ÿWPCÝ …# VUNa %¯ 0(µw@Ý4 1 UP@ 0l 0Dü @ 0JH 0T’ 0^æ 0hD 0r¬ 0| 0†š 0 1u° 0d%U>‰U6ÇB)ýDC& D3i Bœ AM¹ 0@U*FpKÌv~çvÓe AO8Ƈ 0DM D/‘ BÀ˜HP LaserJet 4HPPCL5MS,ü,,,,,ü0nLdÒ(ÈhH  Z 6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡ ÿDDDÓ€Úƒç"Ô\@3|x&@FÐZ ‹8CaslonOpnface BT Regular((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Courier New% Line 7 d((((7Border 1dd++++'ÿÿdxd d€-)Cþÿ << Gÿÿ("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÔ€.ÔÔ€.ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€.XÔÌÌò òSeptember€29,€1997ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€.ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó AÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€'ÔÔ€'ôÔChapter€532,€Public€Acts€of€1995,€effective€January€1,€1996,€as€amendedÏby€Chapter€1054,€Public€Acts€of€1996,€effective€May€15,€1996.Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€&ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ€'ÔÔ€'ôÔThe€childrenððs€mother,€Alice€Shipley,€had€earlier€surrendered€herÏparental€rights.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€&ÔÝ  Ý›Ñ P ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÔ€'ÔÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€¼ûXXdðdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÞ ÞÌà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌÌÌÌœIN€THE›€MATTER€OF:à àà àà àœ€€)›€C/A€NO.€œ03A01›„9611„JV„00369̜ـ€ÙßR€,/)A1-j|` Å `€€@ÿRß›à àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àMICHAEL€LYNN€SHIPLEYà à€€)Ìà àBEVERLY€ANN€SHIPLEYà àà à€€)Ìà àTIFFANY€œALEITHA›€SHIPLEYà à€€)Ìà àFRANK€MICHAEL€œSHIPLEY,›à à€€)Ìà àà àChildren€under€the€age)Ìà àà àof€eighteen€œyears,›à à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)ÌSTATE€OF€TENNESSEEà àà àà à€€)ÌDEPARTMENT€OFà àà àà àà à€€)€APPEAL€AS€OF€RIGHT€FROM€THEÌCHILDRENððS€SERVICES,à àà à€€)€œGREENE›€COUNTY€JUVENILE€COURTÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àPetitioner„Appellee,€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)ÌRALPH€MICHAEL€SHIPLEY,à àà à€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€)€HONORABLE€JAMES€D.€CARTER,Ìà àà àDefendant„Appellant.€€)€JUDGEÌÌÌÌFor€Appellantà àà àà àà àà àFor€AppelleeÌÌT.€WOOD€SMITHà àà àà àà àà àJOHN€KNOX€WALKUPÌœGreeneville›,€Tennesseeà àà àà àAttorney€General€&€ReporterÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TennesseeÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àDOUGLAS€EARL€œDIMOND›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€GeneralÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àGeneral€Civil€DivisionÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÔ€ ÔÔ€  Ôà@ àO€P€I€N€I€O€NÔ€'ÔÔ€'XÔÌÌÌÌAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDà àà àà àà àà àà àà àSusano,€J.ÇÓÓà àà àThis€is€a€termination€of€parental€rights€œcase€under€theÏnew€Adoption€Code.× ƒ0 ××  ×›€€Following€a€œbench€trial›€on€July€17,€1996,€theÏœcourt›€terminated€the€parental€rights€of€Ralph€Michael€ShipleyÏ(ð ðFatherðð)œ× ƒ1 ××  ×›€œwith€respect€to€his›€minor€children,€Michael€LynnÏShipley€(DOB:€9/20/87),€Beverly€Ann€Shipley€(DOB:€10/28/88),ÏTiffany€œAleitha›€Shipley€(DOB:€3/29/90),€and€Frank€Michael€ShipleyÏ(DOB:€2/3/91).€€Father€appealed.€€He€argues€œthat›€the€evidenceÏpreponderates€against€the€trial€œcourtððs€determination›€thatÏmultiple€grounds€œexisted€for€the€termination›€of€œhis›€parentalÏrights.ÌÌà@ àI.€€òòStandard€of€ReviewóóÌÌà àà àœIn€this€non„jury€case,€our›€review€is€òòde€novoóó€upon€theÏrecord€of€the€proceedings€below;€but€œthe›€record€comes€to€us€with€aÏpresumption€of€correctness€that€we€must€honor€ð ðunless€theÏpreponderance€of€the€evidence€is€otherwise.