ÿWPCó  ¦Oæ1áE§]F¨ê›–/4#Y)=ÀUËËçsÏð“PªÉÿú*>r§Sô½áݤˆ¯6˜pI¿÷†C¥"·ê{ä-1ln}2³>¸-ôa`Íý÷Î^Š üä´³ôͤ—žƒ÷:ªÚ#ª£€™XŸ›ÙÍ×iuwäb¼Br¹¹:êÈg6£?à%´’ ¸ù„Xç) S=šsŽÅ’c~œuh&eádY|L`ÏW$LÆùA~Á„¾B ‚«ÉUe³BYý{ýH‡>+Â%»^IiÚ±Xáç…‘_†…8ZîÌ 1¬­óiMðO@'¬¾Ù‡íƒ5•þ”cÇN'ÞÊÖrÏFdN¾ØŽ Ý8¼ÓW:­9®õtFýVXfßÜî3lZ“5ÐR£óP¶Ü¯ýsÉQª;'Kµ=q ¿:Z¨†g†Î>4Àù§¹!FJÓlüM#,_8AÉÅz[¹*ÄMžÖ6ûOèF%½ïuïØ ô‡Ä¶¯Z ¼-!ÀITÈò\ÿ*&Ì©šÂ-’DŠ]„X¦v¶ /úΫ’Òm•ÑÚæ:÷Ir¶ï~¡‘cäónQhœ*ÈQÇa®ŠÊU˜#¢ÄŒê´Òbé²é3‹’SF­\ˆì K‘«/&™¨Í*# LU:W %‘ 0(—b ¿w@Ë4 .6U:::::::::::::::::::::: AQtÆÅ 0D‹ 0DÏ 0D  D/W B† B£ D3À ˜HP LaserJet 4SiHPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLlÎ, øð AZ‹"Arial RegularX($¡¡- ù - šD›œDžDŸ ¡¢£Ó€kDJ&3|x¬ úÝ ƒ"¯"ÝÝ  ÝÔ€ XÿûXXXÔÔ€ £jX XÿûÔÓ  Óò òÔ Ad ÔFILEDÔ€ XÿûX £jÔÐ  ÐÌFebruary€11,€1999ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔdAhÔó ó,c½¬AZ‹"Arial Regular!"#$&Cþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(3¯$¢¢Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý(3¯$££Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó(('÷ÿ dxd düÿP Pd'''''ÿÿdxdÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýñ£ñ›ñ£ñÒ€°ÒÒ„°ÒÑX°ÑÑTR[¤ AØ'ÿ Legal3Ø' AØ'ÿ Legalÿ3Ø'TÑÑ€ÑÑ7€ÿûXXdæXXdð7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñò òÔ€¼V¼XXÔÓ  Óñ£ñßr€ )<,(j 8` `€€@Eô±` 8ttxP,°ð  rß›ñ£ñà@  êàIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@¦¦(êàAT€NASHVILLEó óÔ€XÿûX¼¼VÔˆÐ Ä ÐÌÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð p À ÐDEPARTMENT€OF€œHUMAN€SERVICES,›à è àœ)›Ð V ¦ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ìà Ø àPetitioner/Appellee,à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð " r  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ àAppeal€No.Ð X  МVS›.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ à01„A„01„9711„JV„00662Ð î>  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ àÐ Ô$  МRALONDA›€œNYOKA›€WRIGHT€SMITHà  àà è à)à @ àWhite€JuvenileÐ º  МWYLIE›,€CRAIG€DOUGLAS€œWYLIE›à  àà è à)à @ àNo.€1016Ð  ð  Ðand€JOHNNY€SMITH,à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð †Ö  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # àÐ l¼ Ðà Ø àRespondent/Appellant,à 8 àà  àà è à)Ð R¢ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)ÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð n МKristalena›€Kay€Smith,€œD.O.B.›€5/04/89à  àà è à)Ð T ÐJustin€Thomas€œWylie›,€œD.O.B.›€12/06/92à  àà è à)Ð ê: Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)ÌChildren€Under€Eighteen€(18)€Years€of€Ageà è à)Ð ¶ ÐÌÌà@i i êàAPPEALED€FROM€THE€JUVENILE€COURT€OF€WHITE€COUNTYˆÌà@##$êàAT€SPARTA,€TENNESSEEˆÌÌà@` ` êàTHE€HONORABLE€GARY€W.€œDODSON›,€JUDGEˆÌÌÌÌÌJOHN€KNOX€WALKUPÌAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌÌDOUGLAS€EARL€œDIMOND›ÌAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌ425€Fifth€Avenue,€NorthÌNashville,€TN€37243„0499Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€AppelleeÌÌD.€MICHAEL€œKRESS›€IIÌ8€East€œBockman›€WayÌSparta,€Tennessee€38483Ìà Ø àAttorney€for€Appellant€œRalonda›€œNyoka›€Wright€Smith€œWylie›ÌÌÌÌà@¤¤$êàAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDˆÌÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌCONCUR:ÌœCAIN,›€œJ.ÌCOTTRELL,€J.