Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-18-00871-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF C.M., M.M., and V.M., Children
From the 224th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2017-PA-01429
Honorable Karen H. Pozza, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
Sitting: Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
Beth Watkins, Justice
Liza A. Rodriguez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: May 8, 2019
AFFIRMED
Father 1 appeals an order terminating the parent–child relationship between him and C.M.,
M.M., and V.M. He argues the evidence is insufficient to support findings required for the order.
We affirm the trial court’s order.
PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Department filed suit for conservatorship of C.M. and M.M. (twins who were born in
2015), and V.M. (born in 2016), and termination of Father’s parental rights. The children were
removed from Father’s care based on concerns of physical abuse by their mother and Father’s
girlfriend, G.G. The children were thereafter placed with their maternal aunt, Maria.
1
To protect the identity of the minor children, we refer to the appellant and children by aliases. See TEX. FAM. CODE
§ 109.002(d); TEX. R. APP. P. 9.8(b)(2).
04-18-00871-CV
The case proceeded to a bench trial, at which several witnesses testified. The case was tried
together with a separate case involving another one of Father’s daughters, C.C. 2 One of the
Department’s primary concerns at trial was Father’s ability and willingness to protect the children
from G.G.’s conduct. After trial, the trial court rendered an order terminating Father’s parental
rights under section 161.001 of the Texas Family Code. 3 Father timely appealed.
STANDARD OF REVIEW & STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
To terminate parental rights under section 161.001 of the Texas Family Code, the
Department must prove by clear and convincing evidence: (1) one of the grounds in subsection
161.001(b)(1); and (2) termination is in the best interest of the child. See TEX. FAM. CODE
§§ 161.001, 161.206(a); In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003). In this case, the trial court
found, by clear and convincing evidence, four grounds in subsection 161.001(b)(1) and that
termination of Father’s parental rights is in the children’s best interest.
Father argues the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support these findings.
We evaluate the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s findings
under the standard of review established by the Texas Supreme Court in In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d
256, 266–67 (Tex. 2002). Under this standard, “[t]he trial court is the sole judge of the weight and
credibility of the evidence, including the testimony of the Department’s witness[es].” 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.).
GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION
In his first four issues, Father challenges the trial court’s four findings of grounds for
termination. The trial court found Father failed to complete court-ordered provisions of his family
2
Father has appealed the order in the other suit, and the appeal has been docketed as cause number 04-18-00870-CV.
3
The final order also terminated the parental rights of G.G., who has not appealed.
-2-
04-18-00871-CV
service plan, failed to support the children, knowingly endangered the children based on their
conditions or surroundings, and knowingly endangered the children by engaging in conduct or
placing Father with persons who engaged in conduct endangering the children’s wellbeing. See
TEX. FAM. CODE § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), (F), (O). A finding of only one ground is necessary. See
In re D.J.H., 381 S.W.3d 606, 611–12 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012, no pet.).
We begin by considering the trial court’s finding regarding endangerment by conduct, the
Department’s primary concern at trial. Section 161.001(b)(1)(E) provides a ground for a
termination when a parent has “knowingly placed the child with persons who engaged in conduct
which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of the child.” See TEX. FAM. CODE
§ 161.001(b)(1)(E). “Endanger” means to expose a child to loss or injury or jeopardize a child’s
emotional or physical well-being. See In re M.C., 917 S.W.2d 268, 269 (Tex. 1996) (per curiam).
“[I]t is not necessary that the conduct be directed at the child or that the child actually suffers
injury.” Id.
At trial, Father described his family’s living situation as a “violence environment.” He
testified he had learned G.G. had bruised C.C.’s lip by hitting her in the face, and he called the
police two days after he learned about the incident. Father also testified he was aware that, before
this incident, G.G. had purposefully burned C.C.’s hand with an iron or curling iron, and he would
leave the children in G.G.’s care while he was away at work. He testified C.C., C.M., M.M., and
V.M. lived in the home when G.G. abused C.C., and the children were possibly in danger of being
physically abused by G.G. during that time, which would “definitely” harm the other children
emotionally. Father testified he had known that G.G. was abusing C.C. for two years before the
incident when G.G. hit C.C.
The Department’s investigator, Tiffany Garza, testified C.C. had made an outcry of
physical abuse. Garza testified C.C.’s injuries included an injury to her upper lip, an abrasion on
-3-
04-18-00871-CV
her neck, and scab marks on her stomach and the side of her thigh. She further testified C.C. also
reported G.G. had also poked her with a knife and choked her. Garza stated she spoke with G.G.,
and G.G. admitted to what C.C. had described. According to Garza, G.G.’s other daughter F.
reported G.G. had hit C.C., burned C.C.’s eyes, and tried to hold C.C. underwater. F. also reported
G.G. had once hit F. on the back of the head, and that she too was afraid of G.G. Moreover, Father
testified F. had suffered from witnessing G.G.’s abuse of C.C.
