IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2024-CA-00313-COA
IN THE INTEREST OF K.B., A MINOR, A.D.B., A APPELLANT MINOR, S.D.B., A MINOR: A.B.B.
v.
E.B.S. APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02/29/2024 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. MARCIE TANNER SOUTHERLAND COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: WARREN COUNTY YOUTH COURT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: J. ALLEN DERIVAUX JR. ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: MICHAEL R. BONNER TRAVIS T. VANCE JR. NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - CUSTODY DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 11/25/2025 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
BEFORE CARLTON, P.J., McDONALD AND EMFINGER, JJ.
EMFINGER, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. On February 7, 2024, a termination of parental rights (TPR) hearing was held in the
Youth Court of Warren County, Mississippi, concerning three minor children of A.B.B.1
(mother) and W.S.B. (father). Aggrieved by the trial court’s decision, A.B.B. appeals.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. The couple married on November 19, 2010. During their marriage, they had three
children: K.B. was born in May 2013, A.D.B. was born in December 2014, and S.D.B. was
1 Initials are used for the parties in order to maintain confidentiality. born in September 2016.2
¶3. Lawrence County Child Protection Services (LCCPS) received a complaint on
September 27, 2021, alleging that the three minor children were not enrolled in school, were
neglected, and lived in a dirty home with no food and that the mother was using drugs in their
presence. Additionally, the mother was allegedly sleeping with random men for drug money,
and the children’s maternal grandmother, with whom the children and the mother were living
in Lawrence County, had recently overdosed. Following an investigation by LCCPS, the
children were removed from the home.3 Their father was unable to be located.
¶4. A shelter hearing was held on November 3, 2021. At that time, the mother tested
positive for amphetamines, opiates, hydrocodone, and THC. The children were temporarily
placed in the custody of their maternal uncle and his wife. On November 15, 2021, custody
was awarded to E.B.S., a half-sister of the three children. An adjudication hearing followed
on December 1, 2021. The three children were adjudicated as neglected, and visitation with
the mother was suspended until she could provide a clean drug screen.
¶5. The mother entered an inpatient drug rehabilitation program on December 3, 2021.
While there, she attended parenting classes, received emotional therapy, treatment for post-
2 The mother was previously married, and she and her former husband had two children. Mother traveled to Mexico to get a divorce on November 10, 2010. At the time of this TPR hearing, the mother’s former husband had been awarded full custody of their two children. In his complaint, the mother’s former husband alleged that there was abuse by the preacher’s son taking place at the church cult compound where the mother and father were living with the children. The mother’s former husband had also filed for divorce, as he was not aware of the Mexican divorce decree. 3 A fourth child was also involved in the report to LCCPS. This child was also removed from the home and placed with his biological father.
2 traumatic stress disorder, and anger management. She completed treatment on January 2,
2022, and tested negative for all drugs on January 12, 2022. However, on March 2, 2022, she
tested positive for amphetamines and THC.
¶6. In September 2022, the children’s half-sister filed a motion to have the case
transferred to Warren County, where she was then living with the three minor children. Her
request was granted pursuant to an order dated September 28, 2022. On October 12, 2022,
a permanency review hearing was held in Warren County Youth Court. During this hearing,
the mother revealed that she had recently called the suicide hotline and had been treated by
the Crisis Residential Center in Natchez, Mississippi. After the hearing, the court entered an
order directing Warren County Child Protection Services to begin monitoring the children
and working with the mother.
¶7. The court-appointed guardian ad litem (GAL) for the three children in Warren County
reached out to the previous GAL from Lawrence County to get the background of the case.
LCCPS reported instability in the mother’s housing and employment, her failed drug screens,
and the trouble they experienced trying to stay in touch with her due to changed phone
numbers. Additionally, the mother refused to meet with LCCPS at her home. She only
wanted to meet at her place of employment.