›Ð  :^5; ÐÑܰÑѰXÑÓÓò òÔ€„Ì„XXÿûÔòòà@tt(êàO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÔ€XÿûX„„ÌÔˆÐ Ü ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€Juvenile€Court€of€White€œCounty›€terminated€a€motherððs€parentalÏrights€to€two€small€children.€€The€only€question€in€this€appeal€is€whether€the€StateÏproved€by€clear€and€convincing€evidence€the€statutory€grounds€for€termination.€€WeÏaffirm€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌà@²²-êàò òI.ó óˆÐ l  ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àœKristalena›€K.€Smith€was€born€on€May€4,€1989€to€œRalonda›€Wright€SmithÏand€Johnny€Smith.€€Justin€Thomas€œWylie›€was€born€out€of€wedlock€on€December€6,Ï1992€to€œRalonda›€Wright€Smith€and€Craig€Douglas€œWylie›.€€Ms.€Smith€and€Mr.€œWylie›Ïlater€married.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àIn€February€of€1994€œMs.€Wylie›€took€the€children€to€a€babysitter€and€toldÏthe€babysitter€that€she€would€return€for€the€children€by€9:00€or€10:00€p.m.€€By€theÏafternoon€of€the€next€day€œMs.€Wylie›€had€not€returned€and€she€could€not€be€reached.€ÏShe€had€left€the€name€of€a€relative,€but€that€person€refused€to€become€involved.€€TheÏDepartment€of€Human€Services€(œDHS›)€took€the€children€and€filed€a€petition€forÏtemporary€custody.€€The€petition€alleged€that€the€children€had€also€been€sexuallyÏabused.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àOn€February€22,€1994€the€Juvenile€Court€of€White€County€held€a€hearingÏon€the€petition€and€found€that€the€best€interests€of€the€children€required€removal€fromÏthe€parentsðð€custody€and€that€there€was€no€less€drastic€alternative.€€œMs.€Wylie›€wasÏrepresented€at€the€hearing€by€retained€counsel.€€There€is€no€transcript€in€the€recordÏfrom€that€hearing.Ìâ âÐ h7Œ16 Ðà Ø àà 0 àIn€March€of€1995€the€children€were€placed€with€their€maternalÏâ âgrandmother.€€œMs.€Wylie€showed€up€occasionally.€€She€lived€with€Mr.€Wylie€in›ÏTennessee,€Texas,€and€Florida,€but€sometimes€œshe€was€completely›€out€of€touch€withÏthe€children€and€their€œgrandmother€for€long€periods€of€time.›€€On€the€occasions€whenÏœMs.€Wylie›€did€show€up,€she€did€not€take€any€interest€in€the€children.€€The€grandmotherÏsometimes€refused€to€let€her€daughter€see€her€children€because€she€upset€them.€€InÏSeptember€of€1995€the€grandmother€asked€œDHS›€to€take€the€children€back€andÏexpressed€a€hope€that€the€children€would€never€be€returned€to€œMs.€Wylie.›ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àFor€part€of€the€time€her€children€were€in€state€custody,€the€mother€livedÏwith€a€man€by€the€name€of€Cooper.€€Cooperððs€mother€testified€that€the€œchildren›€œvisitedÏwith€Ms.€Wylie€and€Mr.€Cooper,€but›€that€the€children€were€neglected,€not€fed,€andÏscarcely€had€clothes€to€wear.€€œMs.€Wylieððs€sister›€œrescued€the›€children€œand€took€themÏback›€to€their€grandparents.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àMs.€œWylie›€would€not€take€advantage€of€any€of€the€state€services€offeredÏto€help€her€gain€parenting€skills.€€Neither€would€she€comply€with€a€plan€of€careÏdeveloped€for€her€and€the€children.€€She€disappeared€for€most€of€one€year€before€oneÏof€the€state€workers€located€her€in€jail€just€three€months€before€the€final€hearing€in€thisÏcase.