In re C.L. CA5

Filed 5/26/21 In re C.L. CA5

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

In re C.L., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law.

MERCED COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES F082254 AGENCY, (Super. Ct. No. 19JP-00004-A) Plaintiff and Respondent,

v. OPINION S.L.,

Defendant and Appellant.

THE COURT* APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Merced County. Brian L. McCabe, Judge. Elizabeth C. Alexander, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. No appearance for Plaintiff and Respondent. -ooOoo-

* Before Franson, Acting P.J., Peña, J. and Snauffer, J.

S.L. (mother) appeals from the December 15, 2020 orders of the juvenile court terminating her parental rights to her son C.L., now age two. After examination of the record, mother’s appointed counsel was unable to identify any arguable issues. A letter brief filed by mother does not present good cause that an arguable issue exists. As set forth more fully below, mother’s appeal is dismissed. (In re Phoenix H. (2009) 47 Cal.4th 835 (Phoenix H.).)1 ABBREVIATED STATEMENT OF CASE AND FACTS C.L.’s presumed father is Kevin L. (father). Father’s two older children, C.L.’s half siblings, were dependents of the juvenile court from 1998 to 2000 when father’s parental rights to those children were terminated. C.L. also has an adult maternal half sibling. Mother has a child protective services (CPS) history dating back to 2014. Mother and father are married but separated in 2018. The Merced County Child Welfare Services Agency (agency) received a referral in January of 2019 that mother gave birth to C.L., who tested positive for amphetamines and methamphetamines and was in respiratory distress. Mother admitted drinking alcohol during the first six months of her pregnancy but stopped and took only “sips” of alcohol once she found out she was pregnant. Mother also admitted smoking marijuana daily throughout her pregnancy. A Welfare and Institutions Code section 300 petition was filed January 11, 2019, alleging C.L. was at risk of harm due to the positive drug test at birth, mother’s alcohol and marijuana use during pregnancy, mother’s failure to protect the child from exposure