and contends that the juvenile court abused its discretion by ordering supervised
visitation. We agree that the jurisdictional findings are not supported by substantial
evidence, and we accordingly reverse with directions.
BACKGROUND
I. Family background
Mother has four minor children: S.R. (female; born in November 2005) (hereafter
daughter), Dominic R. (male; born in June 2008), Brianna L. (female; born in 2014), and
Ethan L. (male; born in 2015) (collectively, the children). (We refer to Brianna and
Ethan collectively as “the half siblings.”) In May 2023, mother and the children lived
with Brandon, who is the half siblings’ father. Mother and Brandon were engaged. Brian
W. is daughter’s biological father, and Richard R. is Dominic’s biological father. The
2
half siblings are not parties to this appeal, and mother does not make any arguments
related to daughter.1
II. Dependency history
In January 2022, the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (the
Department) received a referral concerning the family, alleging general neglect, sexual
abuse, and at-risk sibling abuse. Daughter was experiencing homicidal ideation and
placed on a section 5585 hold.2 Daughter initially reported that while she was in the
sixth grade Brandon “put his hands down her pants, groped her genitalia and attempted to
pull down her pants while she was laying down.” Daughter suspected that mother knew
what happened because mother advised daughter to wear clothing that covered her body.
Daughter did not want to disclose what happened, because mother experienced stress-
related seizures and relied on Brandon financially.
Daughter later denied that she had been inappropriately touched by Brandon.
Mother reported that she was not concerned about Brandon sexually abusing daughter,
because they were never alone together. Mother and daughter disclosed that an ex-
boyfriend of daughter’s raped daughter during the summer of 2021. Mother said that
daughter was enrolled in services to address mental health concerns.
1 Daughter turned 18 years old the day after the jurisdiction and disposition hearing. Mother’s notice of appeal includes daughter, but mother does not make any argument in her briefs related to daughter. We therefore dismiss as abandoned mother’s appeal as to daughter. (In re Sade C. (1996) 13 Cal.4th 952, 994.)
2 The record mistakenly describes the hold as a “5150 hold.” Section 5585 governs the 72-hour mental health evaluation hold of a minor (§ 5585.20), which daughter was in January 2022.
3
Two months later, in March 2022, the Department received another referral,
alleging physical abuse and concerns of at-risk sibling abuse. Daughter reported that
mother hit daughter in the face and otherwise hit and kicked daughter several times.
Daughter said that “the physical abuse ha[d] been continuous since she was 9 years old,
and she was the only one physically abused.” Mother did not allow the social worker to
speak with the other children and believed that the Department was lying about the new
allegations. A law enforcement officer visited the residence and spoke with mother and
daughter. Daughter denied that mother hit her in the face.
In April 2022, the Department received an immediate response referral with
concerns of sexual abuse. Daughter was placed on a section 5585 hold. Daughter cut her
thigh with a razor blade, but the cut was superficial. Daughter reported to someone that
mother’s fiancé (Brandon) was inappropriately touching her and had touched her
approximately 50 times since she was in the sixth grade. Daughter said that she
previously lied to the social worker when she denied that Brandon touched her. Daughter
said that none of her half siblings was being abused. Mother refused to cooperate with
the Department and did not allow the other children to be interviewed.
Daughter spoke with a social worker and again denied the allegations. Daughter
did not understand why the report had been made. Daughter felt safe at home. Both
referrals were closed as unfounded.
4
III. Present investigation
The family came to the attention of the Department again in May 2023. Daughter,
who was then 17 years old, reported that Brandon sexually molested her. It started when
she was eight years old and continued until she was 14 years old. Daughter lied when she
previously said that Brandon did not sexually abuse her. Daughter was ready to disclose
the truth.
A social worker visited the family’s home unannounced. Daughter was not home.
The social worker spoke with mother and Brandon together and outside of the residence
at their request. Mother and Brandon refused to allow the social worker to enter the
home or to speak with the children. Mother reported that since the referrals in 2022
daughter had received some therapy.
The social worker asked law enforcement to perform a wellness check on the
children, which law enforcement attempted. Mother and Brandon brought the half
siblings to the doorway but did not allow law enforcement to speak with them.
Two weeks after the initial referral, daughter texted the social worker that Brandon
sexually molested her over the course of six years until she was 14 years old. An
informant reported that daughter had previously received behavioral health services but
only attended three therapy sessions in February and March 2022, because mother pulled
daughter out of therapy.
