Fourth Court of Appeals
San Antonio, Texas
MEMORANDUM OPINION
No. 04-17-00102-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF A.D.S. and J.P.S., Children
From the 57th Judicial District Court, Bexar County, Texas
Trial Court No. 2016PA00151
Honorable Richard Garcia, Judge Presiding
Opinion by: Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Sitting: Sandee Bryan Marion, Chief Justice
Karen Angelini, Justice
Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
Delivered and Filed: August 2, 2017
AFFIRMED
Appellant K.L.R. appeals the trial court’s order terminating her parental rights to her
children, A.D.S. and J.P.S. In four issues, Appellant contends the evidence was legally and
factually insufficient to support the trial court’s findings with regard to the three statutory grounds
for termination and its finding that termination was in the children’s best interest. We affirm the
trial court’s order.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Family and Protective Services (“the Department”) filed its original
petition for conservatorship of the two children and for termination of their parents’ parental rights
on January 22, 2016. The termination hearing commenced on November 14, 2016.
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The State first called the Department caseworker, Jerred Moore, who had been assigned to
the case since June 2016. Moore testified that A.D.S. was three years old and J.P.S. was a year
old. The Department became involved with the family when a drug raid was conducted on the
family home. At that time, Appellant and her boyfriend, the children’s father, were arrested.
Drugs and guns were found in the home, which Moore described as filthy with flies everywhere.
He stated that the children were also very dirty. The children were also found to have dental
cavities and were behind on their immunizations. Appellant tested positive for cocaine and
marijuana and admitted to smoking marijuana as a coping mechanism.
Moore stated that in order to regain custody of her children, Appellant was required to
engage in drug treatment, parenting classes, and individual counseling, as well as undergo a
psychological evaluation. Appellant did not complete out-patient drug treatment. She was asked
to drug test multiple times; she tested positive on two occasions, but refused to test on many more
occasions. Appellant also failed to attend Narcotics Anonymous classes as required. Appellant
attended weekly counseling sessions, but according to Moore, she did not complete counseling
and no progress was made. Appellant did complete the psychological evaluation; Moore did not
know the outcome, except to say that continued therapy and parenting classes were recommended.
Moore stated that the Department hoped Appellant would learn to stop the behavior that led to the
children being removed in the first place, including her drug usage and her boyfriend’s gang
affiliation, and to be able to take care of her children on her own. Moore did not believe that
Appellant came close to meeting that goal because she continues to test positive for drugs and
blames the Department and family members for her actions. In addition, she is currently on
probation and is not in compliance with the terms of her probation. Finally, she had not proven to
Moore that she was living where she said she was living and had not provided a lease for him to
see.
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Moore stated that Appellant had given him a notarized letter she wrote to the court
indicating that she loved her children, but that she recognized she could no longer take care of
them, and that she has tried to get her life together and has succeeded minimally on and off, but
ultimately, her children have suffered from her actions. She also stated that she wanted her
children to live in a safe and loving home and that she could not provide that for her children.
During cross-examination, Appellant’s attorney informed the court that the letter was written at a
time when the parties were attempting to mediate and that Appellant intended to revoke the letter.
Appellant’s attorney also informed the court that Appellant was on deferred adjudication for a drug
charge and that the State had filed a motion to adjudicate and that there was an active warrant for
her arrest; he implied that Appellant would benefit from much needed in-patient drug treatment
while in custody for six to nine months.
According to Moore, Appellant often missed visits with her children; many times it was
due to her refusal to drug test. The children were currently living with their paternal great-aunt,
who was willing to adopt the children if parental rights were terminated. The children were very
bonded to their great-aunt and she was able to meet their needs. On cross-examination, Moore
stated that Appellant had threatened the great-aunt and her family via Facebook and phone calls,
stating she would “shoot up the home” or “mess up their home.” Moore stated it would be in the
best interest of the children to have Appellant’s parental rights terminated.
The next witness was the original caseworker, Krystal Tipton. Tipton testified that
Appellant failed drug treatment and tested positive for drugs after failing drug treatment. Tipton
again referred Appellant to drug treatment services but Appellant did not follow through. Tipton
explained that Appellant did not receive in-patient drug treatment because Appellant gave the
providers lots of trouble, and was confrontational with them upon discharge from outpatient
treatment; also, she refused to drug test. Tipton stated that Appellant missed several visits with
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the children during the case. Tipton did not believe Appellant made the changes she needed to
make to regain custody of the children and she recommended Appellant’s parental rights be
terminated. Tipton believed the children were currently living in a good, safe, and appropriate
home.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
To terminate parental rights pursuant to section 161.001 of the Code, the Department has
the burden to prove: (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 (West Supp.
2016); In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d 355, 362 (Tex. 2003). The applicable burden of proof is the clear
and convincing standard. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.206(a) (West 2014); In re J.F.C., 96
S.W.3d 256, 263 (Tex. 2002). “‘Clear and convincing evidence’ means the measure or degree of
proof that will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of
the allegations sought to be established.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 101.007 (West 2014).
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence to support the termination of parental
rights, the court must “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.” In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. “[A] reviewing court must assume that the
factfinder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable factfinder could do so.” Id.
“A corollary to this requirement is that a court should disregard all evidence that a reasonable
factfinder could have disbelieved or found to have been incredible.” Id.
In reviewing the factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the termination of parental
rights, a court “must give due consideration to evidence that the factfinder could reasonably have
found to be clear and convincing.” Id. “A court of appeals should consider whether disputed
evidence is such that a reasonable factfinder could not have resolved that disputed evidence in
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favor of its finding.” Id. “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.”
Id.
