In re T.W. CA4/2 ( 2013 )

Filed 8/29/13 In re T.W. CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
In re T.W. et al., Persons Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, E057845
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super.Ct.Nos. J234685 & J234686)
v. OPINION
J.F. et al.,
Defendants and Appellants.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. Gregory S. Tavill,
Judge. Affirmed.
Neil R. Trop, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant, mother.
Konrad S. Lee, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant, father.
1
Jean-Rene Basle, County Counsel, and Danielle E. Wuchenich, Deputy County
Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
The children, T.W. and M.W., were removed from the parents’ custody when their
six-year old half sister, C.V., reported being sexually molested by father and her cousin,
in addition to allegations of parental substance abuse and domestic violence. The parents
received services for 23 months. Father completed his services plan but did not address
the sexual abuse allegations. Mother did not complete her service plan and failed to
reveal her mental health issues until shortly before services were terminated, never
addressing those mental health issues. Prior to the hearing pursuant to Welfare and
Institutions Code1 section 366.26, at which parental rights were terminated, father filed a
petition to modify the prior order terminating services (§ 388), which was denied without
a hearing. Both parents appeal.
On appeal, the parents assert the trial court erred in determining that the parent-
child beneficial relationship exception had not been established. Father also argues
separately that the court erred in denying his section 388 petition. Mother separately
argues for reversal due to the existence of a sibling bond, and because the court failed to
consider the wishes of the children. We affirm.
1All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code, unless
otherwise stated.
2
BACKGROUND
This dependency originated when C.V., mother’s six-year-old child from a prior
relationship, was taken to the hospital by her maternal grandmother on August 24, 2010.
The maternal grandmother informed the hospital staff that the injury was sustained when
she fell down some stairs a day or so earlier. However, the grandmother was concerned
because the child’s mother used drugs and father, mother’s live-in boyfriend and father of
mother’s two younger children, was abusive. The parents had a prior history with the
San Bernardino Children and Family Services (CFS) agency for various unfounded or
inconclusive allegations.
The medical examination revealed the vaginal laceration and hymenal oddities,
which were not specific for sexual abuse, but C.V.’s history raised concerns about neglect
and sexual abuse. C.V. was interviewed following the medical examination and
informed the social worker that both her six-year-old cousin T., and her “daddy” (father),
had touched her “down there” at the paternal grandmother’s residence in Newberry
Springs. A detention warrant was obtained from the juvenile court resulting in the
temporary removal of C.V.,2 along with her two younger half-siblings, M.W. and T.W.,
Jr.
Juvenile dependency petitions were filed with respect to M.W., age four, and
T.W., Jr., age two, alleging that they were at risk of abuse or neglect due to the parents’
2 C.V. lives with her biological father and is not a part of this appeal.
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failure to protect due to mother’s substance abuse and ongoing acts of domestic violence
(§ 300, subd. (b)), sexual abuse of C.V. (§ 300, subd. (d)), and the abuse of a sibling.
(§ 300, subd. (j).)
At the jurisdictional hearing, the juvenile court found that C.V. had been touched
by father but that he had not caused the laceration in her vagina. The court then made
true findings under section 300, subdivisions (b), (d), and (j), as to M.W. and T.W., Jr.
The children were declared dependents, and were removed from their parents’ custody;
the court approved a reunification plan as to M.W. and T.W., Jr., ordering both parents to
participate in it. Father timely appealed the jurisdictional and dispositional findings and
orders. On November 15, 2011, we affirmed the judgment. (In re T.W., et al.; San
Bernardino County Children and Family Services v. T.W. (Nov. 15, 2011, E052867)
[nonpub. opn.].)
By the time of the six-month review hearing, the parents had complied with some
but not all of their service plans. CFS recommended continuation of reunification
services based on father’s progress reports, although the social worker noted he had never
taken responsibility for the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter. Based on a mediated
agreement and the social worker’s recommendations, the court continued services and
gave CFS authority to liberalize visits.
During the next review period, the parents failed to make progress to rectify the
problems that brought the family to the attention of CFS and the court, namely, the areas
of substance abuse and sexual abuse. Mother continued to have a substance abuse
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problem and failed to complete any program. Although father complied with some
services and was engaged in therapy, he continued to deny sexually abusing C.V. Visits
went well and both children were described as bonded to the parents. Nevertheless, CFS
recommended that services be terminated and that a hearing pursuant to section 366.26 be
scheduled.