ðð€€Rule€œ13(d),›€œT.R.A.P.›€Ïð ðThe€scope€of€review€for€questions€of€law€is€de€novo€upon€theÍrecord€of€the€[trial€court]€with€no€presumption€of€correctness.ðð€Ïò òòòœGanzevoort›€v.€Russelló óóó,€949€œS.W.2d›€293,€296€(Tenn.€1997).ÌÌà@ àII.€€òòLaw€and€AnalysisóóÌÌà àà àWe€commence€œour›€analysis€by€observing€œwhat›€œisÌwell„established:›€a€parent€has€a€fundamental€right€to€the€care,Ïcustody€and€control€of€his€or€her€child.€€ò òòòStanley€v.€Illinoisó óóó,Ï405€U.S.€645,€92€œS.Ct›.€1208,€31€œL.Ed›.œ2d›€551€(1972).€€However,€itÏis€likewise€clear€that€this€right€is€not€absolute;€it€may€beÏterminated€if€there€is€clear€and€convincing€evidence€justifyingÏsuch€termination€under€the€applicable€statute.€€ò òòòœSantosky›€v.ÏœKramer›ó óóó,€455€U.S.€745,€102€œS.Ct›.€1388,€71€œL.Ed›.œ2d›€599€(1982).ÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€œfound€„„€expressly€predicating€itsÏfindings€on€clear›€and€convincing€œevidence€„„›€that€it€was€in€theÏœsubject€childrenððs›€best€interest€œto€terminate€Fatherððs›€parentalÏrights€œand€to€award›€œtheir€custody€to›€the€State€of€Tennessee,ÏDepartment€of€Childrenððs€Services.€€It€based€its€œdecision€toÏterminate,›€again€by€a€finding€of€clear€and€convincing€evidence,€onÏœthree›€œbasic€grounds:›ÌÌÓÓà àà8 àThat€[Father]€has€abandoned€[the]€œchild[ren›]Ïin€that€[he]€has€willfully€failed€to€visit€orÏto€engage€in€more€than€token€visitation€forÏfour€(4)€consecutive€months€immediatelyÏpreceding€the€filing€of€this€petition€prior€toÏincarceration;ÌÌà àà8 àThat€the€œchild[ren›]€[have]€been€removed€byÏorder€of€a€court€for€a€period€of€six€(6)Ïmonths;€the€conditions€which€led€to€theÏremoval€of€[the€children]€still€persist;€otherÏconditions€persist€which€in€all€probabilityÏwould€cause€the€œchild[ren›]€to€be€subjected€toÏfurther€abuse€and€neglect€and€which,Ïtherefore,€prevent€the€childrenððs€return€toÏthe€care€of€[Father];€there€is€littleÏlikelihood€that€these€conditions€will€beÏremedied€at€an€early€date€so€that€[theÏchildren]€can€be€returned€to€[Father]€in€theÏnear€future;€and€the€continuation€of€the€legalÏparent€and€child€relationship€greatlyÏdiminishes€the€childrenððs€chances€of€earlyÏintegration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home;ÌÌà àà8 àThat,€prior€to€incarceration,€[Fatherððs]Ïconduct€was€such€as€to€show€a€wanton€disregardÏfor€the€welfare€of€his€children;ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àà àThe€statutory€authority€for€the€grounds€relied€upon€byÏthe€trial€court€can€be€found€in€the€œCode,›€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà@ àœT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„113ÌÌà àà8 àœ(a)›€the€chancery€and€circuit€courts€shall€haveÏconcurrent€jurisdiction€with€the€juvenileÏcourt€to€terminate€parental€or€guardianshipÏrights€to€a€child€in€a€separate€proceeding,€orÏas€a€part€of€the€adoption€proceeding€byÏutilizing€any€grounds€for€termination€ofÍparental€or€guardianship€rights€permitted€inÏthis€part€or€in€title€37,€chapter€1,€part€1Ïand€title€37,€chapter€2,€part€4.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 à(c)€Termination€of€parental€or€guardianshipÏrights€must€be€based€upon:Ìà àà8 à(1)€A€finding€by€the€court€by€clear€andÏconvincing€evidence€that€the€grounds€forÏtermination€or€parental€or€guardianship€rightsÏhave€been€established;€andÌà àà8 à(2)€That€termination€of€the€parentððs€orÏguardianððs€rights€is€in€the€best€interests€ofÏthe€child.