IN RE STOKES MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of DE'ONTA AL STOKES,
DE'BORAH LORRAINE STOKES, and
DE'AL'RAH ELIZABETH STOKES, Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
January 25, 2002
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
DEBORAH ANN MOTLEY, a/k/a DEBORAH
BRADSHAW,
No. 234197
Saginaw Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 00-026174-NA
Respondent-Appellant,
and
ALCORN STOKES, III,
Respondent.
Before: Sawyer, P.J., and O’Connell and Zahra, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent appeals as of right from an order terminating her parental rights to the minor
children pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) and (g). We affirm.
Respondent concedes that the trial court did not clearly err in finding that a statutory
ground for termination was established under subsection 19b(3)(c)(i) by clear and convincing
evidence. MCR 5.974(I); In re Miller, 433 Mich 331, 337; 445 NW2d 161 (1989). As she
admits, respondent failed to successfully address her substance abuse problem. Additionally,
contrary to respondent's assertion, the evidence did not show that termination of respondent's
rights was clearly not in the children's best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); In re Trejo, 462 Mich
341, 356-357; 612 NW2d 407 (2000). While respondent bonded with her children and was
affectionate with them, she demonstrated an inability to address her drug problem, placing her
children at risk if returned to her care. Under the best of circumstances, it would take up to a
year for respondent to be ready for reunification. The children were entitled to permanency and
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stability. Thus, the trial court did not err in terminating respondent's parental rights to the
children.
Affirmed.
/s/ David H. Sawyer
/s/ Peter D. O’Connell
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
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