California Court of Appeal May 22, 2014 No. E059279Unpublished
Filed 5/22/14 In re A.B. CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
In re A.B. et al., Persons Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, E059279
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super.Ct.No. J248461 & J248462)
v. OPINION
J.C.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Cheryl C. Kersey,
Judge. Affirmed.
Michelle L. Jarvis, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
Jean-Rene Basle, County Counsel, and Jamila Bayati, Deputy County Counsel, for
Plaintiff and Respondent.
1
Leslie A. Barry, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor J.C.
Linda S. Rehm, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor A.B.
J.C. (Father) appeals from the jurisdiction/disposition hearing involving his
children, J.C., Jr. (J.) and A.B. (A.). The juvenile court found the allegations in the
Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 petition,1 which included an allegation of
sexual abuse against J., true and ordered Father to participate in sexual abuse counseling.
Father claims on appeal that (1) substantial evidence did not support the allegations of
sexual abuse against J. as found true by the juvenile court; and (2) the juvenile court erred
by ordering that Father participate in counseling specifically for sexual abuse.
We conclude the evidence supports the finding by the juvenile court that a
preponderance of the evidence supports the sexual abuse allegation in the section 300
petition. As a result, the disposition order requiring counseling for Father on sexual
abuse was warranted.
I
PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. Detention
A report was received by the San Bernardino County Children and Family
Services (the Department) on March 7, 2013 that J., who was eight years old, had
disclosed that his stepfather C.B. (Stepfather), and Mother “whoop him every time he is
1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise indicated.
2
bad” and that “he just cries” when it happens. J. had a five-year-old sibling, A. Both
were sons of Father.
Mother and Stepfather denied the allegations that they had beat J. Mother reported
that J. had acted “outrageously” in the past. J. had poured gasoline on a couch, had
attacked Stepfather, and had thrown rocks at a car window breaking it. She advised the
social worker that J. had claimed in 2011 that Father had molested him and that a
previous investigation by the Department had been conducted.
An investigative narrative prepared when the sexual abuse was previously reported
was submitted with the petition. According to the report prepared by another social
worker, J. was caught “humping” A. while they had their clothes on. It was reported by
an Inland Regional Center (IRC) worker who was assigned to help Mother. Mother was
reported as being “slow.” J. reported that Father touched his private area. A social
worker spoke with Mother on August 14, 2012. Mother confirmed that J. told her that
Father had touched him. Mother was not sure at the time if the allegation was true
because J. did not always tell the truth.
In addition, the investigative narrative stated that J. disclosed to the social worker
that Father had sexually abused him. He denied any other abuse. A. denied that anyone
had touched him and that J. told him to “hump him.” J. had told another adult that he
wanted to have sex. Father denied he touched J. and agreed that J. needed counseling. J.
was interviewed at the Child Assessment Center (CAC) and did not disclose the abuse.
At the time, the sexual abuse was found to be “inconclusive.”
3
As for the current report to the Department, J. and A. were reported to have been
living with the maternal great grandmother in San Bernardino. Mother reported that J.
and A. were exposed to domestic violence in that home. Specifically, Mother had been
told that one of the persons in the home had beat up his girlfriend and J. and A. had been
present. Mother claimed she had no room for J. and A. at that time but had since moved
and they were back in her custody.
J. was interviewed. He reported not feeling safe with Stepfather. He had observed
Stepfather pull out Mother’s hair and he had to pull Stepfather off of Mother. J.
confirmed living with his great grandmother and he observed a man beat “this girl with a
hammer.” Another man in the house had “sold our stuff to the dope man.” A. also
reported that he saw the man beat up girls, which made him feel sad.
Mother had a previous report to the Department for J. and A. for domestic
violence. In that prior case, Mother had retained custody. She had been evaluated by a
psychologist and found to be mildly retarded.
On March 13, 2013, J. and A. were detained.
On March 15, 2013, the Department filed a section 300 petition against Mother
and Father on behalf of J. and A.2 For both it alleged allegations under section 300,
subdivisions (b), (d) and (j). A detention hearing was held on March 18, 2013. Mother
2 The Department later filed an amended section 300 petition and we will set forth those allegations in detail post in order to avoid confusion as to the allegations ultimately found true in this case.
4
requested a contested detention hearing. The juvenile court made temporary detention
findings. J. and A. were to remain detained to protect their safety.
The contested hearing was conducted on March 19, 2013. Mother confirmed that
Father was the father of J. and A. Mother presented the testimony of a neighbor. She
had never observed any domestic violence. J. had hit Stepfather in the back with his fists.
