Court Opinion

ID: 3006012
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-30 16:02:33.123205+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:46:03.123272
License: Public Domain

Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 535

                 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
                                      DIVISION IV
                                      No. CV-15-459

CHRISTINA TRIBBLE                                Opinion Delivered   SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
                               APPELLANT
                                                 APPEAL FROM THE YELL COUNTY
V.                                               CIRCUIT COURT, SOUTHERN
                                                 DISTRICT [NO. JV-13-25]

ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF                           HONORABLE TERRY SULLIVAN,
HUMAN SERVICES AND MINOR                         JUDGE
CHILD
                    APPELLEES                    AFFIRMED; MOTION GRANTED

                            KENNETH S. HIXSON, Judge

       Appellant Christina Tribble appeals the February 2015 order of the Yell County

Circuit Court that terminated her parental rights to her son H.D. born in July 2013.1 The

child was taken into emergency custody in November 2013 by the Arkansas Department of

Human Services (DHS), when the baby was a few months old. DHS filed a petition to

terminate her parental rights in December 2014, more than one year later, and it was granted

on all six grounds asserted by DHS. Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal. Appellant’s

attorney has filed a no merit brief on appeal. The attorney’s motion to withdraw and no

merit brief was mailed to appellant at her last known address (prison). Appellant did not file

any responsive points. After our review of this appellate brief, we hold that it complies with

the requirements of Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 6-9 (2015) and Linker-Flores v. Ark. Dep’t

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        The child’s father, Bobby Joe Davis, went to prison and ultimately relinquished his
parental rights, so the father is not part of this appeal.
                                  Cite as 2015 Ark. App. 535

of Human Servs., 359 Ark. 131, 194 S.W.3d 739 (2004). The termination of appellant’s

parental rights is affirmed, and counsel’s motion to be relieved is granted.

       We review termination-of-parental-rights cases de novo. Dinkins v. Ark. Dep’t of

Human Servs., 344 Ark. 207, 40 S.W.3d 286 (2001). At least one statutory ground must exist,

in addition to a finding that it is in the child’s best interest to terminate parental rights; these

must be proved by clear and convincing evidence. Ark. Code Ann. § 9-27-341 (Supp. 2013);

M.T. v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 58 Ark. App. 302, 952 S.W.2d 177 (1997). Clear and

convincing evidence is that degree of proof that will produce in the fact finder a firm

conviction as to the allegation sought to be established. Anderson v. Douglas, 310 Ark. 633,

839 S.W.2d 196 (1992). The appellate inquiry is whether the trial court’s finding that the

disputed fact was proved by clear and convincing evidence is clearly erroneous. J.T. v. Ark.

Dep’t of Human Servs., 329 Ark. 243, 947 S.W.2d 761 (1997); Tucker v. Ark. Dep’t of Human

Servs., 2011 Ark. App. 430, 389 S.W.3d 1; Pine v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2010 Ark. App.
781, 379 S.W.3d 703. Credibility determinations are left to the fact finder, here, the trial

court. Moiser v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 95 Ark. App. 32, 233 S.W.3d 172 (2006).

       The intent behind the termination-of-parental-rights statute is to provide permanency

in a child’s life when it is not possible to return the child to the family home because it is

contrary to the child’s health, safety, or welfare, and a return to the family home cannot be

accomplished in a reasonable period of time as viewed from the child’s perspective. Ark.

Code Ann. § 9-27-341(a)(3). Even full compliance with the case plan is not determinative;

the issue is whether the parent has become a stable, safe parent able to care for her child.

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Camarillo-Cox v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 360 Ark. 340, 201 S.W.3d 391 (2005); Cole v.

Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2012 Ark. App. 203, 394 S.W.3d 318; Tucker v. Ark. Dep’t of

Human Servs., 2011 Ark. App. 430, 389 S.W.3d 1. A parent’s past behavior is often a good

indicator of future behavior. Stephens v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. App. 249.

Termination of parental rights is an extreme remedy and in derogation of a parent’s natural

rights; however, parental rights will not be enforced to the detriment or destruction of the

health and well-being of the child. Pine v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., supra.

       The standard of review in appeals of termination of parental rights is de novo, but we

reverse a trial court’s decision to terminate parental rights only when it is clearly erroneous.

Ullom v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 340 Ark. 615, 12 S.W.3d 204 (2000); Mitchell v. Ark.

Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. App. 715, 430 S.W.3d 851; Brewer v. Ark. Dep’t of Human

Servs., 71 Ark. App. 364, 43 S.W.3d 196 (2001). A finding is clearly erroneous when,

although there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left

with a distinct and firm conviction that a mistake was made. Wade v. Ark. Dep’t of Human

Servs., 337 Ark. 353, 990 S.W.2d 509 (1999); Hopkins v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 79 Ark.

App. 1, 83 S.W.3d 418 (2002).