The 12-month review hearing was continued in order to obtain a report or letter
from father’s therapist regarding risk factors from the prior sexual abuse reports. Father’s
therapist reported that father had made excellent progress in all of the treatment areas
except the issue of sexual abuse of C.V. However, father’s therapist concluded father
was a low risk for sexual abuse of his children, but would be a high risk if he were to
resume substance abuse. The social worker concluded that the parents, while willing to
complete parts of the service plan, had failed to address the problems that brought the
family to the attention of the court, which were substance abuse and sexual abuse.
The juvenile court continued the 12-month review hearing a second time to obtain
additional opinions about father’s history, progress, and risk factors. The new hearing
date was also scheduled as an 18-month review hearing. (§ 366.22.) A psychological
evaluation pursuant to Penal Code section 288.1 was prepared, using the actuarial
assessment instruments to determine his potential for reoffending. It concluded that
father was not capable of safely and competently parenting children and presented an
unacceptable risk of reoffense. The father was given an opportunity to obtain another
report.
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On May 25, 2012, the court conducted the contested 18-month review hearing. In
his testimony, father denied molesting C.V. and indicated that what he had learned about
sexual abuse from his therapy sessions related to what was considered sexual abuse, such
as kissing the mother or having sex in front of the children. However, father
demonstrated he had successfully completed the other aspects of his reunification plan.
As to mother, the only remaining protection issue was her unwillingness to acknowledge
the sexual abuse findings made by the court.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the court terminated reunification services to the
parents, but determined that it was not in the best interest of the minors to consider
termination of parental rights. Over the objections of county counsel and the minors’
attorney, the court ordered a Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (PPLA) with the
children in their current placement, with the goal of returning them to mother’s custody.
Reunification services to father were terminated, but mother was to receive services
under the children’s plan. On June 20, 2012, father timely appealed. 3
On July 23, 2012, at county counsel’s request, the juvenile court reconsidered the
orders made on May 25, 2012, and vacated them, concluding that it lacked authority to
order a permanent plan of PPLA at the section 366.22 hearing. Prior to the hearing, the
social worker filed an interim review report indicating mother had never complied with
the therapy portion of her reunification plan, attending only one session in June 2012,
3 On August 29, 2012, we issued an order on our own motion that the writ
petition in case No. E056728 would be considered with the appeal in case No. E056529.
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although she had completed an outpatient substance abuse program. Additionally, the
social worker learned for the first time from mother’s psychiatrist that she suffered from
mental illness in addition to bipolar disorder, namely schizoaffective disorder, which
impaired her parenting ability and put the children at risk for further abuse.
Mother had not made CFS aware of her mental health issues. The medication
prescribed for mother’s mental illness apparently was ineffective in eliminating the
auditory hallucinations she experienced. Additionally, mother’s behavior at visits
showed poor judgment and lack of empathy for the oldest child, C.V., the victim of the
molestation, in contacting father during the visits and showing the children pictures of
another perpetrator.
The court granted county counsel’s request to reconsider the prior order and, after
vacating the previous order, it entered a new order terminating reunification services for
both parents, and setting a hearing for the selection and implementation of a permanent
plan pursuant to section 366.26. Both parents filed notices of intent to file extraordinary
writ petitions from the subsequently modified order terminating services and setting the
section 366.26 hearing. As a result of the modification of the prior order, the appeal in
case No. E056529 was dismissed as moot. We denied the petitions on November 7,
2012. (T.W. et al. v. Superior Court (Nov. 7, 2012, E056728) [nonpub. opn.].)
In the meantime, on September 19, 2012, the social worker informed the court, by
way of packet, that the children had been matched with adoptive parents. CFS began
transitioning the children into the new placement. On September 20, 2012, CFS
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requested that parental visits with the children be reduced from two, two-hour visits per
week, to one, two-hour visit per month, in order to facilitate bonding with the prospective
adoptive family. The parents objected to this request. On October 2, 2012, the juvenile
court ordered that visits be reduced to one, two-hour visit per week.
On December 3, 2012, father filed a petition to modify the prior order terminating
services on the ground that he had completed his reunification plan requirements “a long
time ago,” and the children have a strong bond with him. The court summarily denied
the petition without a hearing on the ground it did not allege any new evidence or change
of circumstances.
The contested section 366.26 hearing was conducted on December 17, 2012.
After considering all the evidence presented, the court found by clear and convincing
evidence that the children were adoptable and that the beneficial parent-child relationship
exception did not apply. The court terminated parental rights to both children. Both
parents appealed.
DISCUSSION
1. Summary Denial of Father’s Section 388 Petition Was Proper.
Father claims that prima facie evidence supported his section 388 petition and that,
consequently, the court erred in summarily denying it. We disagree.
A juvenile court order may be changed, modified or set aside under section 388 if
the petitioner establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that (1) new evidence or
changed circumstances exist, and (2) the proposed change would promote the best
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interests of the child. (In re Stephanie M. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 295, 316-317.) The parent
bears the burden to show both a legitimate change of circumstances and that undoing the
prior order would be in the best interest of the child. (In re Kimberly F. (1997) 56
Cal.App.4th 519, 529.)
Generally, the petitioner must show by a preponderance of the evidence that the
child’s welfare requires the modification sought. (In re B.D. (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th
1218, 1228.) The petition is addressed to the sound discretion of the juvenile court, and
its decision will not be overturned on appeal in the absence of a clear abuse of discretion.
(In re Stephanie M., supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 318; In re S.J. (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 953,
959.)
Section 388 petitions are liberally construed in favor of granting a hearing to
consider the request. (In re E.S. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1329, 1340; In re Jeremy W.
(1992) 3 Cal.App.4th 1407, 1413-1414.) However, if the liberally construed allegations
of the petition do not make a prima facie showing of changed circumstances and that the
proposed change would promote the best interests of the child, the court need not order a
hearing on the petition. (In re Zachary G. (1999) 77 Cal.App.4th 799, 806.) The prima
facie requirement is not met unless the facts alleged, if supported by evidence given
credit at the hearing, would sustain a favorable decision on the petition. (Ibid., citing In
re Edward H. (1996) 43 Cal.App.4th 584, 594.) In such a case, the petition may be
denied without an evidentiary hearing. (In re Marcelo B. (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 635,
642.)
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In his reply brief, father argues that his refusal to admit sexual abuse, standing
alone, is not sufficient to show his circumstances had not changed. His refusal to admit
the allegations was not at issue. What was at issue was his failure to even allege, much
less make a prima facie showing, that his circumstances were changed from the time that
services were terminated. Here, the trial court determined that the petition failed to allege
new evidence or a change of circumstances in summarily denying it. Our review
supports this determination. Father’s own petition alleges that he had fully completed his
court ordered services a long time prior to the filing of the section 388 petition. Father’s
position at the time he filed the petition was the same as his position at the time his
services were terminated, so no change of circumstance was alleged. Having failed to
allege any new circumstances, it cannot be said he made a prima facie showing on that
ground.
Nor did father present new evidence which would cast doubt on the validity of the
finding of sexual abuse, although he repeatedly refers to his denials of abuse. A parent’s
denial of abuse, after a juvenile court has made a factual finding of sexual abuse, does not
constitute new evidence which would justify a change of the prior order. Father did
present evidence at the combined 12- and 18-month review hearings to support his
assertion he did not pose a serious risk of reoffense, but he did not present evidence
which would undermine the jurisdictional finding (see Blanca P. v. Superior Court
(1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 1738, 1741-1742, where a psychological evaluation exonerated
the father of molestation and concluded he lacked any tendency toward molestation) at
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the section 388 stage, this does not constitute new evidence which undermines the factual
finding.
Father relies on the psychologists’ risk assessments—prepared in connection with
the combined 12- and 18-month review hearing—as evidence undermining the true
finding of sexual abuse. However, nothing in those reports raises a question as to the
validity of the true finding that T.W. had sexually abused his step-daughter. In this
significant respect, this case differs from Blanca P. v. Superior Court, supra, 45
Cal.App.4th at page 1753, on which father relies. We realize that true findings for
jurisdiction are made by a mere preponderance of evidence. But father’s personal denial
is insufficient to make that true finding go away. This failure meant that the sexual abuse
allegation, which was a primary cause of the loss of custody, had never been addressed
by father in his reunification plan.
Because there was no prima facie showing of changed circumstances or new
evidence to support a modification, the summary denial of father’s petition was proper.
2. The Parents Failed to Meet Their Burden of Proving that Termination of
Parental Rights Would Be Detrimental Due to a Beneficial Parent-Child Relationship.
Both parents argue that the juvenile court erred in terminating their parental rights
in light of a beneficial parent child relationship. We disagree.
