SCDSS v. Wheeler

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL
VALUE.  IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

In The Court of Appeals

South Carolina Department of Social Services,       
Respondent,

v.

Virginia Wheeler, John Doe a/k/a “Lutier”, whose true name is unknown,
AND Child: Christina Wheeler DOB: 5/05/99,       
Defendants,

of whom Virginia Wheeler is       
Appellant.

Appeal From Beaufort County

Jane D. Fender, Family Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2005-UP-012

Submitted December 1, 2004 – Filed January 11, 2005

AFFIRMED

Daniel A. Saxon, of Hilton Head, for Appellant.

Tracy O’Kelly Klatt, of Beaufort, for Respondents.

Stacey Canaday, of Beaufort, for Guardian Ad Litem.

PER CURIAM:  Virginia Wheeler appears a
family court order terminating her parental rights to her minor child Christina. 
The family court terminated Wheeler’s parental rights based on her failure to
support and meaningfully visit with her child and a finding that termination
of parental rights was in Christina’s best interest.

Pursuant to Ex parte Cauthen, 291 S.C. 465,
354 S.E.2d 381 (1987), Wheeler’s counsel attached to the record of the family
court proceedings an affidavit stating his belief that the pending appeal lacks
merit.  The affidavit, along with the transcript of the merits hearing, was
served by first-class mail on Wheeler at two different addresses.  Wheeler did
not file a pro se response.

After reviewing the transcript in its entirety,
we hold there are no meritorious issues warranting additional briefing.  Accordingly,
we affirm the family court’s decision to terminate Wheeler’s parental rights. [1]

AFFIRMED.

HEARN, C.J., and GOOLSBY and WILLIAMS, JJ.,
concur.

[1]   We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rules 215
and 220(b)(2), SCACR.