In re J.S. CA2/5

Filed 2/25/25 In re J.S. CA2/5 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIVE

In re J.S., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. B332951

LOS ANGELES COUNTY (Los Angeles County DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN Super. Ct. No. AND FAMILY SERVICES, 23CCJP02253A)

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

JUAN S.

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Cathy J. Ostiller, Judge. Dismissed. Mansi Thakkar, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Dawyn R. Harrison, County Counsel, and Jacklyn K. Louie, Principal Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Juan S. (Father) appeals from a dependency jurisdiction finding made after he used methamphetamine while participating in a voluntary services program. He was participating in that program as a result of an earlier episode when he was high on methamphetamine and abused his son J.S.’s mother while holding the child. During the pendency of this appeal, the juvenile court terminated jurisdiction and returned J.S. to the custody of his parents. We are nevertheless asked to decide whether the jurisdiction finding and associated disposition order are supported by sufficient evidence.

I In December 2022, Father was under the influence of methamphetamine and hallucinating and hearing voices while holding then 22-month-old J.S. J.S.’s mother, J.P. (Mother), tried to take J.S. out of Father’s arms and he slapped her in the face. Mother then walked to another room in the home, Father pursued her, and Father (after putting J.S. down) bit Mother on the face and choked her. Mother called the police, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) was notified. Mother told the Department that Father had been using methamphetamine and she had been trying to get him help to stop. Father admitted to a social worker that he had been under the influence of methamphetamine when he abused Mother. Mother told the Department that was not the only time she called the police because of Father’s methamphetamine use and “bizarre” behavior; there were at least six prior occasions. Mother and Father agreed to a voluntary family maintenance plan with the Department as a result of the