5
The social worker attempted to interview daughter at school, but daughter attended
school online. The social worker did interview Dominic and the half siblings at school.
Dominic reported that he had not been touched inappropriately, and he denied having any
knowledge about his half siblings, including daughter, being touched inappropriately.
Dominic felt safe at home and reported that there was not any domestic violence at the
house. Brianna understood what her private parts were and denied that she had ever been
touched there or that anyone had ever asked to touch her there. Brianna also denied
having any knowledge of any of her siblings being touched. Brianna felt safe at home.
Ethan denied that anyone had touched his private parts.
In July 2023, daughter was admitted to Loma Linda Behavioral Medicine Center
(the behavioral center). Daughter had attempted to commit suicide. Daughter disclosed
more details about the sexual abuse by Brandon, reporting that Brandon started touching
her breasts when she was eight years old and digitally penetrating her when she was 11.
Daughter also reported that mother verbally abused her from the ages of six through 14.
Daughter reportedly attempted to commit suicide over 30 times “‘in relation to the abuse
she ha[d] endured.’” The behavioral center’s medical staff did not believe that daughter
had received proper psychiatric care, because daughter was not enrolled in long-term
outpatient treatment.
On the same day that daughter was admitted to the behavioral center, mother
called law enforcement to report that Brandon was missing. Law enforcement found
Brandon’s car with duct tape around the exhaust pipe, plastic tubing routed into a rear
6
window, and a letter addressed to Brianna inside of the car. Mother discovered that
Brandon had purchased a one-way ticket to Hawaii. Hawaiian law enforcement found
Brandon at the airport and transported him to have his mental health evaluated. Brandon
returned to California several days later.
In mid-July 2023, the Department received another referral from the behavioral
center alleging general neglect and sexual abuse of daughter. Daughter was enrolled in
the behavioral center’s partial hospitalization program. Daughter explained that she had
attempted to commit suicide because Brandon moved in with the family again. Mother
had required Brandon to take a polygraph test, which he failed. Daughter surreptitiously
recorded Brandon talking to her about that test and asking daughter to lie to mother and
tell mother that daughter “was manic.” Daughter overdosed after she recorded Brandon.
Daughter was staying with Dominic’s father, Richard.
Law enforcement conducted a forensic interview of daughter in late July 2023.
Daughter said that when she was between eight and 15 years old Brandon touched her
breasts and vagina, kissed her on the lips, masturbated to her while she slept, and pressed
his penis against her back. Daughter described one incident in which Brandon rubbed her
thigh and vagina while she was sleeping but stopped when daughter “turned around and
she was able to move her sister, Brianna (approximately 5 years old) in front of her as a
means to block him.” Mother was present in the residence when Brandon touched
daughter, but daughter said that mother was downstairs on her phone and was distracted.
7
The interviewer asked daughter if she was “worried that something like this has happened
to somebody else that you know with Brandon.” Daughter answered that she was
worried about Brianna, because Brianna was eight years old, which was the age at which
Brandon started sexually abusing daughter. Asked whether she was worried about
anyone else, daughter replied, “Ethan, but not too much because he’s a boy but I doubt it
as well but I always have that worry.” Daughter explained that Ethan was one year
younger than Brianna. Daughter was not worried about Brandon sexually abusing
anyone else.
In June 2023, daughter told Richard and his wife what happened to her. Richard
helped daughter tell mother. Daughter wrote a note about what happened and showed it
to mother. Mother cried. She informed daughter that if daughter’s account was truthful
then “‘you know we have to move, right?’” Daughter felt that mother was mad at her
after the disclosure.
A social worker spoke with daughter after the forensic interview. Daughter
reiterated that Brandon started molesting her when she was 8 years old, but she newly
disclosed that it continued “until present [when she was 17 years old], although more
rarely now.” Daughter said that she had previously recanted the reports of abuse because
she did not want “‘to ruin’” mother’s life.
The social worker contacted mother, but mother refused to speak on the phone.
Mother did not allow the social worker to speak with the other children. Mother
confirmed that daughter was living with Richard. Mother became upset and
8
argumentative when the social worker asked to speak with the other children, and she did
not allow it.
The social worker spoke with Richard, who described maintaining an active
parental relationship with daughter even though she was his stepdaughter. Richard cared
for daughter when she was a toddler. Richard had learned about the sexual abuse
allegations about two months earlier. Daughter told Richard that she previously recanted
allegations because she did not want the half siblings to grow up without a father.
