Mother initially went for her drug

testing, but there were problems with her drug tests in November and December of 2021.

Jones testified that Mother has not addressed her substance abuse.

        Jones further testified that she speaks with K.S. monthly. K.S. told Jones that he

was exposed to drug use while he was with Mother. K.S. also said that J.S. and T.S.

physically abused him by shooting him with a BB gun in his stomach and also burning

him several times. K.S. also told Jones that he had smoked marijuana and that he was

left unsupervised at times.

        Domestic violence may support a finding of endangerment under either Sections

161.001 (b) (1) (D) or Section 161.001 (E) depending on the given circumstances. See In the

Interest of A.L.H., 624 S.W.3d 47, 57 (Tex. App. —El Paso 2021, no pet.). K.S. was exposed

to domestic violence in the home and was the victim of abuse in the home.

        A parent's use of narcotics and its effects on his or her ability to parent may qualify

as an endangering course of conduct under Subsection (E). See In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d

336, 345 (Tex. 2009). Mother was in possession of methamphetamine while her children

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                  Page 8
were with her, and she admitted to being addicted to methamphetamine. Mother tested

positive for methamphetamine after K.S. was removed. K.S. said that he has been

exposed to drug use. There was testimony that both J.S. and T.S. use drugs.

        We find that the evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s findings that

Mother knowingly engaged in conduct or knowingly placed K.S. with persons who

engaged in conduct that endangers the child. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001 (b) (1) (E)

(West). We overrule the third issue on appeal. Because we find that the evidence is

sufficient under Section 161.001 (b) (1) (E), we have addressed the concerns of protecting

Mother’s due process and due course of law rights. See In the Interest of N.G., 577 S.W.3d

230 (Tex. 2019).

        Only one predicate act under section 161.001 (b) (1) is necessary to support a

judgment of termination in addition to the required finding that termination is in the

child's best interest. In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003). Therefore, we need not

address the second and fourth issues. TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1.

                                      BEST INTEREST

        In the fifth issue, Mother argues that the evidence is legally and factually

insufficient to support the trial court’s finding that termination is in the best interest of

the child. In determining the best interest of a child, a number of factors have been

considered, including (1) the desires of the child; (2) the emotional and physical needs of

the child now and in the future; (3) the emotional and physical danger to the child now

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                Page 9
and in the future; (4) the parental abilities of the individuals seeking custody; (5) the

programs available to assist these individuals; (6) the plans for the child by these

individuals; (7) the stability of the home; (8) the acts or omissions of the parent that may

indicate the existing parent-child relationship is not a proper one; and (9) any excuse for

the acts or omissions of the parent. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 372 (Tex.1976); In re

S.L., 421 S.W.3d 34, 38 (Tex. App. —Waco 2013, no pet.). The Holley factors focus on the

best interest of the child, not the best interest of the parent. In re S.L., 421 S.W.3d at 38.

The goal of establishing a stable permanent home for a child is a compelling state interest.

Id. The need for permanence is a paramount consideration for a child's present and future

physical and emotional needs. Id.

        K.S. was seven years-old at the time of trial. There was testimony that he had not

expressed any desire to return to his mother. K.S. is afraid of his brothers J.S. and T.S.

and did not want any visitation with them.

        K.S. currently attends therapy weekly and has been diagnosed with ADHD and

PTSD. He takes medication for ADHD. K.S. is now doing well in school and is passing

all of his classes. While in Mother’s care, K.S. did not attend school regularly, did not

receive routine medical care, and did not receive therapy or medications. While in the

care of Mother, K.S. was exposed to drug use and violence. Both of his brothers used

drugs, and K.S. stated that he had smoked marijuana. The brothers physically abused

K.S., and Mother did not protect him from that abuse.

In the Interest of K.S.                                                                Page 10
        Because of Mother’s drug use and history of incarceration, K.S. was frequently

cared for by his maternal grandparents. When considered by the Department as a

placement for K.S., the grandparents tested positive for drugs. Mother continued to live

with her parents at the time of trial. There is nothing in the record to show that Mother

has a plan for a stable living environment for K.S. Mother continued to test positive for

methamphetamines while the termination case was pending. There was testimony that

she has not addressed her substance abuse problems.

        K.S. has remained in the same foster home since his removal and is thriving in that

home. The foster parents plan to adopt K.S.

        We find that the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial

court’s finding that termination of Mother’s parental rights is in the best interest of K.S.

We overrule the fifth issue.

                                       CONCLUSION

        We affirm the trial court’s order terminating Mother’s parental rights to K.S.

                                                 STEVE SMITH
                                                 Justice

In the Interest of K.S.                                                              Page 11
Before Chief Justice Gray,
       Justice Johnson, and
       Justice Smith
(Chief Justice Gray concurs in the Court’s judgment. A separate opinion will not issue.)
Affirmed
Opinion delivered and filed August 3, 2022
[CV06]

In the Interest of K.S.                                                           Page 12