Opinion
NO. 09-11-00535-CV
05-17-2012
IN THE INTEREST OF K.D.
On Appeal from the 418th District Court
Montgomery County, Texas
Trial Cause No. 10-09-10266 CV
MEMORANDUM OPINION
After a bench trial, the trial court terminated L.D.'s parental rights to his child, K.D. In its findings of fact and conclusions of law, the trial court found by clear and convincing evidence that statutory grounds existed for termination and that termination of L.D.'s parental rights would be in the best interest of K.D. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(1)(E), (2) (West Supp. 2011); see also Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.003(a) (West 2008).
L.D.'s court-appointed appellate counsel submitted a brief in which counsel concludes that there are no arguable grounds to be advanced on appeal. See Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738, 87 S.Ct. 1396, 18 L.Ed.2d 493 (1967); In the Interest of L.D.T., 161 S.W.3d 728, 731 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2005, no pet.). The brief provides counsel's professional evaluation of the record. Counsel served L.D. with a copy of the brief, moved to withdraw, and requested that L.D. be provided with an opportunity to file a pro se response. On January 5, 2012, we granted a forty-day extension of time for filing a pro se brief. L.D. filed a pro se brief, in which he asserts that the allegations against him were false, that the witnesses who reported him to the Department of Family and Protective Services did not appear at trial to testify, and that he was denied access to unidentified trial court records.
We have independently reviewed counsel's brief, L.D.'s pro se brief, and the trial court record. We conclude that no arguable grounds for appeal exist, and we therefore affirm the trial court's judgment. We grant appellate counsel's motion to withdraw.
In connection with withdrawing from the case, appellate counsel shall inform L.D. of the result of this appeal and that he has a right to file a petition for review with the Texas Supreme Court. SeeTex. R. App. P. 53; In the Interest of K.D., 127 S.W.3d 66, 68 n.3 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2003, no pet.).
AFFIRMED.
STEVE McKEITHEN
Chief Justice
Before McKeithen, C.J., Gaultney and Kreger, JJ.