€€œFor›€the€seven€months€up€to€the€date€of€the€final€hearing,€Ms.€œWylie›€had€visitedÏher€children€only€six€times.€ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àMs.€œWylie›€testified€that€she€was€now€in€a€stable€environment,€living€inÏsubsidized€housing€with€enough€room€for€the€children.€€She€said€she€had€a€job€caringÏfor€an€elderly€person€and€could€care€for€the€children.€€Her€family€members,€includingÏher€mother€who€œhad€had›€such€reservations€œabout›€the€children€ever€being€returned€toÏMs.€œWylie›,€testified€that€she€had€changed,€that€she€was€divorcing€Mr.€œWylie›,€and€thatÏshe€could€provide€a€home€for€the€children.Ð |8 26 Їà Ø àà 0 àAt€the€end€of€the€hearing€the€juvenile€judge€found€clear€and€convincingÏproof€of€the€grounds€for€termination,€but€he€deferred€for€sixty€days€a€decision€onÏwhether€termination€would€be€in€the€childrenððs€best€interests.€€After€a€hearing€onÏSeptember€23,€1997€the€juvenile€judge€entered€another€order€containing€the€followingÏfindings€and€conclusions:ÌÓÓà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àThe€Court€further€finds€upon€clear€and€convincingÏevidence€that€it€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children€toÏterminate€parental€rights;€that€the€conditions€that€led€toÏthe€childrenððs€removal€still€exist€or€other€conditions€existÏwhich€would€in€all€probability€subject€the€children€toÏfurther€neglect€or€abuse€if€returned€home;€there€is€littleÏlikelihood€that€these€conditions€will€be€remedied€at€anÏearly€date€so€that€the€children€could€be€returned€to€theÏDefendants€in€the€near€future;€that€the€continuation€of€theÏparent/child€relationship€greatly€diminishes€the€childrenððsÏchances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanentÏhome.Ð 0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌÌÌÓÓà@––-êàœò òII.ó ó›ˆÐ Lp ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àParents€have€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,€custody,€and€control€ofÏtheir€children.€€òòStanley€v.€Illinoisóó,€œ405€U.S.€645›€(1972);€òòHawk€v.€Hawkóó,€855€S.W.2d€573Ð ì" Ð(Tenn.€1993).€€That€right,€however,€may€be€surrendered€by€parents€who€engage€inÏacts€that€pose€a€threat€of€substantial€harm€to€the€children.€€òòœNale›€v.€Robertsonóó,€871Ð ¬&Ð # ÐS.W.2d€œ674›€(Tenn.€1994).€€The€legislature€has€drawn€some€guidelines€to€balance€theÏparental€rights€against€the€stateððs€interest€in€preventing€œharm€to€the€children.›€œUnderÏthe€statutory€scheme€a›€court€may€take€a€dependent€and€neglected€child€out€of€theÏparent(s)ðð€custody€to€protect€the€ð ðphysical,€mental,€and€moral€welfare€of€the€child.ðð€ÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€37„1„130(a).€€In€appropriate€cases,€the€state€then€provides€a€rangeÏof€services€to€the€parents€and€the€children€to€try€to€reunite€the€family.€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€37„2„403.€€When€all€else€fails,€the€court€may€permanently€terminate€a€parentððsÏparental€rights.Ìâ âÐ Œ7°15 Ðà Ø àà 0 àThe€procedure€œfor€termination€has›€been€described€in€some€detail€by€theÏâ âlegislature€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„1„113.€€The€parts€relevant€to€this€case€are:ÌÓÓà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!