¶8. The mother was asked to submit a hair follicle test on December 9, 2022. Although
she showed up to take the test, she did not have a driver’s license, so the test could not be
completed. A permanency review hearing was held on December 13, 2022. The mother
submitted a urine screen that tested positive for THC and amphetamines.
3 ¶9. A family team meeting was held on April 28, 2023, at which the mother reported that
she had a new job caring for a disabled person, along with employment at a chicken plant.
She reported that she no longer saw a therapist. On June 6, 2023, another permanency review
hearing was held to continue seeking reunification of the mother with her three children. The
mother was ordered to seek counseling. The GAL reported that the three children had
continuously stated that they did not wish to see their mother.
¶10. The mother did not show up for drug screens on August 7, 2023, and August 29, 2023.
She also refused to grant permission for CPS to retrieve her medical records and pharmacy
records to verify her prescription use and medical treatment. On September 18, 2023,
following another permanency review hearing, E.B.S. was granted durable legal custody of
the children. The whereabouts of their father were still unknown, and he still had made no
attempts to communicate with the children.4
¶11. On November 27, 2023, a formal petition was filed in Warren County Youth Court
for the termination of parental rights. The petition alleged that the mother had failed to
exercise reasonable visitation with the children, failed to eliminate the behaviors such as drug
use despite reasonable efforts made by CPS, and had failed to enter a plan for reunification
with the children. The father was alleged to have deserted the children for a period of more
than one year. E.B.S. had been providing care and support for the three children since
November 15, 2021, and they were thriving in her custody.
¶12. A written judgment terminating the parental rights of the mother and father was
4 W.S.B. is also the biological father of E.B.S.
4 entered on February 29, 2024, following the February 7 hearing. On appeal, the mother
contends that the trial court erred by not providing her notice of her rights at the beginning
of the termination of parental rights hearing as required by Mississippi Code Annotated
section 93-15-113(2)(a) (Rev. 2018).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶13. In M.A.S. v. Lamar County Department of Child Protection Services, 353 So. 3d 460,
472 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2021), this Court stated:
The appellate standard of review is the same for both youth court proceedings and chancery court proceedings. In re J.P., 151 So. 3d 204, 208 (¶9) (Miss. 2014).
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IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2024-CA-00313-COA
IN THE INTEREST OF K.B., A MINOR, A.D.B., A APPELLANT MINOR, S.D.B., A MINOR: A.B.B.
v.
E.B.S. APPELLEE
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02/29/2024 TRIAL JUDGE: HON. MARCIE TANNER SOUTHERLAND COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: WARREN COUNTY YOUTH COURT ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT: J. ALLEN DERIVAUX JR. ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE: MICHAEL R. BONNER TRAVIS T. VANCE JR. NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - CUSTODY DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED - 11/25/2025 MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
BEFORE CARLTON, P.J., McDONALD AND EMFINGER, JJ.
EMFINGER, J., FOR THE COURT:
¶1. On February 7, 2024, a termination of parental rights (TPR) hearing was held in the
Youth Court of Warren County, Mississippi, concerning three minor children of A.B.B.1
(mother) and W.S.B. (father). Aggrieved by the trial court’s decision, A.B.B. appeals.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
¶2. The couple married on November 19, 2010. During their marriage, they had three
children: K.B. was born in May 2013, A.D.B. was born in December 2014, and S.D.B. was
1 Initials are used for the parties in order to maintain confidentiality. born in September 2016.2
¶3. Lawrence County Child Protection Services (LCCPS) received a complaint on
September 27, 2021, alleging that the three minor children were not enrolled in school, were
neglected, and lived in a dirty home with no food and that the mother was using drugs in their
presence. Additionally, the mother was allegedly sleeping with random men for drug money,
and the children’s maternal grandmother, with whom the children and the mother were living
in Lawrence County, had recently overdosed. Following an investigation by LCCPS, the
children were removed from the home.3 Their father was unable to be located.
