in the Interest of J. R., a Child ( 2015 )

NO. 12-15-00070-CV
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT
TYLER, TEXAS
§ APPEAL FROM THE
IN THE INTEREST OF J. R.,
§ COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2
A CHILD
§ ANGELINA COUNTY, TEXAS
MEMORANDUM OPINION
J.R. appeals the trial court’s final order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.
On appeal, he presents two issues. We affirm.
BACKGROUND
J.R. is the father of J.R.1,1 born May 21, 2005. The mother of the child, L.R., is not a
party to this appeal. On September 5, 2013, the Department of Family and Protective Services
(the Department) filed an original petition for protection of the child, for conservatorship, and for
termination of J.R.’s parental rights. The Department was appointed temporary managing
conservator of the child, and J.R. was appointed temporary possessory conservator with limited
rights and duties.
Following a bench trial, the court rendered an order appointing P.S., the child’s maternal
great-aunt, as the permanent managing conservator of J.R.1., and J.R. as the possessory
conservator of the child. J.R. was granted standard visitation along with specific terms of
1
The initials of the father and his child are the same. Therefore, we will refer to the father as J.R. and to his
child as J.R.1.
visitation for spring break and summer visitations in 2015. He was also ordered to pay child
support in the amount of $200.00 per month. The trial court filed findings of fact and
conclusions of law. This appeal followed.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
A court’s order on conservatorship and child support issues will not be disturbed on
appeal unless the complaining party can show a clear abuse of discretion. Worford v. Stamper,
801 S.W.2d 108, 109 (Tex. 1990); see also In re J.D.D., 242 S.W.3d 916, 919 (Tex. App.—
Dallas 2008, pet. denied) (trial court has broad discretion on child support issues); In re J.A.J.,
243 S.W.3d 611, 616 (Tex. 2007) (conservatorship determinations subject to review for abuse of
discretion). A trial court abuses its discretion when it acts in an arbitrary and unreasonable
manner or when it acts without reference to any guiding rules or principles. In re J.D.D., 242
S.W.3d at 920 (citing Downer v. Aquamarine Operators, Inc., 701 S.W.2d 238, 241-42 (Tex.
1985)).
In family law cases, legal and factual insufficiency are not independent grounds of error
but are relevant factors in our assessment of whether the trial court abused its discretion. Watson
v. Watson, 286 S.W.3d 519, 522 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, no pet.). To determine whether
there has been an abuse of discretion because the evidence is legally or factually insufficient to
support the trial court's decision, we engage in a two prong inquiry: (1) did the trial court have
sufficient evidence upon which to exercise its discretion, and (2) did the trial court err in its
application of that discretion? Id. at 522–23. The traditional sufficiency inquiry applies to the
first question. Knight v. Knight, 131 S.W.3d 535, 539 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2004, no pet.).
Once we have determined whether sufficient evidence exists, we must then decide whether the
trial court made a reasonable decision. Id. In other words, we must conclude that the ruling was
neither arbitrary nor unreasonable. Id. In the absence of such a clear abuse of discretion, an
appellate court should not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. In re M.L.W., 358
S.W.3d 772, 774 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2012, no pet.); see also City of Keller v. Wilson, 168
S.W.3d 802, 822 (Tex. 2005) (“A reviewing court cannot substitute its judgment for that of the
trier-of-fact, so long as the evidence falls within [the] zone of reasonable disagreement.”)
In an appeal from a bench trial, the trial court’s findings of fact have the same weight as a
jury verdict. Fulgham v. Fischer, 349 S.W.3d 153, 157 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2011, no pet.).
2
Findings may be overturned only if they are so against the great weight and preponderance of the
evidence as to be clearly wrong and unjust. Ortiz v. Jones, 917 S.W.2d 770, 772 (Tex. 1996).
When the appellate record contains a reporter’s record as it does in this case, findings of fact are
not conclusive and are binding only if supported by the evidence. Fulgham, 349 S.W.3d at 157.