J. would not listen to Mother and Stepfather. Mother also had a woman who provided
her assistance with life skills testify. She had not observed any violence between Mother
and Stepfather. However, Mother had seen a doctor about a bruise on her arm that
Mother claimed had been caused by Stepfather.
The trial court found a prima facie case and the children remained detained. J. had
been placed in a group home and A. was in foster care. J. and A. were to be subjected to
CAC examinations and interviews.
A first amended petition for A. was filed on April 8, 2013. It alleged against
Mother under section 300, subdivision (b) that she had developmental delays that
compromised her ability to care for the children, she had a history of domestic violence,
and allowed the children to be exposed to criminal behavior and domestic violence ((b)1-
(b)3). It alleged against Father under subdivision (b) of section 300, that he should have
known or reasonably should have known that he was at risk of abuse or neglect while in
the care of Mother ((b)4). It added additional allegations for another alleged father of A.
((b)5-(b)6). It also alleged against Father that he sexually abused A. under section 300,
subdivision (d) ((d)8); and for Mother for failing to protect A. from the abuse ((d)7).
5
Finally, it was alleged under section 300, subdivision (j) that A.’s sibling had been
abused ((j)9).
For J., the same first four allegations under section 300, subdivision (b) were
alleged ((b)1-(b)4). It also alleged against Father that he sexually abused J. under section
300, subdivision (d) ((d)6); and for Mother for failing to protect J. from the abuse ((d)5).
Finally, it was alleged under section 300, subdivision (j) that J.’s sibling had been abused
((j)7).
B. Jurisdiction/Disposition Report
In a jurisdiction/disposition report filed on April 8, 2013, the Department
recommended that the allegations in the amended petition be found true. It recommended
that Father and Mother be granted reunification services. J. remained in a group home
and A. was in foster care.
Mother had been a client of IRC since 1994 or 1995, and a worker came to her
home on a weekly basis to assist her with daily living tasks, including cooking and
cleaning. Mother and Stepfather adamantly denied any domestic violence.
J. was reported to have aggressive and assaultive behaviors. A. also had assaultive
and aggressive behaviors. He had been stealing from the foster home.
Mother was interviewed. She reported that J. continued to claim that Father had
put his finger in his buttocks, pulled on and played with his penis, and had touched him
while drying him off for baths. J. and A. did not ask to see Father. Mother had
previously confronted Father. He admitted to bathing J. but denied any inappropriate
6
touching. Mother called the police and the Department. Mother believed that J. did not
disclose the abuse during the CAC interview because he was intimidated by the process.
Father was “shocked” and “mystified” by the allegations of sexual abuse. Father
denied the allegations and prior investigations had resulted in no charges being filed
against him. During the time he was alleged to have abused J. and A., he had little
contact with them and was never alone with them. Father claimed he was unaware of the
conditions, e.g. that they were being exposed to domestic violence, in which J. and A.
were living. Father did not have stable housing in order to care for J. and A. Father
wanted custody of J. and A.
The Department noted that the allegations of sexual abuse by J. and A. against
Father were “vague at best,” and they required further investigation.
The CAC reports from the 2012 investigation were submitted by the Department.
According to the report, A. had told the interviewer that J. had sat on his head and it hurt
but that they had their clothes on. A. reported that Mother “whoops” him with a shoe and
a sandal on his butt. A. observed Father put his finger in J.’s “privates” while they were
at their “nanny and poppy’s house.” A. first reported seeing this happen but then stated
he knew about it because he heard J. tell Mother about it.
During an examination, A. told the examiner that he had anal pain because of his
“dad.” He put his finger in the air but did not describe what happened. A. had bite mark
scars on his back and stomach. An examination of his anal/genital area was normal and
could neither confirm nor negate sexual abuse.
7
J. was also examined and interviewed. The examination of his anal/genital area
resulted in an abnormal exam with friable tissue found near the anal area. The
abnormality may have been caused by sexual abuse or other mechanisms. During the
interview, he reported no one had sexually abused him and denied he told anyone that he
had been sexually abused. J. did not want to visit Father.
The report that was prepared by a sheriff’s deputy on August 7, 2012, in
connection with the original investigation, was also submitted. According to the synopsis
prepared by the sheriff’s deputy, J. claimed that Father sodomized and masturbated him.
There were no witnesses to the incident and Mother was not sure if J. was telling the truth
because he has mental problems and often lies. Mother was interviewed and said she
found J. “humping” A. She asked him where he learned to do that and he started crying.
He said Father played with his “privates.”
J. was interviewed and told the sheriff’s deputy that he was visiting Father during
the summer and had stepped out of the shower. J. claimed that Father played with his
penis by pulling on it. J. would not look directly at the officer. J. said his Father then put
his finger inside his anus and then pulled it out. J. later stated that Father only
masturbated him and then he said he only sodomized him. The officer asked J. why he
was “humping” other kids in the bathroom at school and asking girls if they wanted to
“bone.” He said his friend told him to do it. Besides the incident with his Father, no one
else had sexually abused him.
A follow up CAC interview was conducted with J. on May 13, 2013. J. made no
disclosures of sexual abuse.
8
On May 22, 2013, a continuance was sought for the contested
jurisdiction/disposition hearing. At that hearing, county counsel indicated that the social
worker assigned to the case was not recommending the sexual abuse allegation against
Father be found true. As such, it was the Department’s position not to find the allegation
true. At that time, counsel representing J. and A. asked that the allegations be pursued
and found true. The matter was set for a contested hearing.
C. Contested Jurisdiction/Disposition Hearing
The contested hearing was conducted on May 30, 2013. Mother submitted a
waiver of rights and submitted on the section 300 petition.
At the contested hearing, Mother, Father and J. testified, along with a social
worker who investigated the sexual abuse allegations in 2012, as will be provided in
further detail, post. The juvenile court found the (b)1 through (b)4 and (d)6 allegations as
to J. were true. The (d)5 and (j)7 allegations pertaining to J. were dismissed. As to A.,
the (b)1 through (b)6 allegations were found true, the (d)7 and (d)8 allegations were
dismissed, and the (j)9 allegation was found true. Mother and Father were granted
reunification services.
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II
JURISDICTIONAL FINDINGS
Father contends on appeal that there was insufficient evidence to support that he
sexually abused J. to support the (d)6 and (j)9 allegations in the section 300 petition.
A. Additional Factual Background
At the contested jurisdiction/disposition hearing, minors’ counsel presented the
testimony of Glenda Estrada. She investigated the original allegation of sexual abuse in
2012. J., at that time, had told her that Father pulled his penis up and down and touched
his butt. Estrada considered J. to be credible. J. told Estrada he no longer wanted to visit
with Father because of the abuse. Estrada did not recall any reports of A. being sexually
abused.
Estrada explained that at the time it was found that the sexual abuse allegations
were inconclusive. This decision was made by Estrada, Mother, CAC, and J., and based
on the police report. The biggest reason for finding the allegations inconclusive was that
J. later recanted his statement. Further, J. could not pinpoint any further details. Estrada
admitted that J.’s sexual knowledge was not normal for a boy his age. It was not clear
where he obtained that knowledge. Estrada at the time recommended counseling for J.
Estrada explained she determined the allegations were inconclusive which meant that
they could have happened but she could not prove they happened.
Minors’ counsel also called J. to testify. J. was asked where bad touching
occurred and he pointed to his groin area. J. said that Father had touched him there. J.
said the touching occurred at his Father’s apartment while they were in the bathroom. A.
10
was also present. Father approached J. and pulled down J.’s pants. J. was wearing shorts
and a collared shirt.
J. testified that defendant played with his penis with his hand. Father had on his
clothes. A. was in the shower and J. did not think that he saw anything. J. started to cry
after defendant finished touching him. It made him sad. J. did not immediately tell
anyone what had happened because he was scared. This happened when J. was six years
old. Father did not touch J. in his buttocks. It never happened again. J. described this
happening during the summer. J. did not remember talking to any counselors about the
incident.
Mother testified that she believed J. Mother originally questioned J. because he
had a history of lying but started to believe him when she received calls from the school
as to J.’s sexualized behavior. Also, J.’s story had never changed.
Father testified he had never touched J. in an inappropriate manner. Since J. was
uncircumcised, he had explained to J. how to properly clean his penis but he insisted he
had never touched him. Father agreed that he was the biological father and agreed with
being found the presumed father.
Mother’s counsel argued that the sexual abuse allegations were true as to Father.
Mother had done everything she could to protect J. and A. Minors’ counsel argued that
J.’s testimony was credible and the allegations should be found true.
Father’s counsel objected to the allegations. There was not enough evidence to
support the allegations. It was disconcerting that J. had denied the sexual abuse several
times but testified to the sexual abuse at trial.
11
County counsel argued on behalf of the Department as follows: “Your Honor, I
think, as we all know, the big issue is whether or not [Father] sexually molested [J.], and
it is a preponderance of the evidence standard, which, I know, is reduced compared to a
criminal matter, but in looking at the totality of the evidence, I don’t know that there was
enough evidence to find it true that Father molested [J.].” Further, J. described an
incident at trial that did not involve sodomy, and also J. said it occurred when he was six
years old which would have been 2010 and not 2012. Counsel for the Department
concluded, “There is no physical evidence, and we have a victim who is giving so many
different stories that I think there is insufficient information for the Court to find it true.”
