Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-19-00037-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF A. N., ET AL., CHILDREN
From the 38th Judicial District Court, Medina County, Texas
Trial Court No. 18-01-24656-CV
Honorable Cathy O. Morris, Judge Presiding 1
Opinion by: Irene Rios, Justice
Sitting: Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Patricia O. Alvarez, Justice
Irene Rios, Justice
Delivered and Filed: July 24, 2019
AFFIRMED
Following a bench trial, Father’s parental rights were terminated as to his three children,
Jessie, Jason, and Joey. 2 The trial court then appointed the children’s maternal great-grandmother
as managing conservator and Mother as possessory conservator. The only issue presented by
Father on appeal is whether the evidence is legally and factually sufficient to support the trial
1
The Honorable Cathy O. Morris, Associate Judge, presided over the trial on the merits, and the Honorable Camile
G. DuBose presided over the de novo hearing.
2
To protect the identity of a minor child in an appeal from an order terminating parental rights, we refer to the parents
as “Mother” and “Father” and to the children using aliases. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 109.002(d); TEX. R. APP. P.
9.8(b)(2). The trial court’s order implicated the parental rights of Mother, A.N.’s father, and appellant Father. Only
appellant Father appeals the trial court’s order. Here, all three children who are the subject of this appeal have the
initials J.J.O. We refer to the children as “Jessie,” “Jason,” and “Joey.” A.N. is not the child of appellant Father, and
is, therefore, not a subject of this appeal.
04-19-00037-CV
court’s finding that termination was in the children’s best interest. We affirm the trial court’s
order.
BACKGROUND
On January 22, 2018, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
(“Department”) filed a petition to terminate parental rights. A bench trial was held before an
associate judge on November 20, 2018, following which the associate judge signed an order
terminating Father’s parental rights to Jessie, Jason, and Joey. Thereafter, Father requested a de
novo hearing, which was held on January 15, 2019. At the de novo hearing, the trial court took
judicial notice of the reporter’s record and exhibits from the initial hearing. 3 The trial court also
heard additional testimony. On March 6, 2019, the trial court signed a Final De Novo Order of
Termination of Parental Rights terminating Father’s parental rights to Jessie, Jason, and Joey.
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 evidence of three predicate grounds to terminate Father’s parental
rights. 4 The trial court also found termination of Father’s parental rights was in the best interest
of the children.
3
The Family Code provides that “[t]he referring court may also consider the record from the hearing before the
associate judge, including the charge to and verdict returned by a jury.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 201.015(c).
4
The trial court found evidence Father
knowingly placed or knowingly allowed the child[ren] to remain in conditions or surroundings
which endanger the physical or emotional well-being of the child[ren],[;] … engaged in conduct or
knowingly placed the child[ren] with persons who engaged in conduct which endangers the physical
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When reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence, we apply the well-established standards
of review. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. §§ 101.007, 161.206(a); In re H.R.M., 209 S.W.3d 105, 108
(Tex. 2006) (factual sufficiency); In re J.P.B., 180 S.W.3d 570, 573 (Tex. 2005) (legal
sufficiency).
BEST INTERESTS
When considering the best interest of the child, we recognize the existence of a strong
presumption that the child’s best interest is served by preserving the parent-child relationship. In
re R.R., 209 S.W.3d 112, 116 (Tex. 2006). However, we also presume that prompt and permanent
placement of the child in a safe environment is in the child’s best interest. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§ 263.307(a) (West 2014).
In determining whether a child’s parent is willing and able to provide the child with a safe
environment, we consider the factors set forth in Family Code section 263.307(b). See TEX. FAM.
CODE ANN. § 263.307(b). We also apply the Holley factors to our analysis. 5 See Holley v. Adams,
544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72 (Tex. 1976). These factors are not exhaustive. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17,
27 (Tex. 2002). “The absence of evidence about some of these considerations would not preclude
a factfinder from reasonably forming a strong conviction or belief that termination is in the child’s
best interest, particularly if the evidence were undisputed that the parental relationship endangered
the safety of the child.” Id. In analyzing these factors, the court must focus on the best interest of
or emotional well-being of the child[ren],[; and] … failed to comply with the provisions of a court
order … [.]
See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), (O).
5
These factors include: (1) the child’s desires; (2) the child’s present and future emotional and physical needs; (3) any
present or future emotional and physical danger to the child; (4) the parental abilities of the individuals seeking
custody; (5) the programs available to assist the individuals seeking custody to promote the child’s best interest; (6)
the plans for the child by the individuals or agency seeking custody; (7) the stability of the home or proposed
placement; (8) the parent’s acts or omissions which may indicate that the existing parent-child relationship is improper;
and (9) any excuse for the parent’s acts or omissions. See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72 (Tex. 1976); In
re E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d 239, 249 n.9 (Tex. 2013).
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the child, not the best interest of the parent. Dupree v. Tex. Dept. of Protective & Regulatory
Servs., 907 S.W.2d 81, 86 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1995, no writ).
Evidence that proves one or more statutory ground for termination may also constitute
evidence illustrating that termination is in the child’s best interest. In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 28
(Tex. 2002) (holding same evidence may be probative of both section 161.001(b)(1) grounds and
best interest, but such evidence does not relieve the State of its burden to prove best interest). “A
best interest analysis may consider circumstantial evidence, subjective factors, and the totality of
the evidence as well as the direct evidence.” See In re E.D., 419 S.W.3d 615, 620 (Tex. App.—
San Antonio 2013, pet. denied). “A trier of fact may measure a parent’s future conduct by his past
conduct and determine whether termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest.” Id.
