Franklin Dewayne Hutson v. Bill C. Haggard

The natural father appeals from the judgment of the Juvenile Court of Dallas County granting a petition for the adoption of his child without his consent. Appellant and Judith Lynn Haggard (now the wife of Bill C. Haggard, petitioner in the court below and appellee here) were married in June 1966, and the minor child involved in this proceeding, Melissa Ann Hutson, was born in August of 1967. Appellant and the childs mother were divorced in June 1968, and the mother was awarded the custody of Melissa and appellant was ordered to pay ten dollars per week for her support. There was no provision in the divorce decree permitting appellant visitation privileges. Mrs. Haggard testified: "I have never received a penny from him" (appellant) or his relatives since Melissa Ann was one month old. She was four and a half years of age at the time of the hearing.