In re Natalya M. CA2/8

Filed 6/12/23 In re Natalya M. CA2/8 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 EIGHT

In re NATALYA M., a Person B318436 Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. LOS ANGELES COUNTY Los Angeles County DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN Super. Ct. No. 21CCJP05732A AND FAMILY SERVICES,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

JUAN M.,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Marguerite D. Downing, Judge. Affirmed. Elizabeth C. Alexander, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant. Dawyn R. Harrison, Interim County Counsel, Kim Nemoy, Assistant County Counsel, and Sarah Vesecky, Senior Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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Father, Juan M., appeals orders of the juvenile court (1) exercising jurisdiction over his daughter, Natalya M., pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 300, and (2) removing Natalya M. from his custody pursuant to section 361. We affirm. BACKGROUND Natalya M. was born to father and mother, Sasha C., in December 2021. Though they have been, and remain, in a long-term relationship, mother and father do not live together. Father has 16-year-old twins from a prior relationship. Their mother lives out of state, and father lives with and raises his older children alone. At the time of her birth, both Natalya and mother tested positive for methamphetamine. Natalya exhibited withdrawal symptoms. The hospital referred the matter to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (Department). The Department began its investigation two days after Natalya’s birth. It first interviewed the hospital’s social worker, who had discussed mother’s positive toxicology screen with her. According to the hospital social worker, mother admitted to a long history of methamphetamine use, including using methamphetamine two to three times per week during her pregnancy. She reported most recently using four days prior to Natalya’s birth. She also reported a history of depression and anxiety. Mother further reported father uses methamphetamine and abuses alcohol. She said he is verbally abusive towards her, which triggers her methamphetamine use. Father’s verbal abuse