¶4. A shelter hearing was held on November 3, 2021. At that time, the mother tested
positive for amphetamines, opiates, hydrocodone, and THC. The children were temporarily
placed in the custody of their maternal uncle and his wife. On November 15, 2021, custody
was awarded to E.B.S., a half-sister of the three children. An adjudication hearing followed
on December 1, 2021. The three children were adjudicated as neglected, and visitation with
the mother was suspended until she could provide a clean drug screen.
¶5. The mother entered an inpatient drug rehabilitation program on December 3, 2021.
While there, she attended parenting classes, received emotional therapy, treatment for post-
2 The mother was previously married, and she and her former husband had two children. Mother traveled to Mexico to get a divorce on November 10, 2010. At the time of this TPR hearing, the mother’s former husband had been awarded full custody of their two children. In his complaint, the mother’s former husband alleged that there was abuse by the preacher’s son taking place at the church cult compound where the mother and father were living with the children. The mother’s former husband had also filed for divorce, as he was not aware of the Mexican divorce decree. 3 A fourth child was also involved in the report to LCCPS. This child was also removed from the home and placed with his biological father.
2 traumatic stress disorder, and anger management. She completed treatment on January 2,
2022, and tested negative for all drugs on January 12, 2022. However, on March 2, 2022, she
tested positive for amphetamines and THC.
¶6. In September 2022, the children’s half-sister filed a motion to have the case
transferred to Warren County, where she was then living with the three minor children. Her
request was granted pursuant to an order dated September 28, 2022. On October 12, 2022,
a permanency review hearing was held in Warren County Youth Court. During this hearing,
the mother revealed that she had recently called the suicide hotline and had been treated by
the Crisis Residential Center in Natchez, Mississippi. After the hearing, the court entered an
order directing Warren County Child Protection Services to begin monitoring the children
and working with the mother.
¶7. The court-appointed guardian ad litem (GAL) for the three children in Warren County
reached out to the previous GAL from Lawrence County to get the background of the case.
LCCPS reported instability in the mother’s housing and employment, her failed drug screens,
and the trouble they experienced trying to stay in touch with her due to changed phone
numbers. Additionally, the mother refused to meet with LCCPS at her home. She only
wanted to meet at her place of employment.
¶8. The mother was asked to submit a hair follicle test on December 9, 2022. Although
she showed up to take the test, she did not have a driver’s license, so the test could not be
completed. A permanency review hearing was held on December 13, 2022. The mother
submitted a urine screen that tested positive for THC and amphetamines.
3 ¶9. A family team meeting was held on April 28, 2023, at which the mother reported that
she had a new job caring for a disabled person, along with employment at a chicken plant.
She reported that she no longer saw a therapist. On June 6, 2023, another permanency review
hearing was held to continue seeking reunification of the mother with her three children. The
mother was ordered to seek counseling. The GAL reported that the three children had
continuously stated that they did not wish to see their mother.
¶10. The mother did not show up for drug screens on August 7, 2023, and August 29, 2023.
She also refused to grant permission for CPS to retrieve her medical records and pharmacy
records to verify her prescription use and medical treatment. On September 18, 2023,
following another permanency review hearing, E.B.S. was granted durable legal custody of
the children. The whereabouts of their father were still unknown, and he still had made no
attempts to communicate with the children.4
¶11. On November 27, 2023, a formal petition was filed in Warren County Youth Court
for the termination of parental rights. The petition alleged that the mother had failed to
exercise reasonable visitation with the children, failed to eliminate the behaviors such as drug
use despite reasonable efforts made by CPS, and had failed to enter a plan for reunification
with the children. The father was alleged to have deserted the children for a period of more
than one year. E.B.S. had been providing care and support for the three children since
November 15, 2021, and they were thriving in her custody.
