In re L.M. CA2/1

Filed 10/5/20 In re L.M. CA2/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 L.M. et al., a Person Coming B302609 Under the Juvenile Court of Law. (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. 19CCJP05558) LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,

Plaintiff,

v.

LEONARD M.,

Defendant and Appellant;

___________________________________

HEATHER R.,

Respondent.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Rashida A. Adams, Judge. Reversed. Paul Couenhoven, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Terence M. Chucas, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Respondent. __________________________ Leonard M. appeals from a juvenile court order denying his motion to permit visitation with his child after reunification services were denied. We reverse. BACKGROUND The family in this case consists of Leonard M. (father), Heather R. (mother), and L.M., age five. Father also had three children with another woman, but in 2000 relinquished his parental rights to the children after being convicted for threatening their mother with great bodily injury (Pen. Code, § 422). Father maintained contact with the children from prison, and stayed in regular contact with them for a time after he was released. L.M. was born in April 2014. On June 8, 2014, father slapped mother’s stomach and pinned her to the ground. On June 13, mother rammed father’s car with her own car, injuring him. She was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) filed a petition with the superior court alleging the parents’ history of substance abuse and of engaging in violent altercations in L.M.’s presence endangered the child. The court sustained the petition and ordered reunification services, but on January 6, 2016, found that father had failed to comply with the case plan. The court granted mother sole legal and physical