In re S.C. CA2/8 ( 2014 )


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  • Filed 12/23/14 In re S.C. 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    NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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 S.C., a Person Coming Under the                                B255612
    Juvenile Court Law.                                                  (Los Angeles County
    Super. Ct. No. DK00319)
    LOS ANGELES COUNTY
    DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND
    FAMILY SERVICES,
    Plaintiff and Respondent,
    v.
    ERIC C.,
    Defendant and Appellant.
    Appeal from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Annabelle G.
    Cortez, Judge. Affirmed.
    Michele Anne Cella, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant
    and Appellant.
    Richard D. Weiss, Acting County Counsel, Dawyn R. Harrison, Assistant County
    Counsel, and Peter Ferrera, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
    *******
    Father Eric C. (father) appeals the juvenile court’s orders exercising jurisdiction
    over his seven-year-old daughter S.C. pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section
    3001 and removing S.C. from his custody pursuant to section 361, subdivision (c). We
    affirm.
    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
    This appeal involves only father and S.C., although mother S.R. (mother) and
    S.C.’s two half-sisters, 14-year-old M.M. and 10-year-old D.M., who have a different
    father, were involved in the proceedings below. In an amended petition, the Los Angeles
    County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) alleged mother
    “inappropriately physically disciplined” D.M. by repeatedly striking her hands with
    sandals, pushing her, pulling her hair, and throwing her to the floor. On other occasions,
    she struck D.M.’s legs, arms, and hands with sandals. It was further alleged mother
    possessed marijuana in M.M.’s presence, within access of the children. Based on those
    facts, DCFS alleged all three children were at substantial risk of harm under section 300,
    subdivisions (b) and (j) (abuse or neglect of a sibling).
    As to father, DCFS alleged he “has a history of illicit drug use and is a current
    abuser of amphetamine and methamphetamine, which renders the father incapable of
    providing the children with regular care and supervision. On 8/1/13, the father ha[d] a
    positive toxicology screen for amphetamine and methamphetamine. On 8/1/13 and on
    prior occasions in 2013 and 2012, the father was under the influence of amphetamine and
    methamphetamine while providing care and supervision of the child. The father’s
    substance abuse endangers the child’s physical health and safety, placing the child at risk
    of physical harm, damage and danger.”
    DCFS’s initial investigation revealed support for the allegations against mother, as
    well as other facts related to mother’s treatment of the children. D.M. reported
    sometimes mother had no food in the house, men smoked cigarettes in the middle of the
    1     All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code, unless
    otherwise indicated.
    2
    night at mother’s apartment, mother called D.M. “retarded” and used profanity in
    speaking to her, and mother did not provide her with clean clothes. M.M. reported being
    hit by mother with objects in the past. Mother told her she was going to do “weed” in the
    bathroom on several occasions, which M.M. understood was an illegal plant kept in a
    bag. Mother and her friends also sold “weed” on prior occasions. When M.M. was six
    years old, she saw mother using what she believed was an illegal drug and mother
    threatened to hurt her if she told anyone. M.M. even showed the interviewing social
    worker a video she claimed was taken by mother depicting a man snorting what appeared
    to be an illegal drug in mother’s residence. M.M. also heard mother having sex with men
    in the apartment.
    S.C. denied being corporally punished or being afraid of mother.
    When interviewed, mother admitted hitting D.M. with the sandal, but denied she
    pushed her to the ground. She admitted a history of using drugs, but denied currently
    using them. She also denied she had anything to do with the video.
    The children’s maternal aunt claimed mother had used drugs for 10 years and her
    drug of choice was methamphetamine. She described prior occasions when she had
    discovered mother and a man using drugs at mother’s apartment. At one point, she took
    D.M. to her house for three weeks and mother never called during that time to check on
    her. On the day mother hit D.M. with a sandal, the maternal aunt took the children
    because she thought mother was coming down from a “high.”
    DCFS had previously received multiple referrals involving mother, only one of
    which was substantiated involving mother’s use of methamphetamine. Mother also had a
    misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.
    Father reported he and mother were never married and mother was S.C.’s primary
    caregiver. He and mother agreed to allow S.C. to visit him and the paternal grandparents
    on weekends, although he also made sporadic checks with mother about S.C.’s wellbeing.