Although most of the evidence at trial concerned G.G.’s abuse of C.C., Father’s testimony
supports a reasonable inference that the “violence environment” in the children’s home would
jeopardize C.M., M.M., and V.M.’s emotional or physical well-being. And, a propensity for
violence may be considered evidence of endangerment, even if the endangering acts were not
directed at or did not cause actual injury to the child. See id.
Although Father argues he called and cooperated with the police, and took other steps to
change G.G.’s conduct once he realized C.C. was in danger, he does not dispute that, during the
two years before the incident for which he called the police, the evidence showed he placed the
children in the care of G.G. knowing G.G. had physically abused the children’s older sister, C.C.
We hold the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding of
knowing endangerment under section 161.001(b)(1)(E). Because a finding of only one ground is
necessary, we do not address Father’s issues challenging the trial court’s findings as to other
grounds for termination. See D.J.H., 381 S.W.3d at 611–12.
BEST INTEREST
In determining the best interest of a child, courts consider the non-exhaustive Holley
factors. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371–72 (Tex. 1976). Those factors 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
-4-
04-18-00871-CV
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 17, 27 (Tex. 2002). “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).
C.M., M.M., and V.M. were all under the age of three at trial. When a child is unable to
express his desires, the factfinder may consider whether the child has bonded with her current
caregivers, is well cared for by them, and has spent minimal time with the biological parent. In re
M.C.L., No. 04-17-00408-CV, 2017 WL 5759376, at *3 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Nov. 29, 2017,
no pet.) (mem. op.). C.M., M.M., and V.M. were placed with their maternal aunt, Maria, and
Department caseworker Diana Torres testified, as did Father, that C.M., M.M., and V.M. are
bonded with Maria.
The evidence also showed Father would not be protective of the children from G.G.’s
future conduct. Father testified he had ended his relationship and all communication with G.G.,
and the evidence showed G.G. had fled to Mexico to avoid criminal prosecution for injuring C.C.
approximately two months before the trial in this case. However, Father’s aunt testified Father told
her he was planning to take the children to Mexico, start an apartment business, and live with G.G.
She explained Father purchased new tires for his truck because “he was going to take [the children]
-5-
04-18-00871-CV
straight to Mexico.” Father testified he did not plan to move to Mexico and that he bought new
tires because he often drove to Corpus Christi for work.
Torres testified multiple family members expressed concern to her that Father would take
the children to Mexico. She also testified Father had not demonstrated he would protect the
children because he minimized G.G.’s physical abuse of C.C. Torres stated that during one of
Father’s visits with C.C., Father had FaceTimed 4 G.G. and tried to have C.C. talk to G.G. Father
testified he simply gave C.C. his phone and C.C. saw a picture of G.G. Torres further testified that
three months before trial, Father visited C.C. at school and brought G.G. with him. Although G.G.
stayed in the car, Torres had informed Father that G.G. could not attend the visit.
Father also testified there was a Facebook profile with his name and pictures of him and
G.G. as recent as the month before trial. The profile stated he and G.G. were in a relationship.
Father denied that the profile was his and stated G.G. had his password. The evidence was disputed
as to Father’s plans for the children, and we defer to the trial court’s resolution of these disputed
factual issues because the trial court is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the evidence.
See F.M., 2017 WL 393610, at *4.
Furthermore, the evidence showed there was domestic violence between Father and G.G.
Department investigator Garza testified F. reported there was domestic violence between Father
and G.G. She further testified Father told the police there was “ongoing fighting in the house with
[G.G.].” See In re O.N.H., 401 S.W.3d 681, 685 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013, no pet.)
(considering evidence of domestic violence as relevant to a child’s best interest).
Some evidence showed Father had completed the required programs on his family service
plan, had a source of income from subcontracting work, and had a safe and stable home. However,
4
Torres testified FaceTime is “a feature on the phone where . . . you can see the person on video as you’re talking to
them.”
-6-
04-18-00871-CV
Torres testified at least one of Father’s service providers expressed concern that he “was concerned
about checking off the boxes and having his services completed, but not really learning from them
or being honest with the providers.” She also testified Father’s income after expenses was
insufficient to provide for childcare for all of the children. Moreover, Father’s landlord testified
he was seeking a way to evict Father because he was often late in paying the rent.
We hold sufficient evidence supports the trial court’s finding that termination of Father’s
parental rights is in the children’s best interest. See Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 371–72.
CONCLUSION
Having concluded sufficient evidence supports findings necessary to support the trial
court’s order, we affirm the trial court’s order terminating the parent–child relationship between
Father and C.M., M.M., and V.M.
Luz Elena D. Chapa, Justice
-7-