State ex rel. Juvenile Department v. J. L. M.

Father appeals a judgment terminating his parental rights to his now eight-year-old son. Mother’s parental rights were terminated before the trial, and, accordingly, mother is not a party to this case. We review de novo, giving considerable weight to the juvenile court’s assessment of the credibility of father and the various witnesses. ORS 419A.200(6); State ex rel Juv. Dept. v. Geist, 310 Or 176, 194, 796 P2d 1193 (1990). As discussed in greater detail below, father had minimal contact with child over the years since child’s removal at age two and did not engage in services for the first…