DISCUSSION
Father contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to support the trial court’s
determination that termination of his parental rights is in Jessie’s, Jason’s, and Joey’s best interest.
On January 19, 2018, the Department received a referral alleging that A.N. made an outcry
of domestic violence, stating that Mother attempted to stab Father. Detective Sergeant Brandon
Teer of the Hondo Police Department testified that a forensic interview was conducted with A.N.
at the Bluebonnet Child Advocacy Center. During A.N.’s interview, Center officials locked the
Center doors because Father caused a disturbance in the parking lot, which required intervention
from patrol officers.
As part of the investigation, Department Investigator Joe David Sanchez attempted to meet
with and interview Father but Father informed Sanchez that he did not want to cooperate with the
Department or the investigation. Sanchez testified Father was resistant throughout the entire
investigation. When Sanchez attempted to establish a family safety placement with Mother, Father
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advised Mother to disregard the safety placement and the Department. Sanchez additionally
testified that Father indirectly threatened him via phone calls after the investigation concluded.
Detective Sergeant Teer confirmed that Father has had “extensive involvement with the
Hondo Police Department.” Detective Sergeant Teer described that involvement as “disturbances”
involving domestic violence, including an extensive history of domestic violence between Father
and Mother, as well as physical altercations between Father and other men. Mother testified Father
did not physically abuse her but that there was “name calling, making me feel unwanted” and
teaching their young daughter to call Mother a “beach.” Mother specifically described an incident
during which Father exhibited “road rage” toward her as she was driving on the highway. Mother
testified Father drove beside her, yelled at her, called her names, and ordered her to pull over.
Father also threw rocks at her car window while she was on the phone with the caseworker. Father
verified on cross-examination that police had been called when he discharged a firearm on his
property within the city limits. Father also verified he had been involved in physical altercations
with the family of A.N.’s father, one of which resulted in Father being stabbed. When confronted
with an offense report in which it was alleged Father “threw” Mother to the ground when she was
six months pregnant and resulted in an arrest, Father responded “that was just something told to
the officers.” Detective Sergeant Teer confirmed that on many occasions, Mother and Father
refused to pursue charges against each other. See In re A.M., 495 S.W.3d 573, 581 (Tex. App.—
Houston [1st Dist.] 2016, pet. denied) (relying in part on “history of assaultive conduct between
the mother and father” in affirming best-interest finding); see also In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 28
(noting that a history of assault is probative to the issue of a child’s best interest).
Department caseworker Jennifer Clark became involved with the case at the time of the
children’s removal and took part in developing Father’s service plan. Clark testified Father was
required to undergo individual counseling, including drug and alcohol assessment (“OSAR”) if a
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drug test returned with a positive result. According to Clark, OSAR was scheduled for Father five
times, but Father failed to comply or attend those sessions. Additionally, conservator worker
Christie Knopp, who attempted to administer a drug test to Father on one occasion, testified that
when she requested that Father submit to the drug test, Father “was very fidgety, and … refus[ed]
to take the drug test.” When Knopp pressed Father to take the test, Father responded “F[] it, it’s
dirty.” Additionally, Mother testified she had walked in on Father as he was about to use
methamphetamine, which resulted in an altercation between Mother and Father, because Father
had told her “he wasn’t going to do it again.” Clark also testified Father had a previous family-
based services case with the Department relating to drug issues. In re L.G.R., 498 S.W.3d 195,
204 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, pet. denied) (“A parent’s drug use supports a finding
that termination is in the best interest of the child.”)
Father was required to take part in the Batterers Intervention Prevention Program (“BIPP”)
because of the incidents of domestic violence and Father’s pending criminal charge for family
violence in which Mother was the complainant. Additionally, Father was ordered to undergo
psychosocial examination and take parenting classes or address parenting in his counseling
sessions. Clark arranged for the counselor to meet with Father at his father’s home or elsewhere
in Hondo. Clark testified Father completed five sessions of individual counseling but was
unsuccessfully discharged from counseling because he arrived more than thirty minutes late or
would verify attendance but then not attend counseling sessions. Clark then arranged counseling
through a second provider but Father did not engage at all with the second provider. Clark further
testified BIPP sessions could only be attended in San Antonio and that she arranged a referral for
Father three times but Father did not attend orientation or classes. See In re E.C.R., 402 S.W.3d
239, 249 (Tex. 2013) (evidence that the appellant failed to comply with the court-ordered service
plan supported the trial court’s best-interest determination); see also In re S.B., 207 S.W.3d 877,
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887-88 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, no pet.) (considering the parent’s drug use and failure to
comply with a family-service plan in holding the evidence supported the best-interest finding).
Having reviewed the record and considered all the evidence in the appropriate light for
each standard of review, we conclude the trial court could have formed a firm belief or conviction
that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the children’s best interest. See TEX. FAM. CODE
ANN. § 161.001(b)(2); In re H.R.M., 209 S.W.3d at 108; In re J.P.B., 180 S.W.3d at 573; see also
generally In re A.B., 437 S.W.3d 498, 503 (Tex. 2014) (recognizing an appellate court need not
detail the evidence if affirming a termination judgment).
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court’s order terminating Father’s parental
rights.
Irene Rios, Justice
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in the Interest of A. N., Children
Combined Opinion