We review a trial court’s conclusions of law de novo. Quick v. Plastic Solutions of Tex., Inc.,
270 S.W.3d 173, 181 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2008, no pet.). Erroneous conclusions of law are not
binding on the appellate court, but if the controlling findings of fact will support a correct legal
theory, are supported by the evidence, and are sufficient to support the judgment, the adoption of
erroneous legal conclusions will not mandate reversal. Id.
MANAGING CONSERVATOR
In his first issue, J.R. argues that the trial court abused its discretion by appointing a
nonparent as J.R.1’s permanent managing conservator. He contends that the evidence is legally
and factually insufficient to overcome the presumption that appointment of a parent as managing
conservator is in the best interest of the child.
Applicable Law
A trial court must appoint a child’s parents to be joint managing conservators, or one
parent as the sole managing conservator, unless it concludes that “appointment of the parent or
parents would not be in the best interest of the child because the appointment would significantly
impair the child’s physical health or emotional development.” TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§ 153.131(a) (West 2014). It is a rebuttable presumption that the appointment of the parents of a
child as joint managing conservators is in the best interest of the child. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§ 153.131(b) (West 2014). A finding of a history of family violence involving the parents of a
child removes the presumption. Id. “Family violence” is defined as an act by a member of a
family or household against another member of the family or household that it intended to result
in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN.
§§ 71.004(a), 101.0125 (West 2014).
In conservatorship issues, the court’s primary consideration always is the child’s best
interest. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.002 (West 2014). In analyzing the best interest of a child,
we use the Holley factors as a guide, which include, but are not limited to, (1) the desires of the
child, (2) the emotional and physical needs of the child now and in the future, (3) the emotional
3
and physical danger to the child now and in the future, (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 for the child by these individuals or by the agency seeking
custody, (7) the stability of the home or proposed placement, (8) the acts or omissions of the
parent that 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. Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d 367, 371-72
(Tex. 1976).
As evidence to rebut the parental presumption, the Department was required to show
specific acts or omissions by J.R. that support a logical inference that some specific, identifiable
behavior or conduct of his will probably result in harm to the child. In re M.W., 959 S.W.2d
661, 665 (Tex. App.—Tyler 1997, writ denied). Consequently, there must be direct evidence
that placement of J.R.1 with J.R. would significantly impair J.R.1’s physical health or emotional
development or that allows the fact finder to reasonably reach that conclusion. In re De La
Pena, 999 S.W.2d 521, 528 (Tex. App.—El Paso 1999, no pet.). The focus is on the effect of the
placement, not on the circumstances that produced the placement. In re R.T.K., 324 S.W.3d
896, 902 (Tex. App.–Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, pet. denied).
The Evidence
In its findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court found that the appointment of
J.R. as managing conservator would not be in J.R.1’s best interest because the appointment
would significantly impair the child’s physical health or emotional development. The
Department agrees, arguing that the evidence is sufficient to rebut the parental presumption.
At trial, the evidence showed that J.R.1 was nine years old and her two half-siblings, T.R.
and C.F., were eight years old and almost two years old, respectively. Their mother, L.R.,
admitted that she had a drug problem that led the Department to remove the children and place
them with her maternal aunt, P.J., in September 2013. L.R. acquiesced to the appointment of P.J.
as J.R.1’s permanent managing conservator.
The evidence showed further that J.R. had little contact with J.R.1 before this case began.
He was incarcerated in Louisiana two months after J.R.1 was born in 2005. He saw her once or
twice before he was incarcerated for five years beginning in 2007. He was released from prison
in May 2012 and saw her once that year. J.R. claimed that he saw J.R.1 frequently in 2013 and
was granted visitation for six hours once a month beginning November 2013. He was also
4
granted telephone access. He admitted that once, he called J.R.1, asked her what she had to eat
that day, and ended the telephone call. According to J.R., J.R.1 was his daughter and “anything
[he] want[ed] to ask her, [he would] ask her.” J.R. testified that after November 2014, he moved
twice over the next few months. He had not visited J.R. since November 2014 or called her in
over a month. J.R. admitted that he did not see J.R.1 in January even though he did not move
that month. He was asked why he failed to visit J.R.1 in January. J.R. responded “[w]hy waste
my money every month, man, visit her every month if I’m not going to get her? That’s crazy as
hell; I mean, that’s real crazy.”
