In the Interest of L.H., Minor Child
L.H., Father-Petitioner-Appellee,
M.U., Mother-Respondent-Appellant.
Attorney for Appellant
McKinsea Alexander
Attorney for Appellee
J. Joseph Narmi
Guardian ad Litem
Maura C. Goaley
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Pottawattamie County, David W. Brooks, Judge. AFFIRMED. Considered without oral argument by Greer, P.J., and Langholz and Sandy, JJ. Opinion by Langholz, J. (5 pages)
A mother appeals the private termination of her parental rights to her son, arguing that termination is not in the son’s best interest. OPINION HOLDS: On our de novo review, we agree that the father proved the son is best served by termination. At the time of the hearing, the mother was incarcerated on two felony charges in Illinois, with no release date on the horizon. What’s more, the mother offered only vague justifications for her years of disinterest in the son before her incarceration. In the meantime, the son—now seven years old—has bonded with his stepmother and wishes for her to adopt him. The son desires, and is entitled to, stability and permanency with his father and stepmother. We thus affirm the termination of the mother’s parental rights.