Section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1), provides that if the court determines, based on
the [adoption] assessment and any other relevant evidence, that it is likely the child will
be adopted, the court shall terminate parental rights and order the child placed for
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adoption, unless one of several statutory exceptions applies. Once the court determines a
child is likely to be adopted, the burden shifts to the parent to show that termination of
parental rights would be detrimental under one of the exceptions listed in section 366.26,
subdivision (c)(1)(B). (In re Zachary G., supra, 77 Cal.App.4th at p. 809, citing In re
Lorenzo C. (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 1330, 1343-1345.) We must affirm a trial court’s
rejection of the exceptions if the ruling is supported by substantial evidence. (Zachary
G., at p. 809.)
One such exception applies when the court finds a compelling reason for
determining that termination would be detrimental to the child because the parents have
maintained regular visitation and contact with the child, and the child would benefit from
continuing the relationship. (§ 366.26, subd. (c)(1)(B)(i).) This exception applies only
when the relationship with a natural parent promotes the well-being of the child to such a
degree as to outweigh the well-being the child would gain in a permanent home with
new, adoptive parents. (In re Autumn H. (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 567, 575.) The
determination of whether a beneficial parent-child relationship exists is reviewed for
substantial evidence. (In re Bailey J. (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 1308, 1314.)
The juvenile court found that the parents had met the first prong by maintaining
regular contact and visitation. But it concluded that the parents had not demonstrated that
maintaining the parent-child relationship was such a benefit to the children as would
outweigh the benefit of adoption. Thus, we will focus our inquiry on the second prong of
the exception, whether the children would benefit from continuing the relationship.
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Evolving case law began with the premise that a parent’s “frequent and loving
contact” with the child is not enough to sustain a finding that the exception would apply,
when the parents “had not occupied a parental role in relation to them at any time during
their lives.” (In re Beatrice M. (1994) 29 Cal.App.4th 1411, 1418-1419.) However,
recognizing the practical difficulty of establishing a parental role when a child has been
removed from the home, current decisions hold that to determine if the parents have
occupied a parental role, it is not necessary for a parent to show day-to-day contact and
interaction. (In re S.B. (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 289, 299; In re Casey D. (1999) 70
Cal.App.4th 38, 51.) As the court observed in In re S.B., supra, if that were the standard,
the rule would swallow the exception. (Ibid.) Therefore, we do not look for proof of
day-to-day contact or interaction.
Instead, the court determines whether the parent has maintained a parental
relationship, or an emotionally significant relationship, with the child, through consistent
contact and visitation. (In re S.B., supra, 164 Cal.App.4th at pp. 298, 300-301.) To
overcome the preference for adoption and avoid termination of the natural parent’s rights,
the parent must show that severing the natural parent-child relationship would deprive the
child of a substantial, positive emotional attachment such that the child would be greatly
harmed. (In re Angel B. (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 454, 466 [italics in original], citing In re
Lorenzo C., supra, 54 Cal.App.4th at p. 1342.)
The factors to be considered when looking for whether a relationship is important
and beneficial are: (1) the age of the child, (2) the portion of the child’s life spent in the
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parent’s custody, (3) the positive or negative effect of interaction between the parent and
the child, and (4) the child’s particular needs. (In re Angel B., supra, 97 Cal.App.4th at p.
467; see also In re Bailey J., supra, 189 Cal.App.4th at p. 1315.)
The social worker’s reports demonstrate that the children had a bond with their
parents, and enjoyed visitation with their parents. But this does not compel a conclusion
that the parent-child relationship is so significant that severance would be detrimental.
The children were in foster care for a significant portion of their young lives (for one-
third of M.W.’s life, and one-half of T.W.’s life), and there is no evidence they looked to
their parents for comfort or for their basic needs.
On the other hand, the social worker’s reports reveal the children looked to their
adoptive parents for comfort, affection, guidance and direction, that the children called
the adoptive parents mommy and daddy, and referred to the adoptive family’s home as
their own home. The parents failed to establish that maintaining the parent-child
relationship would benefit the children such that severance of the relationship would be
detrimental.
There was other evidence supporting the conclusion that adoption would not be
detrimental. First, mother’s unstable mental health condition, never addressed during the
reunification phase, supports the judge’s conclusion that maintaining a relationship with
her would not outweigh the benefit the children would gain from the permanence and
stability of the adoptive home. Because of her mental illness, she could not even recall
missing several visits, insisting that she had been there. She acknowledged in her
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testimony at the section 366.26 hearing that her mental health condition causes her to
forget dates, times and events. Because of this unresolved problem, the benefit of
maintaining a relationship with mother would not outweigh the permanence and security
that adoption would provide.