The Department also presented evidence that J.R’s home life might cause J.R.1 harm. He
lived with his girlfriend and the girlfriend’s five children in Louisiana. J.R.1 has met the
girlfriend once or twice, seen the children once, and never been to J.R.’s house. The Department
employees, the CASA volunteer, and J.R.1’s caregiver had never met or had any interaction with
J.R.’s girlfriend or her children. J.R.1’s foster care supervisor, Samantha Skinner, likened it to
taking J.R.1 from everything she knows to moving her in with perfect strangers. The
Department was also concerned about J.R.’s household because a home study was denied due to
unresolved criminal charges for both J.R. and his girlfriend, and he had moved since the home
study was performed.
J.R. has an extensive criminal history. He was arrested for numerous offenses before
2007 including simple assault; manufacturing, distribution, and possession of a narcotic;
possession of marijuana; four counts of vehicle burglary; and simple burglary. He was
incarcerated for five years beginning in 2007 after his community supervision was revoked, and
has been arrested three times since his release from prison.
The trial court found that J.R. has a history of family violence involving L.R. and
“conducted in the presence of the child.” L.R. testified J.R. was very jealous and antisocial. She
said that before he went to prison, she was staying with him at his sister’s house. They argued
because she was paying too much attention to J.R.1. According to L.R., J.R. pushed the child.
She called law enforcement, left the house, and went to a family shelter. J.R. denied pushing
J.R.1.
The evidence also showed that J.R.1 could suffer severe physical and emotional harm if
she was separated from her maternal great-aunt, P.J., and her siblings. The trial court found that
J.R.1 was closely bonded to P.J. and that she had been the only person to consistently care for
5
her for the majority of her life. P.J. testified that the children lived with her for approximately
two years beginning when J.R.1 was about four years old. After L.R. moved out of P.J.’s house
and before the children were removed, P.J. checked on the children every day.
The trial court further found that J.R.1 was “very closely bonded” with T.R., her half-
sister, and that the separation from her siblings, especially T.R., would significantly impair her
emotional development. The trial court found that the child was “exceedingly emotionally
attached” to T.R. Skinner, the CASA volunteer, L.R., and P.J. were all very concerned about
separating the two girls. In its findings, the trial court stated that J.R.1 advised the court that she
wanted to remain in P.J.’s home with her siblings although she would like to have visitation with
her father. She told the CASA volunteer that she would like to visit her father, but that if T.R.
could not go, she would not like to live with him. J.R.1 repeated this assertion to P.J. and
Skinner. J.R. appeared to be unconcerned about J.R.1 being separated from T.R. even though he
did not believe it was a good idea to split J.R.1 from her siblings.
Other evidence showed that J.R.1 has had problems in school with reading and math, and
her grades dropped after she was removed from her mother. J.R. admitted that he did not know
J.R.1 had a reading problem. He was unaware of studies showing the problems that might
develop if siblings who are extremely close are separated. Even though he was asked after the
August 2014 hearing to help J.R.1 if she came to live with him, he had failed to do so because he
had been “too busy.”
Conclusion
By making an affirmative finding of family violence, the trial court removed the
presumption that it is in the best interest of the child for J.R. to be appointed as a managing
conservator. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 153.131(b). After reviewing the record, we hold that
the evidence supports the trial court’s findings that J.R. had an extensive criminal history, a
history of family violence, and very little contact with the child, and that separating the child
from P.J. and the child’s siblings would significantly impair her emotional development and
result in emotional harm. Accordingly, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
finding that the appointment of J.R. as managing conservator was not in the child’s best interest
because it would significantly impair her physical health and emotional development. We
overrule J.R.’s first issue.
