In re Theodore F. CA2/1

California Court of Appeal·Decided January 15, 2014·No. B249871·Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 1/15/14 In re Theodore F. CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

In re THEODORE F. et al., Persons B249871 Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. CK97276)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

JAKE F.,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Timothy R. Saito, Judge. Affirmed in part and reversed in part. John L. Dodd, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. John F. Krattli, County Counsel, James M. Owens, Assistant County Counsel, and Kimberly Roura, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent. ______________________________________ In this dependency matter, we conclude there is sufficient evidence to support the juvenile court’s orders adjudging six-year-old Theodore F. and two-year-old Sophia F. dependents of the court pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivision (b) (failure to protect).1 But we agree with Jake F. (Father) that the court erred in applying section 361, subdivision (c)(1). We reverse the findings and dispositional order removing the minors from Father’s custody and affirm the jurisdictional and dispositional findings and orders in all other respects. Mother is not a party to this appeal. BACKGROUND On December 24, 2012, the minors came to the attention of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) when it received a referral that on December 21, 2012, Mother, Father, and maternal grandmother hit and pushed each other in the presence of the minors. The caller stated that Mother has a history of alcohol abuse, is an “angry drunk,” and five years previously had been observed carrying Theodore while under the influence. On January 11, 2013, DCFS filed a section 300 petition on behalf of the minors. Paragraph b-1 of the petition concerned altercations between Father and Mother on December 21, 2012, and earlier. As sustained, it alleged under section 300, subdivision (b) that Mother and Father have a history of engaging in physical altercations in the presence of the minors. On prior occasions, Father pushed Mother, causing her to hit her head on a wall. On December 21, 2012, Father pushed Mother, causing her to fall to the floor in Sophia’s presence. While the original petition alleged that Mother endangered the minors’ physical health and safety, it was amended to allege only that Father’s conduct endangered the minors, ultimately stating in paragraph b-1 of the petition that “Mother was unable to protect the child due to the physical altercation by . . . Father against . . . Mother. And Mother’s inability to protect endangers the children’s physical

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 and emotional health and safety and places the children at risk of physical harm, damage, and danger.” Paragraph b-2 of the petition concerned Father’s altercation with the minors’ maternal grandmother, which occurred concurrently with the December 21 altercation between Father and Mother. As sustained, paragraph b-2 alleged under section 300, subdivision (b) that Mother, Father, and maternal grandmother engaged in a physical altercation in the presence of the minors. While holding Sophia, Father pushed maternal grandmother, who struck her back against the counter, requiring emergency medical services. Father kicked maternal grandmother’s leg. Maternal grandmother struck Father with a shoe, pushed Father, and threatened to kill Father. Such physical conduct on the part of Father against maternal grandmother endangers the minors’ physical health and safety and places the minors at risk of physical harm, damage, and danger. Other allegations made pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (a) and (b) were dismissed. Mother’s and Father’s versions of what had occurred differed substantially. We summarize Mother’s version and the testimony of witnesses supporting her version first, since that evidence will be the basis of our review for substantial evidence supporting the juvenile court’s order. Mother reported the following to DCFS. Father and Mother were separated but still married. Neither had filed for divorce. The minors lived with Mother and maternal grandmother. On December 21, 2012, Mother, Father, and maternal grandmother engaged in a physical altercation when Father visited the home without being invited. Mother saw Father kick maternal grandmother. While Father was holding Sophia, Mother asked Father to leave because she wanted his visits to be conducted in a public place. Father yelled and cursed at Mother and maternal grandmother. Father then pushed Mother to the floor while he was still holding Sophia. Mother grabbed Sophia, ran outside, and screamed for help. Mother called the police after she went back into the house. After Mother put the minors into a bedroom, she asked Father to leave, but when he did not, she hit him on the foot with a frying pan to get him to leave the house.

3 Mother also reported that the following incidents of verbal and physical abuse occurred before the December 21, 2012 incident. On December 31, 2007, while Theodore was asleep, Father had pushed her hard, making her hit her head against a wall. In the summer of 2011, while the family lived in Peru, Father became angry and yelled and cursed at her when she confronted him about his drug use and gambling and asked him to help her care for the minors. Mother stated that when she attempted to hose Father’s belongings with water, “‘he shoved me really hard and I fell and hit my head on the floor.’” Mother separated from Father and returned to the United States with the minors. Later, Father returned to the United States. On December 8, 2012, Father cursed at her in the presence of Theodore because she refused to allow him to take Theodore out of the home. Maternal grandmother reported that during the incident on December 21, 2012, Father kicked her in the leg. When maternal grandmother tried to grab Sophia from Father’s arms and push him out of the house, Father shoved her, causing her to fall back onto the edge of the counter. Maternal grandmother was treated at the emergency room for her injuries. Theodore told DCFS that Mother called the police “‘because they were fighting and daddy almost killed nana.’” Theodore stated that Father had pushed maternal grandmother with his feet and hit her in the stomach with his fist. He denied seeing Mother or maternal grandmother hit Father. He also reported that maternal grandmother tried to hit Father on the back of the head with a shoe, but he ducked. Father wanted to take Theodore to the park, but Theodore did not want to go because he was scared “of the fighting.” Mother testified at the jurisdictional hearing that she had been unaware that Father intended to visit on December 21, 2012. When she asked him to leave he became very upset and started cursing at her. He pushed Mother onto the floor while he was holding Sophia. When Father began to argue with maternal grandmother, Mother grabbed Sophia, ran outside, and asked the neighbors to call police. Mother testified that she was seeking a restraining order because she was afraid that Father would take the minors to

4 South America and that he might physically harm Mother. Mother also testified that Father had pushed her in 2007 and 2011.

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