Additionally the Department contended that if the allegations were found true, sexual
abuse counseling would not be useful because Father would continue to deny the
allegation.
Mother’s counsel responded that children recant sexual abuse allegations all the
time. It was ironic that county counsel was not acknowledging this fact.
The juvenile court ruled, “As to the petition for [J.], the Court heard the testimony
of [J.]. He has recanted, yes, and he is scared, and he doesn’t want to hurt his dad. My
impression was that he loves his dad, along with his sibling, [A.], who [Father] is
presumed. The best thing for [Father] to do is admit that he did something that was
sexual in nature and inappropriate and deal with it instead of saying, ‘I was showing him
how to clean his foreskin on his penis.’ I mean, that has to be one of the worst stories
I’ve heard.”
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B. Mootness
Father acknowledges that he is only contesting the findings under section 300,
subdivisions (d) and (j) that he sexually abused J., and as a result, A. was also in danger.
This leaves the subdivision (b) allegations against Mother and Father. As such, Father’s
jurisdictional challenge would result in no change as the evidence supports the
dependency court’s jurisdiction over J. and A. based on these allegations.
It is the general rule that “[w]hen a dependency petition alleges multiple grounds
for its assertion that a minor comes within the dependency court’s jurisdiction, a
reviewing court can affirm the juvenile court’s finding of jurisdiction over the minor if
any one of the statutory bases for jurisdiction that are enumerated in the petition is
supported by substantial evidence. In such a case, the reviewing court need not consider
whether any or all of the other alleged statutory grounds for jurisdiction are supported by
the evidence. [Citations.]” (In re Alexis E. (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 438, 451.)
Despite the general rule, however, reviewing courts have addressed sufficiency-of-
the-evidence challenges to jurisdictional findings in dependency proceedings under
certain limited circumstances. Such challenges have been addressed where initial
findings could affect further orders in a dependency proceeding itself. (In re John S.
(2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 1140, 1143.)
Father insists that he was prejudiced by the erroneous jurisdictional finding
because he was ordered to participate in counseling specifically addressing sexual abuse
and could only have supervised visits with his children. Respondent concedes that Father
should be allowed to raise his claim. It is clear that Father was required to attend
13
counseling on sexual abuse because of the jurisdictional finding. We are satisfied that the
potential adverse affect on Father in the current dependency proceedings are sufficient to
justify appellate review.
C. Analysis
At the outset, it is important to remember that ‘“[t]he objective of the dependency
scheme is to protect abused or neglected children and those at substantial risk thereof and
to provide permanent, stable homes if those children cannot be returned home within a
prescribed period of time.’ [Citation.]” (In re Celine R. (2003) 31 Cal.4th 45, 52.)
Hence, even though the Department took the position in the lower court that the evidence
did not support the section 300, subdivisions (d) and (j) allegations, and minors’ counsel
on appeal aver that the allegations should be dismissed as they are not supported by the
evidence,3 the relevant consideration for this court on appeal is whether the juvenile court
could find, by a preponderance of the evidence, that J. was being abused. If so, the
juvenile court had a duty to protect both J. and A.
Additionally, it is well-settled that “[t]he juvenile court’s judgment is presumed to
be correct, and it is appellant’s burden to affirmatively show error. [Citation.]” (In re
S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396, 408.) Thus, regardless of the position taken by the
3 On January 27, 2014, counsel appointed for A. on appeal filed a letter brief on behalf of A. asserting that the jurisdictional finding under (j)9 should be reversed. On January 28, 2014, counsel appointed for J. on appeal filed a letter brief on behalf of J. that the jurisdictional finding under (d)6 should be reversed and the dispositional finding that Father participate in counseling to address the sexual abuse be reversed.
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Department below, or by minors’ counsel on appeal, it is Father’s burden to prove the
juvenile court erred.
“At the jurisdictional hearing, the court determines whether the minor falls within
any of the categories specified in section 300. [Citation.].” (In re Veronica G. (2007)
157 Cal.App.4th 179, 185.) A juvenile court must base it findings on a preponderance of
the evidence. (In re J.K. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1432.) “On appeal from an order
making jurisdictional findings, we must uphold the court’s findings unless, . . . there is no
substantial evidence to support the findings. [Citation]” (In re Veronica G., supra, 157
Cal.App.4th at p. 185.)
“‘“The rule is clear that the power of the appellate courts begins and ends with a
determination as to whether there is any substantial evidence, contradicted or
uncontradicted, which will support the conclusion reached by the trier of fact.”
[Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (In re Tanis H. (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1218, 1227.) “We do not
pass on the credibility of witnesses, attempt to resolve conflicts in the evidence or weigh
the evidence.” (In re T.W. (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1154, 1161-1162.) “[W]e must
indulge in all reasonable inferences to support the findings of the juvenile court [citation],
and we must also ‘. . . view the record in the light most favorable to the orders of the
juvenile court.’ [Citation .]” (In re Luwanna S. (1973) 31 Cal.App.3d 112, 114.)
A child comes within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under section 300,
subdivision (d) when the court finds as follows: “The child has been sexually abused, or
there is a substantial risk that the child will be sexually abused, as defined in Section
11165.1 of the Penal Code, by his or her parent or guardian or a member of his or her
15
household, or the parent or guardian has failed to adequately protect the child from sexual
abuse when the parent or guardian knew or reasonably should have known that the child
was in danger of sexual abuse.”
Section 300, subdivision (j) provides that a child comes within juvenile court
jurisdiction as follows: “The child’s sibling has been abused or neglected, as defined in
subdivision (a), (b), (d), (e), or (i), and there is a substantial risk that the child will be
abused or neglected, as defined in those subdivisions. 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.”
Here, J.’s credible statements at the jurisdictional hearing support the juvenile
court’s finding that the section 300, subdivisions (d) and (j) allegations were true. (See In
re Dirk S. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 1037, 1044-1045.) J. testified at the hearing that he was
in the bathroom when Father entered and pulled his pants down. Father then proceeded
to play with his penis. The juvenile court observed J. during his testimony and obviously
found him to be credible. On appeal, we must accept the juvenile court’s determination
as to credibility. (In re T.W., supra, 214 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1161-1162.)
Father points to the many inconsistencies in J.’s statements. J. initially told
Mother that Father had both pulled his penis up and down, and that he put his finger in
his anus. J. then told a responding sheriff’s deputy the same story but also changed his
story to either he was masturbated or sodomized but not both. After these initial
16
statements, J. denied there was any sexual abuse. Had J. not testified at the hearing, these
inconsistencies may have impacted the juvenile court’s decision. However, J. testified in
front of the juvenile court. The juvenile court was able to observe his demeanor and
found his statements in court to be truthful.
Father points to the fact that no criminal conviction was sought for the sexual
abuse. A criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a finding
of sexual abuse in a dependency case requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence.
(In re J.K., supra, 174 Cal.App.4th at p. 1432.) The failure to file for dismissal of
criminal charges does not determine whether there may be a finding of sexual abuse in a
dependency case. (See In re Sylvia R. (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 559, 562-563.)
Father also complains that the forensic examination revealed that there was an
abnormality, but “it was not from sexual abuse.” The report is not necessarily supportive
of this position. The report showed an abnormality that may have been caused by sexual
abuse or some other cause. Nonetheless, a lack of physical evidence in a sexual abuse
case is not determinative. (See In re Lucero L. (2000) 22 Cal.4th 1227, 1238.)
Finally, Father contends that the initial social worker, the Department and county
counsel all concluded there was inconclusive, or not enough, evidence to sustain the
sexual abuse allegations. However, as noted ante, the purpose of the dependency
proceedings is to protect the child from abuse. (In re Celine R., supra, 31 Cal.4th at p.
52.) The juvenile court found that there was sexual abuse, and that finding was supported
by J.’s testimony. Any objection by the parties is not determinative of whether there was
substantial evidence of the allegation found by the juvenile court.
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The juvenile court properly concluded that a preponderance of the evidence
established that J. had been sexually abused by Father.
III
DISPOSITIONAL FINDING
Father contends that the juvenile court erred by requiring him to attend counseling
to address sexual abuse. His argument is dependent upon this court concluding the
jurisdictional finding under section 300, subdivisions (d) and (j) should be reversed.
“After the juvenile court finds a child to be within its jurisdiction, the court must
conduct a dispositional hearing. [Citation.]” (In re N.M. (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 159,
169.) “The juvenile court has broad discretion to determine what would best serve and
protect the child’s interests and to fashion a dispositional order accordingly.” (In re Baby
Boy H. (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 470, 474.) In reviewing an order for abuse of discretion,
we “‘must consider all the evidence, draw all reasonable inferences, and resolve all
evidentiary conflicts, in a light most favorable to the trial court’s ruling. [Citation.]’” (In
re Robert L. (1993) 21 Cal.App.4th 1057, 1067.)
Based on the juvenile court’s determination that J. had been sexually abused by
Father, counseling to address the abuse was clearly warranted and in J.’s best interests.