In Re JPH

196 S.W.3d 289, 2006 WL 1348461
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 18, 2006
Docket11-05-00242-CV
StatusPublished

This text of 196 S.W.3d 289 (In Re JPH) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re JPH, 196 S.W.3d 289, 2006 WL 1348461 (Tex. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

196 S.W.3d 289 (2006)

In the Interest of J.P.H. and S.P.H., Children.

No. 11-05-00242-CV.

Court of Appeals of Texas, Eastland.

May 18, 2006.

*291 Coral L. Moore, Moore & Moore, Mineral Wells, for appellant.

Kenneth N. Tarlton, Robert F. Watson, Mineral Wells, Mike A. Smiddy, County Judge, Palo Pinto, for appellee.

Panel consists of: WRIGHT, C.J., and McCALL, J., and STRANGE, J.

OPINION

RICK STRANGE, Justice.

This is an involuntary termination of parental rights action under TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. ch. 161 (Vernon 2002 & Supp.2005). The trial court terminated the parent-child relationship between appellant, Crystal Goodnough, and her children, J.P.H. and S.P.H. We affirm.

Background Facts

Goodnough gave birth to twins, J.P.H. and S.P.H., in July 2002. Shortly after their birth, Child Protective Services started an investigation based upon allegations of neglect. CPS took the children to the hospital at fourteen days of age for testing and investigation of possible dehydration. Goodnough and her common-law husband, Mark Alan Hennington, agreed to voluntarily place the children with his aunt, Kim Gopffarth. When the children were released from the hospital, they were placed in her care. The trial court named Gopffarth sole managing conservator of the children and Goodnough possessory conservator.

Goodnough and Hennington faced criminal charges for organized criminal activity at the time of the twins' placement with Gopffarth in 2002. They were ultimately convicted and placed on community supervision. They failed to comply with their community supervision requirements and were arrested in January 2004. Goodnough admitted that she had failed to perform community service as ordered and had consumed amphetamines and methamphetamine. The trial court revoked Goodnough's and Hennington's community supervision and sentenced each to a term of ten years in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Gopffarth then filed suit seeking to terminate Goodnough's and Hennington's[1]*292 parental rights. Gopffarth and her husband also sought to adopt the twins.

The trial court conducted a bench trial and found that Goodnough and Hennington knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that resulted in their convictions, their incarcerations, and their inability to care for the children for not less than two years from the date the petition to terminate was filed. The trial court also found that termination of the parent-child relationship was in the children's best interest. The trial court terminated the parent-child relationship and granted the Gopffarths' request to adopt the children. Both Goodnough and Hennington filed notices of appeal. Only Goodnough filed a brief. Counsel advised the court that Hennington has decided not to pursue an appeal. We also affirm the judgment as to him.

Issues

Goodnough challenges the trial court's judgment with three issues. First, she contends there was no evidence to support the trial court's finding that she was knowingly convicted of an offense resulting in her incarceration and inability to care for the children for a period of two years or more after the filing of the petition.[2] Second, she alleges that the Gopffarths failed to comply with TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 160.422 (Vernon 2002). Third, she contends that she was denied due process because the same judge who granted termination of her parental rights also presided over her criminal proceedings.

Standard of Review

Texas courts have long recognized that the natural right existing between a parent and child is of "constitutional dimensions." Wiley v. Spratlan, 543 S.W.2d 349, 352 (Tex.1976). There is a strong presumption that the best interest of a child is served by keeping the child with the natural parent. In re G.M., 596 S.W.2d 846 (Tex.1980). Thus, involuntary termination proceedings and statutes are strictly scrutinized in favor of the parent. Holick v. Smith, 685 S.W.2d 18, 20-21 (Tex.1985).

Due process requires that the grounds for termination be established by clear and convincing evidence. This requires that measure or degree of proof which 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 (Vernon 2002); Transp. Ins. Co. v. Moriel, 879 S.W.2d 10, 31 (Tex.1994).

When conducting a legal sufficiency review, we review the entire record in the light most favorable to the finding and determine whether a reasonable trier of fact could have formed a firm belief or conviction that its finding was true. City of Keller v. Wilson, 168 S.W.3d 802, 817 (Tex.2005); In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex.2002). We must assume that the fact-finder resolved disputed facts in favor of its finding. Phillips v. Texas Dep't of Protective and Regulatory Servs., 149 S.W.3d 814, 817 (Tex.App.-Eastland 2004, no pet.). We must also disregard all evidence that a reasonable fact-finder could have disbelieved or found incredible, but we cannot disregard undisputed facts. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266.

When conducting a factual sufficiency review, we review the entire record, including evidence in support of and contrary to the judgment, and give due consideration to evidence the trial court could have found to be clear and convincing. In *293 re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 25 (Tex.2002). We then determine whether the evidence is such that a fact-finder could reasonably form a firm belief or conviction about the truth of the State's allegations. Id. We also consider whether any disputed evidence is such that a reasonable fact-finder could not have resolved that evidence in favor of its finding. In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266.

Grounds For Termination

To terminate parental rights, the proponent must prove by clear and convincing evidence that a parent committed one or more of the acts or omissions set out in TEX. FAM.CODE ANN. § 161.001(1) (Vernon Supp.2005) and that termination of parental rights is in the child's best interest. Richardson v. Green, 677 S.W.2d 497, 499 (Tex.1984). However, Goodnough does not challenge the trial court's best interest finding, but focuses instead on the trial court's finding that the Gopffarths proved the statutorily-required predicate act.

Section 161.001 provides in relevant part:

The court may order termination of the parent-child relationship if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence:
(1) that the parent has:
....
(Q) knowingly engaged in criminal conduct that has resulted in the parent's:

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Related

In the Interest of G. M.
596 S.W.2d 846 (Texas Supreme Court, 1980)
In Re Union Pacific Resources Co.
969 S.W.2d 427 (Texas Supreme Court, 1998)
Holick v. Smith
685 S.W.2d 18 (Texas Supreme Court, 1985)
Transportation Insurance Co. v. Moriel
879 S.W.2d 10 (Texas Supreme Court, 1994)
Phillips v. Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services
149 S.W.3d 814 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004)
In the Interest of Caballero
53 S.W.3d 391 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2001)
City of Keller v. Wilson
168 S.W.3d 802 (Texas Supreme Court, 2005)
Wiley v. Spratlan
543 S.W.2d 349 (Texas Supreme Court, 1976)
Texas Department of Human Services v. Boyd
727 S.W.2d 531 (Texas Supreme Court, 1987)
Richardson v. Green
677 S.W.2d 497 (Texas Supreme Court, 1984)
Darryl Hampton v. Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services
138 S.W.3d 564 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004)
in the Interest of J.P.H. and S.P.H., Children
196 S.W.3d 289 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2006)
In the interest of C.H.
89 S.W.3d 17 (Texas Supreme Court, 2002)
In the Interest of J.F.C.
96 S.W.3d 256 (Texas Supreme Court, 2002)
In the Interest of A.V.
113 S.W.3d 355 (Texas Supreme Court, 2003)

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Bluebook (online)
196 S.W.3d 289, 2006 WL 1348461, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-jph-texapp-2006.