¶12. A written judgment terminating the parental rights of the mother and father was
4 W.S.B. is also the biological father of E.B.S.
4 entered on February 29, 2024, following the February 7 hearing. On appeal, the mother
contends that the trial court erred by not providing her notice of her rights at the beginning
of the termination of parental rights hearing as required by Mississippi Code Annotated
section 93-15-113(2)(a) (Rev. 2018).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶13. In M.A.S. v. Lamar County Department of Child Protection Services, 353 So. 3d 460,
472 (¶30) (Miss. Ct. App. 2021), this Court stated:
The appellate standard of review is the same for both youth court proceedings and chancery court proceedings. In re J.P., 151 So. 3d 204, 208 (¶9) (Miss. 2014). “The county court’s ‘findings of fact concerning the termination of parental rights are viewed under the manifest error/substantial credible evidence standard of review.’” C.S.H. v. Lowndes Cnty. Dept. of Human Servs., 246 So. 3d 908, 913 (¶21) (Miss. Ct. App. 2018) (quoting W.A.S. v. A.L.G., 949 So. 2d 31, 34 (¶7) (Miss. 2007)). On appeal, this Court is tasked with determining “whether credible proof supports the county court’s factual findings by clear and convincing evidence.” Id. at 913-14 (¶21). However, questions of law are subject to de novo review, “and if a chancellor misapprehends the controlling rules of law or acts pursuant to a substantially erroneous view of the law, reversal is proper.” Chism v. Bright, 152 So. 3d 318, 322 (¶12) (Miss. 2014).
ANALYSIS
¶14. Mississippi Code Annotated section 93-15-113(2)(a) provides, that at the beginning
of an involuntary termination of parental rights hearing, “[t]he court shall also explain to the
parent: (i) The right to counsel; (ii) The right to remain silent; (iii) The right to subpoena
witnesses; (iv) The right to confront and cross-examine witnesses; and (v) The right to
appeal, including the right to a transcript of the proceedings.” During the TPR hearing in this
case, the mother was represented by a court-appointed attorney. The caseworker from CPS,
5 the court-appointed GAL, and E.B.S. were all called as witnesses. Each witness was cross-
examined by the mother’s counsel. The mother then testified on her own behalf, and the
father failed to appear.
¶15. Following the testimony of all parties and witnesses, the youth court found by clear
and convincing evidence that terminating the parental rights of both the mother and father
would be in the best interest of the three children. The mother was then advised of her right
to appeal.
¶16. Similarly, in C.P. v. Lowndes County Department of Child Protection Services, 349
So. 3d 1209 (Miss. Ct. App. 2022), the parents were represented by a court-appointed
attorney throughout the proceedings. Id. at 1225 (¶48). The attorney cross-examined
witnesses and called the father to testify. Id. Further, the attorney advised the court that the
mother also wished to testify. Id. This Court reasoned that “any error created by the court’s
failure to explicitly inform the parents of their rights caused no harm to the parents under
these facts.” Id. This Court also recognized that “under different circumstances, the failure
to explicitly inform parties of their essential and fundamental rights, as required by section
93-15-113(2)(a), could have harmful and prejudicial effects. Id.
¶17. However, in the case sub judice, the mother exercised all the rights that she now
complains the court failed to give her. Because she was represented by counsel, fully took
part in the TPR hearing, and was ultimately advised of her right to appeal, the mother
suffered no harm from the court failing to explicitly inform her of her rights at the beginning
of the TPR hearing.
6 CONCLUSION
¶18. After reviewing the record, we find no error in the youth court’s decision to terminate
the mother A.B.B.’s parental rights. Therefore, the order dated February 29, 2024, is
affirmed.
¶19. AFFIRMED.
BARNES, C.J., CARLTON AND WILSON, P.JJ., McDONALD, LAWRENCE, WEDDLE AND LASSITTER ST. PÉ, JJ., CONCUR. WESTBROOKS AND McCARTY, JJ., CONCUR IN PART AND IN THE RESULT WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION.