In re Christian T. CA2/6

Filed 6/26/14 In re Christian T. CA2/6

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

In re CHRISTIAN T. et al., Persons 2d Juv. No. B253250 Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. (Super. Ct. Nos. J066537, J068260) (Ventura County)

VENTURA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

TERESA T.,

Defendant and Appellant.

Teresa T. (Mother) appeals the juvenile court's order denying her request for a court order requiring Ventura County Human Services Agency (HSA) to provide services that would reunify her with Christine T. and Jasmine T. ― two of her six children. Mother does not contest the jurisdictional findings of the juvenile court and concedes that two or more of the exceptions to the rule requiring reunification services apply to her. Mother nevertheless contends that the juvenile court should have provided her reunification services because doing so is in the best interests of the children. We affirm.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY In 2000, Mother and her then boyfriend Patrick S. had a daughter, Patricia. In the fall of 2000, over a period of several weeks, Mother and Patrick S. brutally tortured and murdered 14-month-old Demetri, a developmentally disabled child, who had been temporarily entrusted to their care by his drug-addicted mother while she was in custody. Demetri died on October 22, 2000. In October 2000, Mother gave birth to her second child Patrick, who was taken into protective custody when the child tested positive for opiates. Reunification services for Mother were bypassed and her parental rights were terminated as to Patricia and Patrick. Mother was arrested on charges related to the death of Demetri. She was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and mayhem and was sentenced to six years in prison. She was released on parole on March 7, 2006. In March 2006, Mother met Father and became pregnant with Christian T. within the next few months. Christian was born in March 2007, and was immediately detained in protective custody. In April 2007, the court sustained HSA's Welfare and Institutions Code section 3001 petition finding Mother had an extensive drug history, gave birth to two drug-positive babies, had been convicted of voluntary manslaughter and mayhem in the death of Demetri and had not addressed her substance abuse issues. Based upon this history, the juvenile court found reunification was not in Christian's best interests and refused to order services for Mother. In June 2008, Mother gave birth to her fourth child R., who was also detained in protective custody. Father was provided reunification services but they were bypassed as to Mother. Mother's and Father's parental rights were eventually terminated and R. was adopted.