In late July 2023, the Department took protective custody of all four children
pursuant to a warrant. The children were temporarily placed with Richard.
IV. The allegations and the initial hearing
In August 2023, the Department filed a dependency petition as to all four children,
with jurisdictional allegations against mother. The petition alleged that all four children
were at substantial risk of serious physical harm under subdivision (b)(1) of section 300
(§ 300(b)(1)) as follows: “The mother knew, or reasonably should have known, her
significant other, [Brandon], sexually abused the child, [daughter], in the family home.
Further, the mother has been unwilling to recognize the sexual abuse occurring in the
home and failed to intervene and protect the children in the home.” With respect to
daughter, the petition also contained additional allegations of emotional and sexual abuse
under subdivisions (c) and (d) of section 300. As to Dominic and the half siblings, the
petition also contained an allegation under subdivision (j) of section 300 (§ 300(j)),
9
alleging that “[t]he children’s half sibling, [daughter], has been abused and/or neglected
as defined in subdivision 300 (d) of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and there is a
substantial risk that these children will suffer similar harm.”
At the initial hearing, the juvenile court detained the children from mother. As to
Dominic, the court found that a prima facie showing had been made that he came within
the court’s jurisdiction under subdivisions (b)(1) and (j) of section 300.
V. Jurisdiction and disposition
The Department filed a jurisdiction and disposition report in August 2023. A
social worker described interviews from that month with the children, Richard, and
mother. Dominic denied that he had been sexually abused and reported that he would tell
Richard if anything happened. Brianna, who was then nine years old, also denied that she
had been sexually abused. Ethan is autistic and was unable to provide clear answers to
most questions.
Daughter stated that mother previously stopped daughter from attending therapy
because daughter “was disclosing too much information and [the Department] kept
intruding.” Daughter had been hospitalized three times for having attempted suicide.
Mother denied the allegations that Brandon had sexually abused daughter when
she was in mother’s care and custody or that mother had any knowledge of the abuse.
Mother explained that daughter was mad because Brandon had thrown some of her food
away, so daughter went to Richard’s house, where she wrote a letter describing the abuse.
10
Mother read the letter and realized that there “were parts in the letter that did not even
happen.” Mother searched daughter’s computer and found that daughter was on a
website in which other children were disclosing abuse they experienced. Daughter also
posted about abuse that she claimed to have experienced. Mother made daughter take a
lie detector test, which mother said that daughter failed. Daughter told mother that she
lied in her posts about being abused because she wanted to relate to the other children
online.
Mother disagreed with the section 300(j) allegation that Dominic, Brianna, and
Ethan are at risk of “similar abuse” to the sexual abuse that daughter allegedly suffered,
which was described in the allegation under section 300, subdivision (d) (§ 300(d)).
Mother said that she knew “nothing ha[d] happened to her children. She is always home
and she is aware of everything that occurs in the home.” Asked about the same
allegation, Richard explained that daughter told him that she did not know whether her
half siblings had been sexually abused. None of the children disclosed anything to him.
Daughter told Richard that Brandon bathed Brianna and Ethan.
The court held the contested jurisdiction and disposition hearings in November
2023, starting two days before daughter’s 18th birthday. The Department filed an
addendum report for the hearing. In interviews for that report, Richard and daughter
described an incident that occurred in early October 2023. He was driving with all of the
children in the car, and Brianna was on speaker with Brandon. Richard asked Brianna to
11
end the call. Mother got on the phone and was angry. Mother said that she and Brandon
could talk to their children on the phone whenever they wanted. Daughter informed
you would say that, I have rights as a parent and I can’t believe you would do this.’”
Richard ended the call. In late October, a social worker spoke with mother, who “stated
that this whole case is based off of a lie from the investigating worker, and her children
are being emotionally abused by the Department.”
At the hearing, the court sustained the allegations under subdivisions (b)(1), (c),
and (d) of section 300 as to daughter. As to Dominic and the half siblings, the court
sustained the allegations under section 300(b)(1) and section 300(j). The court removed
Dominic from mother, granted Richard sole physical and legal custody, ordered
monitored visitation for mother, and closed Dominic’s case.
DISCUSSION
Mother contends that there is insufficient evidence to support the jurisdictional
findings as to Dominic under section 300(b)(1) and section 300(j). We agree.
Section 300 specifies the circumstances under which a juvenile court can assert
dependency jurisdiction over a child. (In re Luke M. (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 1412,
1420.) Under section 300(b)(1), the juvenile court may take jurisdiction over a child if
the child has suffered or is at substantial risk of suffering serious physical harm as a result
of the parent’s failure or inability “to adequately supervise or protect the child.” (§ 300,
12
subd. (b)(1)(A) (§ 300(b)(1)(A)).) A jurisdictional finding under section 300(b)(1)(A)
requires the Department to prove the following elements by a preponderance of the
evidence: “(1) neglectful conduct, failure, or inability by the parent; (2) causation; and
(3) serious physical harm or illness or a substantial risk of serious physical harm or
illness.” (In re L.W. (2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 840, 848.) The child must be subject to a
defined risk of harm at the time of the jurisdiction hearing. (In re Roger S. (2018) 31
Cal.App.5th 572, 582.) But “section 300 does not require that a child actually be abused
or neglected before the juvenile court can assume jurisdiction.” (In re I.J. (2013) 56
Cal.4th 766, 773 (I.J.).)
Section 300(j) allows the juvenile court to take jurisdiction over a child if that
“child[] has been abused or neglected, as defined in subdivision (a), (b), (d), (e), or (i) [of
section 300], and there is a substantial risk that the child will be abused or neglected, as
defined in those subdivisions.” Section 300(j) does not require that the subdivision under
which the sibling is at risk be the same subdivision under which the child described by
section 300(j) is at risk. (I.J., supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 774.) Section 300(j) further
instructs: “The court shall consider the circumstances surrounding the abuse or
neglect of the sibling, the age and gender of each child, the nature of the abuse or neglect
of the sibling, the mental condition of the parent or guardian, and any other factors the
court considers probative in determining whether there is a substantial risk to the child.”
Section 300(j) affords the court “‘greater latitude to exercise jurisdiction as to a child
13
whose sibling has been found to have been abused than the court would have in the
absence of that circumstance.’” (I.J., at p. 774.) In general, the more egregious the abuse
experienced by the sibling, “the more appropriate for the juvenile court to assume
jurisdiction over the siblings” under section 300(j). (I.J., at p. 778.)
“‘In reviewing the jurisdictional findings and the disposition, we look to see if
substantial evidence, contradicted or uncontradicted, supports them.’” (In re R.T. (2017)
3 Cal.5th 622, 633.) “‘In making this determination, we draw all reasonable inferences
from the evidence to support the findings and orders of the dependency court; we review
the record in the light most favorable to the court’s determinations; and we note that
issues of fact and credibility are the province of the trial court.’” (Ibid.)
The record contains no evidence that Dominic was at substantial risk of physical
harm under section 300(b)(1). The record does not contain any evidence that mother’s
failure to intervene and protect daughter from being sexually abused by Brandon placed
Dominic at any risk of physical harm. There is no evidence that Brandon sexually abused
Dominic. Nor is there any evidence that Brandon ever physically harmed or was likely to
physically harm Dominic in any way. Dominic reported that he felt safe living with
mother and Brandon. It is not reasonable to infer from mother’s failure to protect
daughter from being sexually abused by Brandon that Dominic was at risk of any
physical harm, let alone a substantial risk.
14
There also is no evidence in the record supporting the jurisdictional finding under
section 300(j) as to Dominic. Although section 300(j) itself allows a juvenile court to
consider whether a child “‘will be harmed under subdivision (a), (b), (d), (e) or (i) of
section 300, notwithstanding which of those subdivisions describes the child’s sibling’”
(I.J., supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 774), the section 300(j) allegation in the petition in this case
was more specific. The allegation reads: “The children’s half sibling, [daughter], has
been abused and/or neglected as defined in subdivision 300 (d) of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, and there is substantial risk that these children will suffer similar
harm.” (Italics added.) The Department thus alleged that Dominic was at substantial risk
of suffering from sexual abuse under section 300(d), similar to what daughter had
experienced; it did not allege that he was at risk of being harmed as described in
subdivisions (a), (e), or (i) of section 300.
