Opinion
No. 5-698 / 05-1439
Filed October 26, 2005
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Brian Michaelson, Associate Juvenile Judge.
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child. AFFIRMED.
Dewey P. Sloan, Jr., LeMars, for appellant.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller-Todd, Assistant Attorney General, Thomas S. Mullin, County Attorney, and Marleen Loftus, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.
Lesley Rynell, Juvenile Law Center, Sioux City, guardian ad litem for minor child.
H. Allan Sturgeon, Sioux City, for mother.
Considered by Hecht, P.J., and Vaitheswaran and Eisenhauer, JJ.
A father appeals the termination of his parental rights to his child pursuant to Iowa Code section 232.116(1)(b) (2005). The father failed to appear at the termination hearing or preserve any issue for appeal. As a result, his counsel states he cannot ethically present issues for appeal. However, counsel requests this court review the sufficiency of the evidence. We review the sufficiency of the evidence supporting termination de novo. In re C.H., 652 N.W.2d 144, 147 (Iowa 2002).
At the time the termination petition was filed, the father denied paternity of the child. He has had no involvement in his child's life. During the pendency of this case, the father failed to request visitation or participate in services designed to facilitate reunion with his child. His actions clearly establish he has abandoned or deserted his child. Accordingly, we affirm.