IN RE JAMES MICHAEL-LEE BELCHER JR MINOR
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of JAMES
BELCHER, JR., Minor.
MICHAEL-LEE
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
August 24, 2004
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 254021
Charlevoix Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 03-005668-NA
JAMES MICHAEL-LEE BELCHER,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
HEATHER RAYNAE GRIFFIN,
Respondent.
Before: Hoekstra, P.J., and Cooper and Kelly, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent Belcher appeals as of right from a circuit court order terminating his parental
rights to the minor child pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(a)(ii), (e), (g), and (j). We affirm.
The trial court did not clearly err in finding that at least one statutory ground for
termination had been proved by clear and convincing evidence. In re IEM, 233 Mich App 438,
450; 592 NW2d 751 (1999). The child was placed with limited guardians in May 2000. In
January 2001, the court granted a change of custody and authorized visitation to reintegrate the
child into respondent’s home. Over the next year, respondent visited the child only three times
and the court found that respondent’s excuses did not justify all the missed visits. Due to the
lack of contact between respondent and his son, they had no discernible bond and the boy viewed
respondent as no more than a stranger. Further, the trial court’s finding regarding the child’s best
interests was not clearly erroneous. In re Trejo, 462 Mich 341, 354, 356-357; 612 NW2d 407
(2000); MCL 712A.19b(5). Therefore, the trial court did not clearly err in terminating
respondent’s parental rights. Trejo, supra at 356-357.
-1-
Affirmed.
/s/ Joel P. Hoekstra
/s/ Jessica R. Cooper
/s/ Kirsten Frank Kelly
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