à(c)à ˆ àTermination€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€mustÐ œ À Ðbe€based€upon:Ð 0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤à(1)à à àA€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€andÐ l  Ðconvincing€evidence€that€the€grounds€forÏtermination€œof›€parental€or€guardianshipÏrights€have€been€established;€andÐ ˆLˆL ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤à(2)à à àThat€the€termination€of€the€parentððsÐ @  Ðor€guardianððs€rights€is€œin€the›€best€interestsÏof€the€child.Ð ˆLˆL ÐÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 à*à  à*à è à*Ð Ü ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àœ(g)à ˆ àTermination›€of€parental€or€guardianship€rights€mayÐ ¼à Ðbe€based€upon€any€of€the€following€grounds:Ð 0 ¤0 ¤ ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤àœà à àà 8 à*à  à*à è à*›à @ àœÐŒ°ˆLˆL ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!à›à8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤à(2)à à àThere€has€been€substantialÐ l Ðnoncompliance€by€the€parent€or€guardianÏwith€the€statement€of€responsibilities€in€aÏpermanency€plan€or€a€plan€of€œcarñ¡ñeñ¡ñ›€pursuantÏto€the€provisions€of€title€37,€chapter€2,€partÏ4;Ð ˆLˆL ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤à(3)(A)à à àThe€child€has€been€removed€from€theÐ ü!  Ðhome€of€the€parent€or€guardian€by€order€ofÏa€court€for€a€period€of€œsix›€(6)€months€and:Ð ˆLˆL ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤àà8àˆLˆLàœ(i)›à 8 àThe€conditions€whichÐ ¼%à" Ðled€to€the€childððs€removal€orÏother€conditions€which€in€allÏreasonable€probability€wouldÏcause€the€child€to€beÏsubjected€to€further€abuse€orÏneglect€and€which,€therefore,Ïprevent€the€childððs€return€toÏthe€care€of€the€œparent(s)›€orÏguardian(s),€still€persist;Ð àôàô ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤àà8àˆLˆLà(ii)à 8 àThere€is€little€likelihoodÐ  00*- Ðthat€these€conditions€will€beÏremedied€at€an€early€date€soÏthat€the€child€can€be€returnedÏto€the€parent(s)€or€guardian(s)Ïin€the€near€future;€andÐ àôàô ÐÌà8 Ø àà80 Ø ü!Ø ü!àà8ˆ0 ¤0 ¤àà8àˆLˆLà(iii)à 8 àThe€continuation€of€theÐ œ6À04 Ðparent€or€guardian€and€childÏrelationship€greatlyÏdiminishes€the€childððsÐ l937 Ðchances€of€early€integrationÏinto€a€stable€and€permanentÏhome.Ð àôàô ÐÌÌÌÓÓà Ø àà 0 àThe€juvenile€judgeððs€findings€and€conclusions€track€the€statutoryÏrequirements.€€After€reviewing€the€transcript€of€the€July€29,€1997€hearing,€we€concurÏwith€the€juvenile€judge.€€The€record€shows€that€for€more€than€three€years€œMs.›€œWylie›Ïshowed€a€remarkable€lack€of€concern€for€her€children.€€She€utterly€failed€to€complyÏwith€her€plan€of€œcare.›€€For€long€œperiods›€of€time€she€was€out€of€touch€with€the€stateÏworkers€who€œwere€supposed€to€monitor›€her€progress.€€She€continued€to€live€with€theÏperson€suspected€of€abusing€her€infant€son.€€Three€months€before€the€July€29,€1997Ïhearing€she€was€in€jail€on€a€contempt€of€court€charge€for€failing€to€comply€with€theÏcourtððs€order€in€a€œDUI›€conviction.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€failure€to€terminate€parental€rights€would€prolong€the€delay€in€findingÏa€stable€home€for€the€children.ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed€and€the€case€is€remanded€toÏthe€Juvenile€Court€of€White€County€for€any€further€proceedings€necessary.€€Tax€theÏcosts€on€appeal€to€the€appellant.ÌÓÓà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àà @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # à¼à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à_____________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è àPRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.ÌÌœÌCONCUR:›ÌÌÌœ_____________________________›ÌœWILLIAM›€œñ›ñBñ›ññœñCñœñ.›€œññCAINñññžñKOCH,›€JR.ñžñ,›€JUDGEÌÌÌœ_____________________________›ÌœñŸñPATRICIA€J.€COTTñŸññ ñRELL,ñ ññŸñ›WILLIAM›€B.›€CAIN,ñŸñ›€JUDGEÌÐ  Œ7°15 ÐѰÜÑÑX°ÑÑ  ÑÔ€¼§›¼XX¹aÔò òà@êê.êàœñ¢ñIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@™™(êàAT€NASHVILLEñ¢ñó óñ¢ñÔ€X¹aX¼¼§›ÔˆÐ Æ МÌÌÌÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEE,à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð œ ì ÐDEPARTMENT€OF€HUMAN€SERVICES,à è à)Ð Œ Ü Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ìà Ø àPetitioner/Appellee,à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð l ¼  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ àAppeal€No.Ð \¬  ÐVS.à Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ à01„A„01„9711„JV„00662Ð Lœ  Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ àÐ <Œ  ÐRALONDA€NYOKA€WRIGHT€SMITHà  àà è à)à @ àWhite€JuvenileÐ ,|  ÐWYLIE,€CRAIG€DOUGLAS€WYLIEà  àà è à)à @ àNo.€1016Ð l  Ðand€JOHNNY€SMITH,à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð  \ Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)à @ àà ˜ àà ð àà H! àà  # àÐ üL Ðà Ø àRespondent/Appellant,à 8 àà  àà è à)Ð ì< Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)ÌIN€THE€MATTER€OF:à à àà 8 àà  àà è à)Ð Ì ÐKristalena€Kay€Smith,€D.O.B.€5/04/89à  àà è à)Ð ¼  ÐJustin€Thomas€Wylie,€D.O.B.€12/06/92à  àà è à)Ð ¬ü Ðà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àà  àà è à)ÌChildren€Under€Eighteen€(18)€Years€of€Ageà è à)Ð ŒÜ ЛÌÔ€¼§›¼XX¹aÔò òòòà@uu'êàJ€U€D€G€M€E€N€Tóóó óˆÐ l¼ ÐÌÔ€X¹aX¼¼§›ÔÓÓà Ø àà 0 àThis€cause€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€on€appeal€from€theÐ ˜è МJuvenile€Court›€of€œWhite€County,›€œand€the€briefs›€of€œcounsel;›€upon€considerationÏwhereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€that€in€the€œjudgment€of€the€trial€court€there€is€noÏreversible€error.›€Ìà Ø àà 0 àIn€accordance€with€the€opinion€of€the€Court€filed€herein,€it€is,€therefore,Ïordered€and€decreed€by€this€Court€that€the€œjudgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.›€€TheÏcause€is€remanded€to€the€œJuvenile€Court›€of€œWhite€County›€for€the€œexecution›€of€theÏœjudgment›€and€for€the€collection€of€the€costs€accrued€below.Ìà Ø àà 0 àCosts€of€this€appeal€are€taxed€against€œRalonda€Nyoka€Wright€SmithÏWylie,›€for€which€execution€may€issue€if€necessary.ÌÌÓÓà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àBEN€H.€CANTRELL,€PRESIDING€JUDGE,€M.S.Ì›ÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àWILLIAM€B.€CAIN,€JUDGE›ÌÌÌà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àœ______________________________________Ìà Ø àà 0 àà ˆ àà à àà 8 àPATRICIA€J.€COñ¢ññ™ññ˜ñCñ˜ññ™ññ¢ñTTRELLñ¢ññšñWILLIAM€B.€CAINñšññ¢ñ,€JUDGEÌñ¢ñ›