Second, father’s unresolved sexual abuse issue compelled a conclusion that the
benefit of maintaining a relationship with him did not outweigh the benefit the children
would gain from the permanence and stability of the adoptive home. The juvenile court
properly found that the beneficial parent-child relationship exception did not apply.
3. Mother Failed to Preserve Any Issue Challenging the Court’s Alleged
Failure to Consider the Wishes of the Children or the Sibling Relationship Exception.
Mother argues, for the first time on appeal, that the adoption assessment failed to
indicate the children’s views on adoption and that the juvenile court’s finding of
adoptability failed to consider the wishes of the children.4 In a separate argument,
mother claims the children were not adoptable because of the sibling bond exception.
Mother has forfeited these claims.
a. Forfeiture
Mother’s argument that adoptability assessment fails to include information about
the children’s understanding of and views about being adopted, was not raised in the trial
court, so it is forfeited. (In re A.A. (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1292, 1317; In re Brian P.
4 Father joined these arguments.
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(2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 616, 623.) Further, neither parent argued at the hearing that the
court failed to consider the wishes of the children, or requested that the children be
required to testify at the hearing. (See In re Amanda D. (1997) 55 Cal.App.4th 813, 819-
820.) Thus, any challenge to the court’s finding that it had considered the best interests
of the children is limited to a substantial evidence review.
In her reply brief, mother asserts that the failure to obtain a statement from the
minors as to their views of adoption resulted in an insufficient body of evidence to
support the court’s judgment as to the appropriate permanent plan. We disagree. The
court’s selection of adoption as the appropriate permanent plan is based on clear and
convincing evidence that the children are adoptable. That finding in this case is
unaffected by any failure to ask the children how they felt about adoption. Nevertheless,
because the issues fail on the merits, we address them briefly.
a. The Children’s Wishes
Section 366.26, subdivision (h)(1), provides that “[a]t all proceedings under this
section, the court shall consider the wishes of the child and shall act in the best interests
of the child.” The section does not require the presence of the child in court unless the
child, or the child’s counsel, so requests and the court orders. (§ 366.26, subd. (h)(2).)
Evidence of the children’s wishes need not be in the form of direct testimony in
court or chambers; it may be found in court reports prepared for the hearing. (In re
Amanda D., supra, 55 Cal.App.4th at p. 820; see also In re Christopher L. (2006) 143
Cal.App.4th 1326, 1334.) The court is not required to specifically ask the child how he
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or she feels about ending the parental relationship. (Amanda D., at p. 820, citing In re
Leo M. (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 1583, 1593.) The court must only consider the child’s
wishes to the extent those wishes are ascertainable, since a child may not be able to
understand the concept of adoption. (In re Joshua G. (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 189, 201,
citing In re Juan H. (1992) 11 Cal.App.4th 169, 173.)
Here, the children were only six and four years old at the time of the hearing, and
the social worker reported that they were too young to understand the concept of
adoption. This conclusion was unchallenged at the hearing. The report, prepared a
month before the hearing, goes on to state that the children viewed the prospective
adoptive parents as their parental figures and the adoptive home as their home. This was
sufficient to communicate the children’s wishes where both children expressed
contentment in the adoptive home and a parental relationship with the adoptive parents.
This evidence was not undermined by mother’s testimony that the children
expressed a desire to come home with her, because her inability to recall events
accurately rendered her testimony unreliable. The only recent, reliable information about
the children’s wishes was found in the social worker’s report. Substantial evidence
supports the court’s conclusion that the wishes of the children had been considered in
finding that they were adoptable.
b. Sibling Exception
Mother’s final argument is that the judgment terminating her parental rights as to
both children must be reversed because of the close bond between the children, and refers
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to the sibling bond exception to a finding of adoptability. She does not assert that their
adoption would interfere with their relationship to C.V., their older half-sister.
The parent has the burden of establishing an exception to termination of parental
rights. (In re Daisy D. (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 287, 291.) During the hearing, neither
mother nor her counsel argued the applicability of this exception. (Ibid.) There is no sua
sponte duty on the part of the court to determine whether the sibling exception to
adoptability applied. (Id. at p. 292.) Absent such a duty, mother’s failure to raise the
exception at the section 366.26 hearing forfeits the issue for purposes of appeal. (Ibid.)
In any event the children had been placed together during the entire dependency
period, were placed together in an adoptive home by adoptive parents who plan to adopt
both of them. Adoption would not significantly interfere with their relationships with
each other.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
RAMIREZ
P. J.
We concur:
KING
J.
MILLER
J.
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