    He knew mother had a history of using illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, but he
    did not believe she currently used them. He found out a few months earlier that S.C. was
    having academic difficulties, which led to an arrangement to allow S.C. to live with her
    3
    paternal grandmother, where her academic performance improved. Father admitted
    having a criminal record for possession of illicit drugs and domestic battery, but he
    claimed he was never incarcerated and denied having a history of drug use.
    In a test taken the day after he was interviewed, he tested positive for
    amphetamine and methamphetamine.
    Following the filing of the section 300 petition, S.C. was removed from mother’s
    and father’s custody, with DCFS noting father “allowed [S.C.] to remain under the care
    of the mother even though he was aware that the mother was unable to meet the child’s
    basic needs and care.” Father consented to the proposed plan of removal.
    At the initial juvenile court hearing, the court ordered the children to be detained,
    mother’s and father’s visits to be monitored, and mother and father to submit to weekly
    drug tests.
    In the combined jurisdiction and disposition report, DCFS reported father had a
    1998 arrest for possession of a controlled substance for which he completed a court-
    ordered drug program and a 2008 misdemeanor conviction for spousal battery for which
    he served three days in jail and was placed on three years of probation.
    In his interview, father reported he did not spank the children but allowed mother
    to enforce discipline and he had seen mother use a sandal on D.M. previously. Because
    he had been living at the paternal grandmother’s house in the few months prior to the
    children’s detention, he was unaware of everything that went on in the house, although he
    was upset when he heard mother was having other men inside her apartment and the
    children had to see them coming and going. He believed mother had been using
    methamphetamine at the time, and when she used, the children would often miss school
    or mother would forget to pick them up after school.
    Father admitted using marijuana before taking his current drug test and he claimed
    he took a “clean out” in order to try to test clean. He denied using methamphetamine and
    claimed the last time he had done so was three years ago. He admitted starting to use in
    1998, although he claimed he was still able to function and hold down a job. He again
    admitted his prior substance abuse convictions and he had attended drug diversion
    4
    classes. He previously had a medical marijuana card, but he did not have a currently
    valid license. He claimed he did not use drugs in front of the children. When asked
    about his recent positive test for methamphetamine, he claimed mother had given him a
    beer that “tasted funny,” and he believed mother purposely put methamphetamine in his
    beer because the children were detained from her and she did not want father to get
    custody. He admitted he drank beer occasionally after work but denied a drinking
    problem.
    M.M. reported she had known father all her life and treated him like a “dad,” even
    though he and mother were “off and on.” She had always known he used “weed” and
    had seen him smoking it in their apartment and on the balcony. She said he had a chair in
    the corner he would sit in and smoke. D.M. had also told M.M. she had seen father
    “smoking weed.” M.M. was not sure if he used any other types of drugs. M.M. also
    reported “everyday the house smell like marijuana,” and she saw mother with marijuana.
    D.M. reported father was like a “dad.” She said father “smokes cigarettes on the
    balcony,” but she was not sure if he used any other kinds of drugs.
    S.C. reported she had learned about drugs in school, but she did not know anyone
    who used them or had ever seen what they look like. She said mother and father “smoke
    cigarettes on the balcony” and sometimes “they drink beer but they don’t get crazy.”
    Mother reported she did not know that father was currently using until she heard
    the results of the drug test. She claimed he was not living with them before the children
    were detained, but he would come by to watch the children if mother asked. She said he
    had always been around and helped raise all of the children, even though she and father
    would often break up and get back together.
    Maternal grandmother had concerns about father because he had “a lifestyle
    similar to [mother].” She said they were “like poison together,” thought they used drugs
    together, and they constantly dated on and off. She said the children had previously told
    her they knew father would “go in the bathroom and smoke weed.” She did not think
    father was an abusive person, but he was also not responsible to take care of the children.
    She said mostly the paternal grandmother cared for S.C. With regard to mother, maternal
    5
    grandmother thought she started using drugs when D.M. was born, and while she got
    clean, she recently relapsed before the children were detained. She said mother’s house
    was very messy and the children would not be fed. She noticed mother’s personality had
    changed and she did not work, instead staying home all the time. M.M. and D.M. told
    maternal grandmother mother would have men over until 4:00 or 5:00 a.m., and they
    thought they were using drugs.
