Court Opinion

ID: 3113901
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-16 07:19:26.780772+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:45:01.781517
License: Public Domain

NO. 07-09-0373-CV

                                 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

                         FOR THE SEVENTH DISTRICT OF TEXAS

                                          AT AMARILLO

                                             PANEL E

                                     SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

                                 In the Interest of A.S., a Child
                               ___________________________

           FROM THE 316th DISTRICT COURT OF HUTCHINSON COUNTY;

                NO. 38,213; HONORABLE JOHN LAGRONE, PRESIDING

                                     Memorandum Opinion

Before QUINN, C.J., CAMPBELL, J., and BOYD, S.J.1

       Tammy Lea Smith (Smith) appeals the termination of her parental rights to her

five-year-old daughter A.S. by attacking the sufficiency of the evidence underlying the

findings with regard to the child’s best interest and the various statutory grounds

alleged. We affirm.

       We initially observe that Smith failed, in both her motion for new trial or statement

of points on appeal, to allege that the evidence was either legally or factually insufficient

to support a finding that termination was in the child’s best interest.                Thus, those

complaints were not preserved for review. See In re C.M., 208 S.W.3d 89, 92 (Tex.

App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2006, no pet.).
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       John T. Boyd, Chief Justice (Ret.), Seventh Court of Appeals, sitting by assignment. TEX. GOV’T
CODE ANN. §75.002(a)(1) (Vernon 2005).
      Next, the trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that termination was

warranted under §161.001(1)(D), (E), (I), and (O) of the Texas Family Code. If there be

sufficient evidence to support the existence of any one of those grounds, then we must

affirm its decision. In re K.C.B., 280 S.W.3d 888, 894-95 (Tex. App.–Amarillo 2009, pet.

denied).

      Next, the record before us contained the following evidence. Smith had been a

long-time abuser of drugs, that is, marijuana, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Each

hair follicle drug test she took during the eighteen months that her daughter was in

foster care came back positive.        She further admitted to using marijuana and

methamphetamine less than thirty days prior to trial.     Smith also admitted to being

arrested numerous times for possessing drugs, shoplifting, or public intoxication. So too

has she been jailed at least six times since A.S. was born. Appellant also moved

frequently, once had been evicted from her abode due to her drug use, lacked electricity

in one home, lived a nomadic life with friends, lost a job due to drug use, and lived with

a boyfriend with whom she used drugs. The latter was also a violent individual and

physically abused Smith. According to A.S., her mother’s boyfriend was responsible for

a cut lip and a mark across her back. Other men with whom Smith had lived were also

abusive.   And, though she claimed that she was employed with a “private” lady,

appellant failed to provide proof of employment to Child Protective Services. Next, it

appeared that A.S. spent most weekends with her purported grandparents, one of which

described the child as being dirty and hungry whenever they picked her up. The house

in which the child lived with her mother was further described as smelling of marijuana.

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A grandparent also testified that Smith oftimes could not be awakened when the child

was returned home. Additionally, A.S. told others that she was afraid of her mother,

that her mother would leave her alone, and that she feared her mother’s boyfriend. A.S.

also asked her foster mother if her husband was going to cut her clothes with a knife, if

he was going to throw the foster mother’s possessions out of the window, and why he

did not hit the foster mother and her other children.

       Other evidence illustrated that Smith failed to complete her parenting classes or

counseling. So too did a psychologist conclude that Smith had poor parenting skills and

would have difficulty caring for a five-year-old child. Finally, Smith admitted that she

was unable to care for the child. All of this constitutes clear and convincing proof that

the child’s surroundings and environment endangered A.S.’ physical and emotional

well-being. Thus, the trial court had ample evidence to support termination under that

ground. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §161.001(1)(D) (Vernon Supp. 2010) (termination

may be warranted when a parent knowingly placed or knowingly allowed a child to

remain in conditions or surroundings which endangered the physical or emotional well-

being of the child).

       Accordingly, we overrule Smith’s issues and affirm the termination order.

                                                 Brian Quinn
                                                 Chief Justice

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