In re T.J. CA2/1

Filed 4/1/15 In re T.J. CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 ONE

In re T.J. et al., Persons Coming Under the B255545 Juvenile Court Law. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. DK00800)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

N.M. et al., Defendants and Appellants.

APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Carlos Vazquez, Judge. Affirmed. Aida Aslanian, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant N.M. Joseph T. Tavano, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant Ronnie L. Richard D. Weiss, County Counsel, Dawyn R. Harrison, Assistant County Counsel, Jeanette Cauble, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent. _______________________________

N.M. (mother) and Ronnie L. (father) appeal from orders declaring N.M.’s daughter a dependent of the court, removing five younger children from father’s custody, and directing N.M. to participate in sexual abuse awareness counseling, contending the orders are unsupported by substantial evidence. We affirm. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW The family in this case comprises mother, father, T.J., mother’s 16-year-old daughter from a prior relationship, and mother’s and father’s five younger children. Although father was not T.J.’s natural parent, he had known her since she was eight months old and was her only father figure, beginning when she was eight years old. On June 28, 2013, T.J. informed a maternal aunt that in December 2012 she was sleeping in her bedroom with only a T-shirt on and awoke to find father between her legs rubbing her vagina. She kicked him and told him to leave, which he did, telling her not to inform mother. On June 25, 2013, father came to her room again and asked her to remove her panties. She refused and told him to leave, which he did, again asking her not to tell mother. The maternal aunt informed mother, who evicted father from their home. Three weeks later, mother permitted father to return to the home. She did not inform police, but installed cameras in the home and locked T.J.’s bedroom door at night, confining her there with her consent, when father was present. In September 2013, a second maternal aunt learned of the abuse and called police and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS or the department). When interviewed, T.J. reported the two instances of abuse and added that father, who had a medical marijuana license, often provided her with marijuana and alcohol. In subsequent interviews with social workers, T.J. elaborated that in the December 2012 incident, she woke to find father under her shirt between her legs, with his mouth on her vagina. In the June 2013 incident, father was “rubbing on” her and told her to take off her pants, but she refused and wrapped herself in blankets. T.J. said mother initially believed her but later doubted her claims. When mother was interviewed, she stated she had not known of the abuse before her sister informed her in June 2013 and was skeptical that it actually occurred. She