There is no evidence that at the time of the jurisdiction hearing Dominic was at
risk of being sexually abused. Dominic was between five and six years old and residing
with Brandon and mother when Brandon started molesting daughter. There is no
evidence that Brandon ever touched Dominic inappropriately in the ensuing nine years,
during which they continued to reside together. Moreover, Brandon started sexually
abusing daughter when she was eight years old, but Dominic was 15 years old when the
jurisdiction hearing was held. He accordingly was not nearly as vulnerable as daughter
was when the molestation began. There also is no evidence that Brandon had any
propensity to sexually abuse male children, particularly older teenage boys. Moreover,
15
daughter expressed concerns about Brandon sexually abusing the half siblings only. She
did not express any like concern about Dominic. In sum, the record does not contain any
evidence from which a reasonable inference can be drawn that at the time of the
jurisdiction hearing there existed a substantial risk that 15-year-old Dominic would be
sexually abused by Brandon. There accordingly was no evidence supporting the
jurisdictional allegation as to Dominic under section 300(j).
The Department’s arguments to the contrary are unavailing. In arguing that
substantial evidence supports the section 300(b)(1) finding, the Department focuses
exclusively on the evidence that mother knew or should have known that Brandon was
sexually abusing daughter. But the Department does not explain how that evidence
demonstrates that Dominic was at substantial risk of physical harm as a result of mother’s
failure to protect daughter from sexual abuse.
To support the contention that the true finding under section 300(j) is supported by
substantial evidence, the Department relies on I.J., supra, 56 Cal.4th 766. In I.J., the
father sexually abused and raped his 14-year-old daughter, I.J., throughout the three years
immediately preceding the jurisdiction hearing. (Id. at p. 771.) I.J. had four younger
siblings, including a younger sister, twin 12-year-old brothers, and a seven-year-old
brother. (Ibid.) The dependency petition alleged that the father’s sexual abuse of I.J.
placed all of the children at risk of harm, and the petition contained allegations as to the
siblings under subdivisions (b), (d), and (j) of section 300. (I.J., at p. 771.) The juvenile
16
court sustained the allegation that “‘[t]he sexual abuse of [I.J.] by the father endangers
[I.J.’s] physical health and safety and places the child and the child’s siblings . . . at risk
of physical harm, damage, danger, sexual abuse and failure to protect.’” (Ibid.) There
was no evidence that the sons were sexually abused or otherwise mistreated, and the sons
did not witness any of the abuse and were unaware of it until the dependency proceeding.
(Ibid.) On appeal, the father argued that the evidence that he sexually abused I.J. did not
support the juvenile court’s assertion of jurisdiction over the sons. (Id. at p. 772.)
The Supreme Court rejected the father’s argument and concluded that substantial
evidence supported the assertion of jurisdiction over the sons under section 300(j).3 (I.J.,
supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 772.) I.J. emphasized that section 300(j) did “‘not state that its
application is limited to the risk that the child will be abused or neglected as defined in
the same subdivision that describes the abuse or neglect of the sibling. Rather,
subdivision (j) directs the trial court to consider whether there is a substantial risk that the
child will be harmed under subdivision (a), (b), (d), (e) or (i) of section 300,
notwithstanding which of those subdivisions describes the child’s sibling.’” (I.J., at
p. 774, italics omitted.) Applying that directive, the Supreme Court found that the serious
and prolonged nature of the father’s sexual abuse of I.J. coupled with the evidence that
the abuse occurred while the other children were living in the same home “and could
easily have learned of or even interrupted the abuse” “support[ed] the juvenile court’s
3 Because the court found the section 300(j) allegation supported by substantial evidence, the court did not address the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the other alleged grounds for jurisdiction. (I.J., supra, 56 Cal.4th at pp. 773-774.)
17
finding that the risk of abuse was substantial as to all the children,” including the sons.
(Id. at p. 778.) I.J. assumed that the risk of sexual abuse was greater as to the younger
daughter than as to the sons. (Id. at p. 779.) The court nevertheless noted that it did “not
mean the risk to the sons is nonexistent or so insubstantial that the juvenile court may not
take steps to protect the sons from that risk,” especially given the severe and prolonged
sibling abuse in that case. (Id. at p. 780.)
I.J. cautioned that by upholding the assertion of jurisdiction under section 300(j)
over the sons it was “not holding that the juvenile court is compelled, as a matter of law,
to assume jurisdiction over all the children whenever one child is sexually abused.” (I.J.,
supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 780.) I.J. emphasized that it was merely holding that “the
evidence in this case supports the juvenile court’s assertion of jurisdiction.” (Ibid.)