STATUTORY TERMINATION GROUNDS
Appellant first challenges the sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s
findings with regard to the following three statutory grounds for termination: (1) knowingly placed
or knowingly allowed the children to remain in conditions or surroundings which endanger the
physical or emotional well-being of the children; see TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(b)(1)(D);
(2) engaged in conduct or knowingly placed the children with persons who engaged in conduct
which endangers the physical or emotional well-being of the children; see id. at
§ 161.001(b)(1)(E); and (3) failed to comply with the provisions of a court order that specifically
established the actions necessary for the mother to obtain the return of the children who have been
in the permanent or temporary managing conservatorship of the Department of Family and
Protective Services for not less than nine months as a result of the children’s removal from the
parent under Chapter 262 for the abuse or neglect of the children. See id. at § 161.001(b)(1)(O).
Based on the testimony presented, the trial court could have formed a firm belief or
conviction that Appellant failed to comply with the Department’s family service plan. On appeal,
Appellant does not dispute the fact that she failed to complete her service plan but rather, argues
the Department failed to prove the children were removed due to abuse or neglect. We disagree.
At trial, evidence was presented that the children were in the family home when a police raid was
conducted resulting in the discovery of drugs and guns. The children were dirty and the house was
filthy, and Appellant tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at the time the children were
removed. Based on this undisputed evidence, we conclude the children were removed due to abuse
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or neglect. See, e.g., In re S.N., 272 S.W.3d 45, 52 (Tex. App.—Waco 2008, no pet.) (“Evidence
of illegal drug use or alcohol abuse by a parent is often cited as conduct which will support an
affirmative finding that the parent has engaged in a course of conduct which has the effect of
endangering the child.”). In addition, the evidence was undisputed that Appellant failed to comply
with the provisions of her family service plan. Most notably, she refused to submit to drug tests
on several occasions and failed to complete drug treatment. Therefore, the evidence is legally and
factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that Appellant failed to complete her court-
ordered service plan. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 161.001(b)(1)(O).
As previously noted, only one predicate finding under Section 161.001(b)(1) is necessary
to support a judgment of termination when there is also a finding that termination is in the child’s
best interest. In re A.V., 113 S.W.3d at 362. “‘If multiple predicate grounds are found by the trial
court, we [may] affirm based on any one ground because only one is necessary for termination of
parental rights.’” In re K.W., 335 S.W.3d 767, 769 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2011, no pet.) (quoting
In re D.S., 333 S.W.3d 379, 388 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2011, no pet.)). Because we hold the
evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s predicate finding under section 161.001(b)(1)(O),
we do not address the trial court’s other two predicate findings. See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.1
BEST INTEREST
There is a strong presumption that keeping a child with a parent is in the child’s best
interest. In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d 112, 116 (Tex. 2006). However, when the court considers factors
related to the best interest of the child, “the prompt and permanent placement of the child in a safe
environment is presumed to be in the child’s best interest.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 263.307(a)
(West Supp. 2016). In determining whether a child’s parent is willing and able to provide the child
with a safe environment, the court should consider: (1) the child’s age and physical and mental
vulnerabilities; (2) the frequency and nature of out-of-home placements; (3) the magnitude,
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frequency, and circumstances of the harm to the child; (4) whether the child has been the victim
of repeated harm after the initial report and intervention by the Department; (5) whether the child
is fearful of living in or returning to the child’s home; (6) the results of psychiatric, psychological,
or developmental evaluations of the child, the child’s parents, other family members, or others
who have access to the child’s home; (7) whether there is a history of abusive or assaultive conduct
by the child’s family or others who have access to the child’s home; (8) whether there is a history
of substance abuse by the child’s family or others who have access to the child’s home; (9) whether
the perpetrator of the harm to the child is identified; (10) the willingness and ability of the child’s
family to seek out, accept, and complete counseling services and to cooperate with and facilitate
an appropriate agency’s close supervision; (11) the willingness and ability of the child’s family to
effect positive environmental and personal changes within a reasonable period of time; (12)
whether the child’s family demonstrates adequate parenting skills; and (13) whether an adequate
social support system consisting of an extended family and friends is available to the child. Id. at
§ 263.307(b).
Courts also may apply the non-exhaustive Holley factors to shape their analysis. 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 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.
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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 best-
interest analysis may consider circumstantial evidence, subjective factors, and the totality of the
evidence as well as the direct evidence.” 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.
The evidence showed that the children were in the family home when a police raid was
conducted and drugs and guns were found; the children were dirty and the house was filthy.
Appellant tested positive for cocaine and marijuana at the time the children were removed, and
either tested positive for drugs again or refused to test at all. Appellant refused to cooperate with
drug treatment providers, and did not complete the required treatment. The evidence further
established that because of her drug use, Appellant failed to maintain significant contact with her
children and often missed visits with the children. Therefore, the trial court could have believed
Appellant’s continued substance abuse rendered her unable to provide a safe environment for the
children and showed that she was unable to effect positive environmental and personal changes
during the pendency of the case. See Cervantes-Peterson v. Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective
Servs., 221 S.W.3d 244, 253-54 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2006, no pet.) (continued illegal
drug use after a child’s removal jeopardizes parental rights and may be considered as establishing
an endangering course of conduct and that termination is in the best interest of the child).
In contrast, the trial court could have believed the children were currently in a safe
environment with the individual seeking custody. See Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 372. The children
had lived with their paternal great-aunt for eight months, and she wanted to adopt them both. All
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witnesses stated that the proposed placement was a safe and loving environment; nevertheless,
Appellant threatened to harm her children’s caretakers.
Having reviewed the record, we hold the evidence is sufficient to support the trial court’s
finding that termination was in the children’s best interest.
CONCLUSION
The trial court’s order is affirmed.
Rebeca C. Martinez, Justice
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