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 à(g)€Termination€of€parental€or€guardianshipÏrights€may€be€based€upon€any€of€the€followingÏgrounds:Ìà àà8 à(1)€Abandonment€by€the€parent€or€guardian,€asÏdefined€œin€[T.C.A.]›€ðð€36„1„102,€has€occurred;ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 à(3)(A)€The€child€has€been€removed€from€theÏhome€of€the€parent€or€guardian€by€order€of€aÏcourt€for€a€period€of€six€(6)€months€and:Ì€€€à àà8 à(œi›)€The€conditions€which€led€to€the€childððsÏremoval€or€other€conditions€which€in€allÏreasonable€probability€would€cause€the€childÏto€be€subjected€to€further€abuse€or€neglectÏand€which,€therefore,€prevent€the€childððsÏreturn€to€the€care€of€the€parent(s)€orÏguardian(s),€still€persist;Ì€€à àà8 à(ii)€There€is€little€likelihood€that€theseÏconditions€will€be€remedied€at€an€early€dateÏso€that€the€child€can€be€returned€to€theÏparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€in€the€near€future;ÏandÌ€à àà8 à(iii)€œThe›€continuation€of€the€parent€orÏguardian€and€child€relationship€greatlyÍdiminishes€the€childððs€chances€of€earlyÏintegration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà@ àœT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102ÌÌà àà8 àAs€used€in€this€part,€unless€the€contextÏotherwise€requires:Ìà àà8 à(1)(A)€ð ðAbandonmentðð€means,€for€purposes€ofÏterminating€the€parental€or€guardian€rights€ofÏparent(s)€or€guardian(s)€of€a€child€to€thatÏchild€in€order€to€make€that€child€availableÏfor€adoption,€that:ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌ€€€à àà8 à(iv)€A€parent€or€guardian€is€incarcerated€atÏthe€time€of€the€institution€of€an€action€orÏproceeding€to€declare€a€child€to€be€anÏabandoned€child,€or€the€parent€or€guardian€hasÏbeen€incarcerated€during€all€or€part€of€theÏfour€(4)€months€immediately€preceding€theÏinstitution€of€such€action€or€proceeding,€andÏeither€has€willfully€failed€to€visit€or€hasÏwillfully€failed€to€support€or€make€reasonableÏpayments€toward€the€support€of€the€child€forÏfour€(4)€consecutive€months€immediatelyÏpreceding€such€parentððs€or€guardianððsÏincarceration,€or€the€parent€or€guardian€hasÏengaged€in€conduct€prior€to€incarcerationÏwhich€exhibits€a€wanton€disregard€for€theÏwelfare€of€the€child.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 à(C)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),Ïð ðtoken€visitationðð€means€that€the€visitation,Ïunder€the€circumstances€of€the€individualÏcase,€constitutes€nothing€more€thanÏperfunctory€visitation€or€visitation€of€suchÏan€infrequent€nature€or€of€such€short€durationÏas€to€merely€establish€minimal€orÏinsubstantial€contact€with€the€child;ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 à(E)€For€purposes€of€this€subdivision€(1),Ïð ðwillfully€failed€to€visitðð€means€the€willfulÏfailure,€for€a€period€of€four€(4)€consecutiveÏmonths,€to€visit€or€engage€in€more€than€tokenÏœvisitation;ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*›ÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àA.€€òòLack€of€VisitationóóÌÌà àà àAt€the€time€of€the€hearing€below,€Father€was€serving€œaÏsentence›€of€imprisonment€œat›€the€œBrushy›€Mountain€State€Prison€inÏœPetros›.€€He€had€been€œincarcerated›€œcontinuously€since›€December€8,Ïœ1994,€and€was›€incarcerated€when€the€œState›€filed€its€petition€toÏœterminate€on€May€3,€1996.›ÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€found€that€Father€had€ð ðwillfully€failedÏto€visit€œ[his]›€children,ðð€òòseeóó€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102(1)(E),€ð ðfor€fourÏ(4)€consecutive€months€immediately€preceding€[his]€incarceration.