    Paternal grandmother was aware of father’s history with drugs and she did not
    think it was good when he and mother resided together. She said father resided with her
    for about three months prior to the children being detained, but had since gotten back
    together with mother. She said father had told her he tested positive for
    methamphetamine but claimed he had not used it and it had been slipped into his drink.
    She also expressed concerns about the children being cared for in mother’s home because
    S.C. was often late to school and mother did not pick her up after school. Paternal
    grandmother would also try to bathe and feed S.C. because she was not always clean with
    clean clothes.
    Father was enrolled in weekly drug testing, but in the 12 weeks following his
    positive drug test, he failed to test nine times. He also failed to enroll in any programs.
    He claimed his failures were due to his work schedule and traveling out of town for work.
    A multidisciplinary assessment team assessment noted S.C. had been subject to
    multiple traumas during her lifetime, including prenatal exposure to drugs during the first
    two months mother was pregnant with her and witnessing ongoing domestic violence
    between her parents, during which father used “bad language.” She acknowledged her
    home environment made her “feel scared” at times.
    At the initial hearing setting the matter for adjudication, father waived the reading
    of the petition and statement of rights. Before the adjudication hearing, DCFS submitted
    last minute information informing the court father had provided no information regarding
    the progress or enrollment in any programs and had missed three more drug tests.
    Father did not appear at the adjudication hearing, but his counsel proceeded on his
    behalf and argued insufficient evidence supported the allegation against him. Counsel
    6
    noted the children did not see father smoke cigarettes on the balcony. Counsel also
    argued father explained he failed to submit to the drug tests because he traveled for work
    and he would not be using marijuana if he had to “driv[e] all over the state” for his job.
    Father denied using drugs in front of the children and he explained his positive drug test
    because he believed mother put something in his beer. While counsel acknowledged
    father had a history of marijuana use, counsel argued there was no evidence of a “nexus”
    between father’s drug use and risk to the children. The children’s counsel echoed
    father’s counsel’s argument that there was no “nexus” between father’s drug use and risk
    to the children.
    County counsel argued there was a nexus because father tested positive for
    methamphetamine, refused to submit to further tests, and had criminal convictions for
    substance abuse. Counsel also noted maternal grandmother said father would go into the
    bathroom and smoke “weed.”
    Before ruling, the juvenile court asked, “Were the kids primarily with [mother]
    versus [father]?” Mother’s counsel responded, “Part of the time. [Father] did reside with
    the mother and the children.”
    The juvenile court sustained the allegations against mother and father. With
    regard to father, the court explained, “There is a long history of [father] using substance
    abuse [sic]. And although he completed the program back in 2000, there’s information in
    the report that [father] was smoking maybe in the presence of the kids as late as August.
    [¶] There is a positive methamphetamine test and there has been no shows, consistent no
    shows and thereby not demonstrating sobriety. [¶] With respect to the nexus, the court
    notes that there is information about [father] smoking marijuana in front of the kids.” It
    further noted there was evidence to suggest father knew mother was neglecting the
    children but he depended on her to care for them.
    Finding reasonable efforts were made to prevent removal, the court declared the
    children dependents of the court and removed them from the parents’ custody. The court
    ordered father to submit to drug and alcohol testing, to attend a full treatment program if
    7
    he had any missed or dirty tests, and to attend individual counseling to address his
    substance abuse. He was granted supervised visitation. Father timely appealed.
    DISCUSSION
    1. Father Forfeited His Challenge to the Sufficiency of the Petition
    Father challenges the sufficiency of the allegations against him contained in the
    petition. DCFS contends father forfeited this claim because he never raised this
    challenge in the juvenile court, he waived reading of the petition, and he chose to litigate
    the merits. Although one older case rejected forfeiture (see In re Alysha S. (1996) 
    51 Cal.App.4th 393
    , 397 (Alysha S.)), we agree with In re David H. (2008) 
    165 Cal.App.4th 1626
     (David H.) and other cases finding the failure to challenge the sufficiency of the
    petition in the juvenile court forfeits the challenge on appeal.
    Without analysis, the court in Alysha S. cited Code of Civil Procedure section
    430.80, which creates a rule in civil cases that “‘“[i]f the party against whom a complaint
    or cross-complaint has been filed fails to object to the pleading, either by demurrer or
    answer, that party is deemed to have waived the objection unless it is . . . an objection
    that the pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.”’”
