Stephanie M. v. Super. Ct. CA5

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 9, 2014
DocketF070157
StatusUnpublished

This text of Stephanie M. v. Super. Ct. CA5 (Stephanie M. v. Super. Ct. CA5) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stephanie M. v. Super. Ct. CA5, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 12/9/14 Stephanie M. v. Super. Ct. CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

STEPHANIE M., F070157 Petitioner, (Super. Ct. Nos. 516903, 516904) v.

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF STANISLAUS COUNTY,

Respondent;

STANISLAUS COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES AGENCY,

Real Party in Interest. AGUSTIN G., F070158 Petitioner, (Super. Ct. Nos. 516903, 516904) v.

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF STANISLAUS OPINION COUNTY,

Real Party in Interest. THE COURT* ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ review. Ann Q. Ameral, Judge. Thomas P. White, for Petitioner, Stephanie M. Nadine Salim, for Petitioner, Agustin G. No appearance for Respondent. John P. Doering, County Counsel, and Maria Elena Ratliff, Deputy County Counsel, for Real Party in Interest. -ooOoo- Petitioners, Stephanie M. (mother) and Agustin G. (father), seek an extraordinary writ (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.452) to vacate the orders of the juvenile court issued at a contested dispositional hearing denying them reunification and setting the case for a Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.261 hearing to terminate mother and father’s parental rights to their daughter, A.G., and their son, V.G., both two years old. We deny the parents’ petitions. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND Petition and Detention On November 20, 2013, a dependency petition was filed against mother and father pursuant to section 300, subdivision (b) for A.G. and V.G., then both 16 months old. There were five allegations setting forth the parents’ conduct that placed the children in substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm or illness as a result of the parents’ failure to supervise or protect the children adequately, their willful or negligent failure to supervise the children adequately, and their inability to provide regular care to the children due to mental illness or substance abuse.

* Before Cornell, Acting P.J., Poochigian, J., and Detjen, J. 1 Unless otherwise designated, all statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 Allegation b-1 of the petition stated that on November 18, 2013, the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency (agency) received a referral from a police department in Stanislaus County that A.G. displayed the symptoms of a seizure, was unconscious, and was suffering a facial burn and a swollen vagina. Mother told investigators that she left the children in a bath alone while she went to get their clothes, V.G. had turned on the hot water and A.G.’s face was burned. Mother further reported that she had left the children in their walkers, A.G.’s walker tipped over, and mother found her on the ground and A.G. was not breathing. Medical personnel reported that A.G.’s injuries were not consistent with mother’s story. Allegation b-2 stated that social worker Christopher Lopez was informed by law enforcement investigators about A.G.’s injuries. A.G. was sent first to a local hospital, then to U.C. Davis Medical Center. Investigators were concerned that A.G.’s burns were caused not by hot water but by another liquid, and that her swollen vagina was potentially the result of penetration by a foreign object. Petechiae on A.G.’s chest and her severe head trauma were not likely to have been caused by falling over in a walker. Father was suspected to be under the influence of methamphetamine. Allegation b-3 stated that Lopez interviewed father outside of the home on the day of the incident. Father said he lived with mother and the children and there was continuing domestic violence between the parents. Father left the home that morning after an argument with mother. Father said mother singled out A.G. to be mean to her. Mother would curse at A.G. and throw her in her crib for extended periods of time when both children were crying. Father noticed unexplained injuries to A.G. such as a missing tooth and marks on her head. Father stated that mother had mental health issues, was supposed to be taking medications, but was not taking them. Allegation b-3 further stated that although father was aware of these problems, he continued to leave the children alone with mother and said he did not think he was responsible for the children while they were in mother’s care. Father was further aware

3 of mother’s continuing use of drugs. Father said he had been drinking that day and refused to submit to a drug and alcohol test. Father admitted drug use and engaging in domestic violence. Allegation b-4 stated that Lopez questioned the paternal grandmother who stated that at times she cared for A.G. because mother did not properly care for her. The grandmother reported that A.G. was often dirty when she came from mother’s care and she told father she is concerned with mother’s care of the children. Allegation b-5 stated that Lopez questioned mother on November 18, 2013. Mother said father left the home at 3:00 p.m. that day and did not return. Mother complained that father did not help with the children, only came home for sex, to use the restroom, eat, and sleep. Mother said she and father verbally argue in front of the children. Mother said of the children that they ‘“shit and piss everywhere.”’ Mother admitted that she did not regularly change the children’s diapers and this caused a severe rash on her daughter. Mother acknowledged that she yelled at A.G., telling her things like, ‘“shut the fuck up.’” Mother told Lopez the same story she told other investigators about leaving the children in the bathtub and later seeing steam rising from water V.G. had turned on, accidentally burning his sister. Mother said she called a health center and made an appointment for the next day for the blisters on A.G.’s face. Allegation b-5 further stated mother stopped taking her prescription medication for depression and anxiety because she was, at that time, two months pregnant. Mother reiterated the walker story to Lopez. Mother told Lopez she was not using drugs but father was doing so. Mother voluntarily took a drug test and tested positive for methamphetamine. Mother denied using methamphetamine but admitted she smoked marijuana three weeks earlier. Mother stated that she had not completed any services after an earlier family maintenance action had closed. Mother admitted she engaged in domestic violence in the presence of the children and this placed them at risk. Mother

4 admitted that one day she left the children unattended twice, and each time A.G. was injured. On November 21, 2013, the juvenile court ordered the detention of both children finding a prima facie showing from the allegations in the petition. The parents were appointed counsel and granted visitation with the children. Jurisdiction Hearing A jurisdiction/disposition report was filed on January 10, 2014. In July 2012, mother gave birth to the children prematurely. It was reported mother tested positive for methamphetamine at birth and admitted using methamphetamine the day before delivery. Father also had a history of abusing methamphetamine. The allegation of general neglect was substantiated and the parents were placed on voluntary maintenance services. A referral was made to the agency in December 2012 based on a physical fight between the parents. Criminal charges were brought against father and the social worker involved with family maintenance services was advised of the incident. The parents were again involved in domestic violence in February 2013. An allegation of general neglect was substantiated.

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Stephanie M. v. Super. Ct. CA5, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stephanie-m-v-super-ct-ca5-calctapp-2014.