In Re Treylynn T.

Syllabus

This is a dependency and neglect case. Appellee Tennessee Department of Children's Services received a referral of possible child abuse. Following Appellee's investigation, the children were placed in foster care. Both parents were arrested on child abuse charges. Thereafter, Appellee initiated a dependency and neglect action in the juvenile court. In her criminal case, Appellant/Mother entered a best interest/Alford plea to the charge of child endangerment. Subsequently, the juvenile court found the children dependent and neglected. On de novo review, the trial court found that: (1) Mother's Alford plea was dispositive of her guilt on the child endangerment charge (2) Mother committed severe child abuse under Tennessee Code Annotated section 37-1-102 (b)(27)(C) and (3) the children were dependent and neglected. Mother appeals. Discerning no error, we affirm.