In re Jaden v. CA2/2

Filed 12/18/14 In re Jaden V. CA2/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 TWO

In re JADEN V. et al., Persons Coming B256507 Under the Juvenile Court Law. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. CK89367)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

R. P.,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles Timothy R. Saito, Judge. Affirmed. Roni Keller, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Tarkian & Associates, Arezoo Pichvai for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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R. P. (mother) challenges the trial court’s denial of her petition to modify the order terminating reunification services with two of her children (Jaden and A.) on the basis of changed circumstances. The trial court did not abuse its discretion, and we accordingly affirm its judgment. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In 2012, the juvenile court sustained the petition filed by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department) with respect to Jordan, a son born to mother and Juan V. (father) in November 2010. In its ruling, the court found that mother and father had (1) a history of “engaging in violent physical altercations in the presence of” Jaden (and Jaden’s half-brother), (2) a history of drug abuse, including being under the influence while the children were in their care, and (3) violated protective orders. The first finding rested on four prior instances of domestic violence between mother and father: (1) in June 2010, father threatened to stab then-pregnant mother and Jaden’s half brother; (2) in January 2011, father punched mother approximately 15 times in the face, back and left arm; (3) in May 2011, father punched mother in the face and broke her sunglasses; and (4) in August 2011, father hit mother in the face (and bruised her lip) while violating a protective order. Some of these incidents occurred in front of one or more of mother’s children. Following its ruling, the juvenile court provided mother with reunification services, and ordered her to participate in a domestic violence support program, in parenting classes, in counseling, and to comply with the protective orders against father. Since then, mother has had two more children with father—A. (born February 2012) and E. (born April 2013). She has repeatedly violated the protective order to keep father away from her: Father went to the hospital for A.’s birth; came to counseling sessions with mother; and even attended mother’s monitored visitations with the children over the monitor’s objection. Mother has also asked that the protective orders be lifted. The juvenile court subsequently removed A. and E. from mother’s custody.