In re K.T. CA2/5

Filed 1/12/21 In re K.T. CA2/5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

In re K.T. et al., Persons Coming B304405 Under the Juvenile Court Law. (Los Angeles County Super. LOS ANGELES COUNTY Ct. No. 19CCJP03785-A-B) DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

A. J.,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Victor G. Viramontes, Judge. Affirmed.

Paul A. Swiller, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Mary C. Wickham, County Counsel, Kim Nemoy, Assistant County Counsel, and Aileen Wong, Senior Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent. ________________________________

Mother appeals from the juvenile court’s assertion of jurisdiction over her 15-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, as well as the court’s order removing them from her custody. She contends substantial evidence does not support the findings that she neglected son’s mental health, or that this neglect placed her children at risk. We disagree and affirm. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In May 2019, son told a school counselor he heard voices that told him to harm students. Son was admitted to the hospital on an involuntary hold. He reported struggling with “command hallucinations” several times a day, and said he had tried to strangle his sister in February 2019. A year earlier, son had also attempted suicide. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and psychosis, and prescribed psychiatric medications. After a six- day stay, son was released. Mother refused any medications for son upon discharge. A social worker for the Department of Children and Family Services (Department) interviewed son who said he heard “voices” telling him to stab the “kids at school” who had bullied him. The voices “were torturing his brain,” and he “did not know what to do about it.” When asked why he was going to stab the bullies, son said that “they have to feel pain.” Daughter told the social worker that son had choked her, and only stopped when mother intervened.