    (Alysha S., supra, 51 Cal.App.4th at p. 397.) The court in David H. gave two reasons for
    refusing to extend that provision to dependency proceedings. “First, [Code of Civil
    Procedure] section 430.80 appears in part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, which applies
    to civil actions, not part 3, which applies to special proceedings. Thus, it does not even
    apply to juvenile dependency proceedings by its own terms.” (David H., supra, 165
    Cal.App.4th at p. 1640.) “Second, the statute is inconsistent with the purposes of juvenile
    dependency law. Allowing parties to challenge the facial sufficiency of a petition for the
    first time on appeal conflicts with the emphasis on expeditious processing of these cases
    so that children can achieve permanence and stability without unnecessary delay if
    reunification efforts fail. [Citation.] Enforcing the forfeiture rule requires parties to raise
    such issues in the juvenile court where they can be promptly remedied without undue
    prejudice to the interests of any of the parties involved.” (Ibid.; see also In re
    Christopher C. (2010) 
    182 Cal.App.4th 73
    , 83 [following David H.’s reasoning]; cf. In re
    8
    John M. (2012) 
    212 Cal.App.4th 1117
    , 1123 (John M.) [citing David H. and noting, “In
    general, a parent may not challenge the sufficiency of allegations in a dependency
    petition on appeal if he or she did not raise the issue in the dependency court.”].)
    Father contends we should find an exception to forfeiture because his challenge to
    the sufficiency of the petition presents a question of law, which we may address in our
    discretion. (In re Abram L. (2013) 
    219 Cal.App.4th 452
    , 462.) But the cases cited above
    make clear that the argument is forfeited under these circumstances, even if it is a
    question of law. Moreover, accepting father’s argument would allow the exception to
    swallow the rule. We decline to exercise our discretion to address his challenge.
    2. Substantial Evidence Supported the Jurisdictional Order
    Father contends there was no substantial evidence to support the assertion of
    jurisdiction over S.C. We disagree. “‘“We review the juvenile court’s jurisdictional
    findings for sufficiency of the evidence. [Citations.] We review the record to determine
    whether there is any substantial evidence to support the juvenile court’s conclusions, and
    we resolve all conflicts and make all reasonable inferences from the evidence to uphold
    the court’s orders, if possible. [Citation.]” [Citation.] “‘“The ultimate test is whether it
    is reasonable for a trier of fact to make the ruling in question in light of the whole
    record.”’”’” (John M., supra, 212 Cal.App.4th at p. 1124.)
    “Under section 300, subdivision (b), the juvenile court may assert jurisdiction over
    a child when ‘[t]he child has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will
    suffer, serious physical harm or illness, as a result of the failure or inability of his or her
    parent or guardian to adequately supervise or protect the child . . . or by the willful or
    negligent failure of the parent or guardian to provide the child with adequate food,
    clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, or by the inability of the parent or guardian to
    provide regular care for the child due to the parent’s or guardian’s mental illness,
    developmental disability, or substance abuse. . . . The child shall continue to be a
    dependent child pursuant to this subdivision only so long as is necessary to protect the
    child from risk of suffering serious physical harm or illness.’ Thus, ‘[t]he three elements
    for jurisdiction under section 300, subdivision (b) are: “‘(1) neglectful conduct by the
    9
    parent in one of the specified forms; (2) causation; and (3) “serious physical harm or
    illness” to the [child], or a “substantial risk” of such harm or illness.’”’” (John M., supra,
    212 Cal.App.4th at p. 1124.)
    The evidence of father’s history of and current drug use, including his use around
    the children, amply supported the juvenile court’s exercise of jurisdiction in this case.2
    Father admitted he used methamphetamine starting in 1998 and he obviously continued
    to do so given he tested positive for methamphetamine when the family came to the
    attention of DCFS. The juvenile court was free to disbelieve his claims he had not used
    methamphetamine in the prior three years and that mother had slipped methamphetamine
    into his beer, causing the positive test, especially because he failed to enroll in any
    programs and missed most of his drug tests, which the juvenile court could properly
    consider the “equivalent of a positive test result.” (In re Christopher R. (2014) 
    225 Cal.App.4th 1210
    , 1217 (Christopher R.).) Father also had a 1998 arrest for possession
    of a controlled substance, and, despite completing a court-ordered drug program, he
    continued to use not only methamphetamine but also marijuana without a current license,
    suggesting a history of substance abuse. (See Alexis E., supra, 171 Cal.App.4th at p. 451
    [father’s use of marijuana before obtaining medical recommendation supported finding of
    history of substance abuse].)