6
CHILD SUPPORT
In his second issue, J.R. contends the evidence is legally and factually insufficient to
support the trial court’s finding ordering him to pay child support.
Applicable Law
The court may order either or both parents to support a child in the manner specified by
the order. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.001 (West 2014). In other words, each party has a duty
to support his or her minor child. Villasenor v. Villasenor, 911 S.W.2d 411, 419 (Tex. App.—
San Antonio 1995, no writ). The duty to support a child is not limited to a parent’s ability to pay
from current earnings, but also extends to his financial ability to pay from any and all sources
that might be available. In re Striegler, 915 S.W.2d 629, 638 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 1996, writ
denied); Roosth v. Roosth, 889 S.W.2d 445, 455 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1994, writ
denied); Musick v. Musick, 590 S.W.2d 582, 586 (Tex. Civ. App.—Tyler 1979, no writ).
In assessing child support, the trial court must calculate net resources for the purposes of
determining child support liability. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.062(a), (b) (West 2014);
Newberry v. Bohn–Newberry, 146 S.W.3d 233, 236 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2004, no
pet.). In the absence of evidence of the wage and salary income of a party, the court shall
presume that the party has wages or salary equal to the federal minimum wage for a forty hour
week. TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.068 (West 2014).
Analysis
J.R. argues that he is considered disabled and receives SSI benefits (supplemental
security income) for that disability. These benefits, he contends, are not resources under the
Texas Family Code. See TEX. FAM. CODE ANN. § 154.062(b). The trial court found that J.R.
receives social security disability payments because of a speech impediment. According to
Texas Family Code Section 154.062, resources for calculating child support include social
security benefits and disability benefits, but not supplemental security income. See id.
§ 154.062(b)(5).
However, the trial court did not base its calculation of J.R.’s net resources on his SSI
benefits. Instead, the court found that J.R. presented no evidence that he was incapable of
working a minimum wage job. According to the trial court, J.R. babysits, cooks, and teaches his
girlfriend’s youngest child every day. Therefore, the trial court found that J.R. had monthly net
7
resources equal to the federal minimum wage for a forty hour week and ordered him to pay
eighteen percent of his presumed net resources as child support. Id. § 154.068.
The evidence supports the trial court’s findings. J.R. testified at length about taking care
of his girlfriend’s youngest children each day, including teaching and working with them. He
said that he washes the family’s clothes, cooks a big meal every day, and does “anything [the
other children] want him to do.” Nowhere does he state that he is unable to work at a minimum
wage job. In the absence of proof to the contrary, the trial court was authorized to presume that
J.R. earned the minimum wage. J.R. argues that the trial court cannot presume that he has
income equal to the federal minimum wage for a forty hour week because the statute applies only
if there is no evidence of resources. However, he cites no authority for this proposition.
Because J.R. presented no evidence at trial on the value of his net resources and his
alleged inability to earn any income, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in ordering him to
pay child support in accordance with the federal minimum wage. See Reyes v. Reyes, 946
S.W.2d 627, 630 (Tex. App.—Waco 1997, no writ). We overrule J.R.’s second issue.
DISPOSITION
Having overruled both of J.R.’s issues, we affirm the judgment of the trial court.
JAMES T. WORTHEN
Chief Justice
Opinion delivered September 2, 2015.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.
(PUBLISH)
8
COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF TEXAS
JUDGMENT
SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
NO. 12-15-00070-CV
IN THE INTEREST OF J. R., A CHILD
Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 2
of Angelina County, Texas (Tr.Ct.No. CV-02586-13-09-A)
THIS CAUSE came to be heard on the appellate record and briefs filed
herein, and the same being considered, it is the opinion of this court that there was no error in the
judgment.
It is therefore ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED that the judgment
of the court below be in all things affirmed, and that this decision be certified to the court
below for observance.
James T. Worthen, Chief Justice.
Panel consisted of Worthen, C.J., Hoyle, J., and Neeley, J.