The Department’s reliance on I.J. is misplaced. I.J. is distinguishable from the
present case in that Dominic was 15 years old at the time of the jurisdiction hearing. He
thus was several years older than the older sons in I.J. (I.J., supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 771.)
Given his age, Dominic was less vulnerable to sexual abuse than the sons in I.J.
Moreover, the section 300(j) allegation in I.J. was not limited like the allegation
here. In I.J., the juvenile court found that the father’s sexual abuse of his daughter placed
the siblings “‘at risk of physical harm, damage, danger, sexual abuse and failure to
protect.’” (I.J., supra, 56 Cal.4th at p. 771.) Thus, the juvenile court in I.J. could
consider whether there was a substantial risk that the siblings would be harmed under
18
subdivision (a), (b), (d), (e), or (i) of section 300, not just whether the siblings were at
substantial risk of sexual abuse under section 300(d). (I.J., at p. 774.) The Supreme
Court did not uphold the section 300(j) finding on the basis of risk that the siblings would
be sexually abused. (I.J., at p. 780.) Rather, in concluding that substantial evidence
supported the finding, the Supreme Court noted that the sexual of abuse of the daughter
placed the other children at risk because the other children were at home when the abuse
occurred and could have learned of or interrupted the abuse. (Id. at p. 778.) The harm
that the sons would have experienced by learning of the abuse would not constitute
sexual abuse as defined by section 300(d).
In contrast to the section 300(j) allegation in I.J., the juvenile court in the present
case was limited to asserting jurisdiction over Dominic under section 300(j) if and only if
the court found that he was at substantial risk of sexual abuse. And as we have
explained, there is no evidence that 15-year-old Dominic was at risk of being sexually
abused.
In sum, the record does not contain sufficient evidence to support the jurisdictional
findings under section 300(b)(1) and section 300(j) against mother as to Dominic.
Because the jurisdictional findings against mother were the basis for removal of Dominic
from mother’s custody at disposition, we must reverse the dispositional findings and
orders as well.
19
DISPOSITION
The appeal as to S.R. is dismissed as abandoned. The dispositional findings and
orders as to Dominic are reversed, and the true findings on the jurisdictional allegations
as to Dominic under section 300(b)(1)(A) and section 300(j) are vacated with directions
to dismiss the petition as to Dominic.
MENETREZ J. We concur:
CODRINGTON Acting P. J.
FIELDS J.
20
Filed 8/6/24 CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION COURT OF APPEAL -- STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOURTH DISTRICT DIVISION TWO
In re S.R. et al., Persons Coming Under E082812 the Juvenile Court Law. ________________________________________ (Super.Ct.No. DPRI2300275)
RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT The County of Riverside OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, Plaintiff and Respondent, ORDER CERTIFYING v. OPINION FOR PUBLICATION J.R., Defendant and Appellant. _______________________________________
THE COURT
The request for publication filed July 29, 2024, is GRANTED. The opinion meets the standard for publication as specified in California Rules of Court, rule 8.1105(c). IT IS ORDERED that the opinion filed in this matter on July 18, 2024, be certified for publication.
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
MENETREZ J.
We concur:
CODRINGTON Acting P. J.
FIELDS J.
cc: See attached list
MAILING LIST FOR CASE: E082812 In re S.R. et al.; DPSS v. J.R.
Superior Court Clerk Riverside County P.O. Box 431 - Appeals Riverside, CA 92502
Julie Jarvi Office of the County Counsel 3960 Orange Street, Suite 500 Riverside, CA 92501
Tracy M. De Soto Windansea Law Offices 7584 Trade Street San Diego, CA 92121
Appellate Defenders, Inc. 555 West Beech Street, Suite 300 San Diego, CA 92101-2396
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that there was insufficient evidence to support jurisdictional findings under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivisions (b)(1) and (j) regarding the appellant's son, Dominic R. Consequently, the court reversed the jurisdictional and dispositional orders as to him.
Issues
Whether substantial evidence supports the juvenile court's jurisdictional findings under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivisions (b)(1) and (j) as to the appellant's son.
Disposition. Dismissed in part, reversed in part.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The record contains no evidence that Dominic was at substantial risk of physical harm under section 300(b)(1).”
“In sum, the record does not contain any evidence from which a reasonable inference can be drawn that at the time of the jurisdiction hearing there existed a substantial risk that 15-year-old Dominic would be sexually abused by Brandon.”