       In this case, the trial court found that six statutory grounds defined in Arkansas Code

Annotated section 9-27-327(b)(3)(B) had been proved to support terminating appellant’s

parental rights, as alleged by DHS. The statutory grounds alleged were (1) the out-of-custody

for twelve months and failure-to-remedy ground, (2) the “other factors” ground,

(3) aggravated circumstances, meaning that there was little likelihood for reunification in spite

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of services being provided; (4) willful failure to provide material support or meaningful

contact for at least one year; (5) abandonment; and (6) being sentenced for a substantial period

of time in the child’s life. Appellant’s attorney focuses on the “other factors” ground, and we

agree that there is no issue of arguable merit to raise regarding statutory grounds.2 Appellant’s

attorney also asserts and explains that the trial court’s “best interest” finding is supported by

clear and convincing evidence. We agree that no issue of arguable merit could be asserted on

appeal as to the sufficiency of the evidence in support of termination of appellant’s parental

rights.

          Appellant and the child tested positive for amphetamines when the baby was born in

July 2013. DHS opened a family-services case and established services designed to protect the

child. Appellant was living with her boyfriend Joey Harris and his mother. Appellant’s

boyfriend had a methamphetamine problem, and he was a registered sex offender.

          In November 2013, appellant was arrested for a parole violation.3 She left H.D. in the

care of her boyfriend and his mother, but days later, those two were arrested for

methamphetamine-related offenses following a traffic stop. Scales were found in the car, and

          2
        The “other factors” ground is found in Arkansas Code Annotated § 9-27-
341(b)(3)(B)(vii)(a), and it recites that this ground means that “other factors or issues
arose subsequent to the filing of the original petition for dependency-neglect that
demonstrate that placement of the juvenile in the custody of the parent is contrary to
the juvenile’s health, safety, or welfare, and that, despite the offer of appropriate family
services, the parent has manifested the incapacity or indifference to remedy the subsequent
issues or factors or rehabilitate the parent’s circumstances that prevent the placement of the
juvenile in the custody of the parent.”
          3
        Appellant was on parole for crimes she committed in 2011, theft of property and
being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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a loaded syringe was found in the baby’s diaper bag; the baby was in the car. This left the

child without a caretaker, so DHS took emergency custody.

        A probable-cause order was entered later in November 2013, and H.D. was

adjudicated dependent-neglected in January 2014. The trial judge ordered that appellant be

permitted reasonable supervised visitation. In April 2014, appellant was ordered to cooperate

with DHS and follow the case plan; to refrain from using drugs; to submit to random drug

screens; to obtain a drug-and-alcohol assessment and follow any recommendations; and to

successfully complete a drug-rehabilitation program.

        The case was reviewed in July 2014. At that time, appellant had been released from

imprisonment. Her drug test that day was negative. Appellant had resumed her relationship

with the child’s father, living with him at his mother’s house in Ola, Arkansas. The prior

orders were reiterated.

        In November 2014, a permanency-planning hearing was held. It was learned that

appellant tested positive for methamphetamine and THC in August 2014. Appellant had also

been arrested and sentenced to prison for her parole violation. The goal was changed from

reunification to adoption. DHS was deemed to have provided reasonable efforts, and it was

given permission to file a petition to terminate parental rights, which it filed in December

2014.

        At the February 2015 termination hearing, appellant testified that she expected to be

released from prison in May 2015. Before she went back to prison, however, she had no job,

no income, no driver’s license, nor did she complete the DHS services provided to her.

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Appellant admitted that she had put drugs, the child’s father, and her friends ahead of her son,

but she stated that she was working diligently on her issues while in prison. She wanted more

time so that she could get out of prison, find a job and a place to live, “and then have my

child come home.”

       A family service worker testified that H.D. was adoptable, given his young age and lack

of major developmental issues. The foster family, where H.D. had been for the duration of

his foster care, was interested in adoption. The trial judge deemed the service worker to be

credible. The trial judge’s order noted that appellant had been incarcerated, “got out of jail

and went back to a life of drugs and instability,” and was “now incarcerated again.”

       As explained by appellate counsel, the “other factors” ground is supported by clear and

convincing evidence, and there could be no issue of arguable merit to raise with regard to this

statutory ground. Appellant’s counsel adequately explains that the best interest finding is also

supported by clear and convincing evidence. There was evidence presented that the child was

adoptable, and there was potential harm in that the mother had unresolved drug issues, was

incarcerated, and lacked a job, a home, and stability. A child’s need for permanency and

stability may override a parent’s request for additional time to improve the parent’s

circumstances. Stephens v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2013 Ark. App. 249, 427 S.W.3d 160;

Dozier v. Ark. Dep’t of Human Servs., 2010 Ark. App. 17, 372 S.W.3d 849.

       There were no other adverse rulings. There could be no issue of arguable merit in an

appeal of this order terminating appellant’s parental rights. We hold that counsel complied

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with the requirements of presenting a viable no-merit appeal. We affirm, and we grant the

motion to be relieved.

      Affirmed; motion granted.

      KINARD and GRUBER, JJ., agree.

      Suzanne Ritter Lumpkin, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant.

      No response.

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