ðð€ÏœT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv).€€In€this€connection,€the€œindividualÏwho›€supervised€œFatherððs›€œvisitation›€during€the€period€from€AugustÏ1,€1994,€to€December€8,€1994,€testified€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà àà8 àQ.€Ms.€Woody,€you€said€that€there€had€beenÏsome€visits€after€the€children€came€into€yourÏcare,€the€Departmentððs€care,€in€most€recentÏtime,€and€that€he€slept€during€a€couple€ofÏthose;€right?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Yes.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€How€long€did€those€visits€last?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€The€ones€that€we€were€attending,€there€wasÏœ[sic]€two›€in€August€and€two€in€September.€€TheÏone€in€August,€of€course,€was€during€theÏsummertime€when€the€kids€were€out€of€school.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€So€those€would€have€been€three€hours?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Three€hours.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€And€the€others€would€have€been€two€hours?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Two€hours,€yes.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€And€which€two€did€he€fall€asleep€during?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Iððll€tell€you,€I€believe€it€was€the€first€„„€first€two,€but€I€will€look.€€Letððs€see,€8/1Ïof€ðð94;€8/1€of€ðð94,€visit€held€at€park,€12:00Ïto€3:00€p.m.;€Mr.€Shipley€attended,€however,Ïhe€did€sleep€on€the€picnic€table€for€most€ofÏthe€visit.ÌÌà àà8 àOn€8/8/94,€visit€held€at€the€park,€12:00€toÏ3:00€p.m.€€Again,€Mr.€Shipley€did€attend,Ïhowever,€he€did€„„€he€did€report€he€was€tiredÏand€slept€on€the€picnic€table€for€most€of€theÏvisit€again.ÌÌà@ à*€€€€*€€€€*ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€Okay.€€Go€ahead.ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Letððs€see,€the€next€one€was€9/15€of€ðð94,Ïvisit€held€„„€the€last€one€was€9/29€of€ðð94.€ÍThe€visit,€again,€held€3:00€to€5:00€p.m.€€HeÏdid€attend,€however,€laid€on€the€table€awayÏfrom€the€children.€€One€of€the€childrenÏapproached€him€and€asked€him€to€come€and€play,Ïbut€he€said€he€did€not€feel€like€it.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€Now,€being€the€thorough€case€worker€thatÏyou€are,€Iððm€sure€you€inquired€as€to€why€heÏwas€tired€and€sleepy€during€those€AugustÏvisits;€right?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Yes,€I€did.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€And€what€did€he€tell€you?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€He€said€he€was€not€feeling€well€and€thatÏhis€hip€hurt.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€So€basically,€illness€and€a€hip€problem€isÏwhat€he€was€complaining€of,€feeling€ill?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Yes.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€And€did€you€have€any€evidence€that€he€wasÏnot€feeling€poorly?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Anything€that€I€observed€or€that€someoneÏhad€told€me?ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€Anything€you€observed?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€No.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€And€during€the€two€September€visits,€youÏstated€that€he€remained€away€from€the€childrenÏfor€part€of€that€visit;€is€that€accurate?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Yes.ÌÌà àà8 àQ.€And€did€you€inquire€about€that?ÌÌà àà8 àA.€Yes.