In re M.D. CA4/2

STATEMENT OF THE CASE

Father and T.O. (Mother) are the parents of M.D., Jr., (a boy, born November

2012; hereafter M.D.) and D.D. (a boy, born June 2014; collectively, the children).

On September 13, 2019, petitioner and respondent V.A. (Stepfather) petitioned to

terminate Father’s parental rights as to the children. On September 16, 2019, the trial

court filed a “Citation—Freedom From Parental Custody and Control” for each child,

notifying Father to appear before the court on September 20, 2019, for a hearing to

terminate Father’s parental rights.

On September 20, 2019, the court continued the hearing to November 8, 2019.

The hearing continued again to February 21, 2020.

At the hearing on February 21, 2020, the court found the allegations “sufficient

and true” and granted Stepfather’s petitions to terminate Father’s parental rights as to the

children.

On March 16, 2020, Father filed a motion to set aside the judgment. A hearing

was scheduled for April 24, 2020. The hearing on Father’s motion was continued to June

26, 2020.

All further statutory references are to the Family Code unless specified.

2 On June 19, 2020, Stepfather filed an opposition to Father’s…