    Further, M.M. reported she knew father used “weed” and had seen him smoking it
    in their apartment and on the balcony. She was even able to identify the chair he used
    when he smoked. M.M. said D.M. told her she had seen father “smoking weed.” M.M.
    also said the house smelled like marijuana everyday. Maternal grandmother said the
    children had previously told her they knew father would “go in the bathroom and smoke
    weed.” Mother also openly had marijuana in the home, and maternal grandmother said
    father had “a lifestyle similar to [mother]” and they used drugs together, suggesting drug
    2      Because we find these grounds sufficient, we need not address father’s other
    contention no substantial evidence supported that he knew or had reason to know mother
    posed a risk to the children (which was not alleged in the petition as a ground for
    jurisdiction in any event). (In re Alexis E. (2009) 
    171 Cal.App.4th 438
    , 451 (Alexis E.).)
    10
    use was prevalent in the children’s home. While S.C. did not know anyone who used
    drugs and had not seen what they looked like, S.C. lived in the home, so the juvenile
    court could have reasonably inferred S.C. was exposed to father’s marijuana use. Thus,
    “[t]he trial court could reasonably find that Father’s use of marijuana constituted a risk of
    harm to the minors because of Father’s failure to protect the minors from the marijuana
    smoke. While it is true that the mere use of marijuana by a parent will not support a
    finding of risk to minors [citations], the risk to the minors here is not speculative. There
    is a risk to the children of the negative effects of secondhand marijuana smoke.”
    (Alexis E., supra, 171 Cal.App.4th at p. 452; see § 300.2 [“The provision of a home
    environment free from the negative effects of substance abuse is a necessary condition
    for the safety, protection and physical and emotional well-being of the child.”].)
    DCFS notes there is some tension in the case law over how to define “substance
    abuse” in section 300, subdivision (b). But father does not contend he is not a substance
    abuser; instead, he argues there was no causal link between his substance abuse and harm
    to S.C.3 As explained above, there was substantial evidence the children were exposed to
    his drug use, creating a substantial risk of serious physical harm supporting the exercise
    of jurisdiction. Moreover, given father used marijuana in the children’s presence, this
    case does not fall within the line of cases finding a parent’s drug use alone could not
    support jurisdiction. (See Drake M., supra, 211 Cal.App.4th at pp. 768-769; In re
    David M. (2005) 
    134 Cal.App.4th 822
    , 829-830; cf. Jennifer A. v. Superior Court (2004)
    
    117 Cal.App.4th 1322
    , 1346 [for purposes of § 366.22, finding no evidence linked
    mother’s marijuana and alcohol use to her parenting judgment or skills].)
    3      As a result, we need not decide whether S.C.’s age of seven fell within the “tender
    years” for which a “‘finding of substance abuse is prima facie evidence of the inability of
    a parent or guardian to provide regular care resulting in a substantial risk of harm.’”
    (Christopher R., supra, 225 Cal.App.4th at p. 1219 [finding children six years old and
    younger were children of “‘tender years’” to which rule applied]; see In re Drake M.
    (2012) 
    211 Cal.App.4th 754
    , 767 (Drake M.).)
    11
    3. Section 361.2 Did Not Apply
    Father contends that, after ordering S.C.’s removal under section 361, the juvenile
    court erred in not applying section 361.2 to place S.C. with him because he was a
    noncustodial parent. Section 361.2, subdivision (a) states, “When a court orders removal
    of a child pursuant to Section 361, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent
    of the child, with whom the child was not residing at the time that the events or
    conditions arose that brought the child within the provisions of Section 300, who desires
    to assume custody of the child. If that parent requests custody, the court shall place the
    child with the parent unless it finds that placement with that parent would be detrimental
    to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.” Thus, if the
    noncustodial parent wants a dependent child placed with him or her, the court must do so
    unless it finds clear and convincing evidence of detriment. (In re John M. (2013) 
    217 Cal.App.4th 410
    , 420.)