€€He€stated€he€was€not€feeling€well.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àà àFather€did€not€dispute€his€inattention€to€the€childrenÏduring€œthese›€œvisits.›€€He€tried€to€justify€his€conduct€by€statingÏthat€œdiscs›€in€his€back€were€inflamed€and€were€ð ðputting€pressure€onÏthe€nerves€and€I€couldnððt€hardly€walk.ðð€€He€ð ðexplainedðð€hisÏfailure€to€visit€on€other€occasions€during€the€critical€œfour„month›Ïperiod€by€stating€that€he€ð ðwas€on€the€runðð€and€ð ðhiding€againððÏbecause€œnew€criminal›€charges€had€been€placed€against€him€and€heÏwas€trying€to€avoid€capture.ÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€pointed€out€that€Father€had€notÏmentioned€a€disc€problem€to€Ms.€Woody,€the€witness€whose€testimonyÏis€quoted€above.€€It€is€obvious€from€the€transcript€of€the€trialÏjudgeððs€remarks€following€the€hearing€that€he€did€not€believeÏFatherððs€testimony€with€respect€to€his€back€problem.€€A€trialÏcourt€is€in€the€best€position€to€assess€the€credibility€ofÏwitnesses;€therefore,€such€determinations€are€entitled€to€greatÏweight€on€appeal.€€ò òòòœMassengale›€v.€œMassengale›ó óóó,€915€œS.W.2d›€818,Ï819€(œTenn.App›.€1995);€ò òòòBowman€v.€Bowmanó óóó,€836€œS.W.2d›€563,€œ567›Ï(œTenn.App›.€1991).€€œHis›€second€reason€for€not€visiting€„„€becauseÏhe€ð ðwas€on€the€runðð€from€law€enforcement€„„€even€if€true,€is€aÏproblem€of€his€own€making.€€As€such,€it€œcan€hardly€serve€as€aÍlegal€basis€for€his€failure›€to€œvisit.€€He€could€have€visited€hadÏhe€chosen€to€do€so;€he€chose€not€to.›ÌÌà àà àAs€described€by€Ms.€Woody,€Fatherððs€visitation€wasÏð ðperfunctoryðð€in€nature.€€òòSeeóó€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102(1)(C).€€It€wasÏð ðtoken€visitationðð€at€best.€€òòò òIdóó.ó óÌÌà àà àThe€evidence€does€not€preponderate€against€the€trialÏcourtððs€findings€regarding€Fatherððs€ð ðwillful[]€œfail[ure›]€toÏvisit.ðð€€òòSeeóó€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102(1)(E).€€Those€findings€show,Ïclearly€and€convincingly,€that€there€was€an€œð ðabandonmentðð›€of€theÏsubject€children€by€œa€failure€to€visit,€such›€as€to€justifyÏtermination€under€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„113(g)(1)€and€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv).ÌÌà@ àB.€€òòRemaining€Grounds€for€TerminationóóÌÌà àà àThe€trial€court€found€two€other€bases€for€œterminating›ÏœFatherððs›€parental€rights.€€It€found€clear€and€convincing€evidenceÏof€the€basis€for€termination€found€at€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(œi›)„(iii),€and€clear€and€convincing€evidence€ofÍð ðwanton€disregard€for€the€welfare€of€œ[his]›€œchild[ren]ðð›€prior€toÏhis€incarceration.€€òòSeeóó€œT.C.A.›€ðð€36„1„102(1)(A)(iv).ÌÌà àà àThe€subject€children€had€been€in€the€care€of€the€œState›Ïsince€September€3,€1992.€€When€placed€in€the€œStateððs›€care,€theÏchildren€were,€approximately,€ages€5,€4,€œ2,›€and€7€months.€€By€theÏtime€of€the€hearing€below€they€were,€respectively,€approximatelyÏages€œ8,€7,€6,›€and€œ5.›€€œWe€believe€that€the›€continuation€of€theÏparent€and€child€relationship€ð ðgreatly€diminishes€the€œchild[ren›]ððsÏchances€of€early€integration€into€a€stable€and€permanent€home.ðð€ÏòòSeeóó€œT.C.A.›€ðð€œ36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(iii).›€€Their€mother€surrendered€herÏparental€rights€prior€to€the€hearing€below.€€Their€father€was€inÏprison€„„€for€the€third€time.€€He€had€recently€had€a€paroleÏhearing,€out€of€which€came€a€recommendation€that€œparole›Ïconsideration€be€continued€for€another€year.€€If€he€serves€œhisÏfull›€sentence,€he€will€be€released€in€March,€2000.€€With€time€offÏfor€good€behavior,€he€would€be€released€in€the€middle€of€1999.€ÏHis€parole€is€uncertain.€€The€proof€was€clear€and€convincing€thatÏthe€children€in€this€case€cannot€rely€upon€the€availability€ofÏFather€to€provide€them€œð ða›€stable€œand€permanent€home.ðð€€ò òòòIdó óóó.€€ThereÏis€ð ðlittle€likelihoodðð€that€the€unsavory€conditions€describedÏbelow€ð ðwill€be€remedied€at€an€early€date€so€the€child[ren]€can€beÍreturned€to€[Father]€in€the€near€future.ðð€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð€36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(ii).›ÌÌà àà àThere€was€compelling€evidence€that€prior€to€hisÏincarceration,€Father€had€a€drug€and€alcohol€problem.€€In€fact,ÏFather€admitted€that€it€was€this€problem€that€led€to€his€violentÏconduct€toward€his€former€wife€„„€the€mother€of€these€children€„„Ïwhich€in€turn€prompted€the€trial€court€to€place€œthe›€children€withÏthe€œState›€in€1992.€€There€was€also€evidence€that€while€undergoingÏcounseling€for€his€drug€and€alcohol€addiction€or€œabuse,›€he€wasÏstill€using€these€substances.€€His€counselor€recommended€inpatientÏtreatment€when€he€reported€œto€her€in›€œthe€late›€winter€of€1994€thatÏhe€had€passed€out€from€drinking€the€night€before.€€He€failed€drugÏscreens€in€July,€1993,€May,€1994,€and€September,€1994.€€In€theÏyear€before€his€incarceration,€he€resisted€the€suggestion€that€heÏattend€œmeetings€of€Alcoholics›€Anonymous.€€His€œdrug€and€alcoholÏcounselor›€closed€his€case€in€December,€1994,€concluding€that€heÏwas€just€ð ðgoing€through€the€motions.ððÌÌà àà àœThe€record€even€contains›€evidence€from€which€one€couldÏreasonably€conclude€that€Father€was€still€using€drugs€and€abusingÏalcohol€in€prison.€€When€interviewed€there€on€January€25,€1996,ÍFather€was€œevasive›€about€the€subject.€€In€response€to€theÏinterviewerððs€œcomment€„„€that,›€of€course,€he€wasnððt€using€theseÏsubstances€in€œprison€„„›€he€œsaid,›€œð ðWell,›€who€says€I€donððt.ððÌÌà àà àBy€his€own€admission,€Father€has€engaged€in€criminalÏconduct€to€the€extent€that€he€now€finds€himself€in€prison€for€theÏthird€time.€€His€most€recent€criminal€activity€took€place€while€heÏsupposedly€was€trying€to€put€his€life€in€order€so€œthat€he›€couldÏagain€have€the€care€and€custody€of€his€children.€€This,€coupledÏwith€his€drug€and€alcohol€problems,€is€very€significant€evidenceÏthat€all€of€the€œconditions›€œfor€termination€set›€forth€in€œT.C.A.›€ððÏœ36„1„113(g)(3)(A)(i)„(iii)›€œwere›€shown€in€this€case.€€œAll€of€this›Ïconduct€also€shows€ð ða€wanton€disregard€for€the€welfare€of€œ[his]›Ïœchild[ren]ðð›€prior€to€his€incarceration.€€òòSeeóó€œT.C.A.›€ðð€œ36„1„102(1)(A)(iv).›ÌÌà@ àIII.€€òòConclusionóóÌÌà àà àThe€evidence€before€us€does€not€preponderate€against€theÏtrial€courtððs€findings€of€fact€supporting€termination.€€TheÏevidence€is€clear€and€convincing€that€termination€of€FatherððsÏparental€rights€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€children.€€œThere€is›Íœalso›€clear€and€convincing€œevidence€of›€the€three€bases€forÏtermination€relied€upon€by€the€trial€court.ÌÌà àà àThe€judgment€of€the€trial€court€is€affirmed.€€Costs€onÏappeal€are€taxed€to€the€appellant.€€This€case€is€remanded€to€theÏtrial€court€for€enforcement€of€the€judgment€and€the€collection€ofÏcosts€assessed€below,€all€pursuant€to€applicable€law.ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà à__________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€J.ÌÌœÇCONCUR:›ÌÌÌÌ________________________ÌHouston€M.€œGoddard›,€œP.J.›ÌÌÌÌ________________________ÌœHerschel›€P.€Franks,€J.