    DCFS argues section 361.2 required father to be a “nonoffending” parent and he
    was not because the juvenile court sustained allegations against him under section 300,
    subdivision (b).4 There is a split of authority over whether a noncustodial parent must be
    nonoffending for section 361.2 to apply. (Compare, e.g., In re John M., supra, 217
    Cal.App.4th at p. 423 [requiring noncustodial parent be nonoffending] with In re
    D’Anthony D. (2014) 
    230 Cal.App.4th 292
    , 300-301 [rejecting nonoffending
    requirement].) We need not decide this question because father has not asked us to.
    Instead, he argues his case is factually distinguishable from In re John M. and other cases
    requiring a parent be nonoffending under section 361.2 because he was nonoffending,
    that is, “he had no involvement in the events leading up to the dependency case” and “he
    was named in the petition due to unrelated facts.” (See In re John M., supra, at p. 425
    [suggesting nonoffending means “a parent who had no connection with the circumstances
    4     DCFS does not argue father was not a noncustodial parent, despite mother’s
    counsel statement to the juvenile court that father resided with mother and the children.
    We will therefore assume father was a noncustodial parent.
    12
    that brought the child within the jurisdiction of the court” [italics omitted].) This is
    plainly incorrect. The juvenile court exercised jurisdiction because it found father’s drug
    use created a substantial risk of harm to S.C., which was alleged as a ground for removal
    under section 300, subdivision (b) and which was supported by substantial evidence, as
    we have concluded.
    4. Substantial Evidence Supported the Dispositional Order
    “Under section 361, subdivision (c)(1), a dependent child may not be taken from
    the physical custody of the parents with whom the child resides at the time the petition
    was initiated unless the juvenile court finds by clear and convincing evidence ‘[t]here is
    or would be a substantial danger to the physical health, safety, protection, or physical or
    emotional well-being of the minor if the minor were returned home, and there are no
    reasonable means by which the minor’s physical health can be protected without
    removing the minor from the minor’s parent’s . . . physical custody.’ (§ 361, subd.
    (c)(1).) ‘The jurisdictional findings are prima facie evidence that the child cannot safely
    remain in the home. (§ 361, subd. (c)(1).)’ [Citation.] ‘“The parent need not be
    dangerous and the minor need not have been actually harmed before removal is
    appropriate. The focus of the statute is on averting harm to the child.” [Citation.] The
    court may consider a parent’s past conduct as well as present circumstances. [Citation.]’
    [Citation.] We review a dispositional order removing a child from parental custody for
    substantial evidence.” (John M., supra, 212 Cal.App.4th at p. 1126.) Father emphasizes
    the clear and convincing evidence standard, but “the substantial evidence test remains the
    appropriate standard of review, ‘bearing in mind the heightened burden of proof.’” (In re
    Hailey T. (2012) 
    212 Cal.App.4th 139
    , 146.)
    The evidence of father’s drug use and his use of marijuana around the children
    discussed above constituted substantial evidence supporting the juvenile court’s removal
    of S.C. from father’s custody. Father cites In re Destiny S. (2012) 
    210 Cal.App.4th 999
    to argue the evidence was insufficient to support removal, but in that case the mother
    tested clean for three months and there was no direct evidence showing the child was at
    risk from smelling the mother’s marijuana smoke “‘not very much.’” (Id. at p. 1004.)
    13
    Here, in contrast, there was direct evidence father regularly smoked marijuana in the
    home around at least two of the children, creating an inference S.C. was also exposed to
    it while living in the home, and he repeatedly missed his drug tests after testing positive
    for methamphetamine. Although father argues his work schedule explained his missed
    tests, the juvenile court was free to discredit that explanation in light of father’s drug
    history, his positive methamphetamine test, and the children’s statements they were
    exposed to marijuana smoke.
    Father also suggests the juvenile court should have placed S.C. with him rather
    than ordering her removed and he could have arranged for her care while he was away for
    work, analogizing to a parent in prison who may arrange for care of a child in his or her
    custody. But the issue was not his inability to care for S.C.; it was the substantial risk of
    physical harm to S.C. from his substance use. Therefore, whether or not he could arrange
    for care when he was away was not relevant to the juvenile court’s determination.
    DISPOSITION
    The juvenile court’s jurisdictional and dispositional orders are affirmed.
    FLIER, J.
    WE CONCUR:
    RUBIN, Acting P. J.
    GRIMES, J.
    14
    

Document Info

Docket Number: B255612

Filed Date: 12/23/2014

Precedential Status: Non-Precedential

Modified Date: 4/18/2021