Court Opinion

ID: 1085061
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-10 20:40:26.137798+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:20:56.424143
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/10/13 In re A.B. 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                            NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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 A.B., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile
Court Law.
STANISLAUS COUNTY COMMUNITY
SERVICES AGENCY,                                                                           F066670

              Plaintiff and Respondent,                                          (Super. Ct. No. 516353)

                             v.

D.B.,                                                                                    OPINION

              Defendant and Appellant.

                                                               THE COURT*
              APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Stanislaus County. Ann Q.
Ameral, Judge.
              Michelle L. Jarvis, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
              John P. Doering, County Counsel, and Carrie M. Stephens, Deputy County
Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                                  -ooOoo-

                                                            
*             Before Hill, P. J., Levy, J. and Detjen, J.

 
 

              D.B. (father) appeals from the termination of his parental rights to his daughter,
A.B. (the child), at a Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.261 hearing. Father, who
was incarcerated at the time of the child’s detention, contends he received ineffective
assistance of counsel at the combined jurisdictional and dispositional hearing based on
his counsel’s failure to raise section 361.2, which requires the court to place a child with
a noncustodial parent if that parent requests custody, unless the court finds placement
would be detrimental to the child. (See In re Isayah C. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 684, 700
(Isayah C.) [juvenile court may place child with incarcerated parent under section 361.2
if parent able to make appropriate arrangements for child’s care].) We affirm.
                                       FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
              A.B. (mother) gave birth to the child in December 2011. Mother, who had an
extensive history of drug abuse and who had her parental rights terminated previously to
three other children, admitted she used methamphetamine while pregnant with the child.
Although the child was not “substance exposed” at birth, she was diagnosed with Down
Syndrome.
              On January 10, 2012, after spending less than a month with the child, father began
serving a six-year prison sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. Father’s
possession of a firearm violated his probation for a prior conviction of armed robbery.
              In March 2012, mother was arrested on drug- and theft-related charges. She
received a felony conviction and was sentenced to a 56-month jail term. She served 45
days and then was released on “house arrest” with an ankle bracelet.
              On June 26, 2012, mother was arrested again and incarcerated. As a result, the
child was placed in protective custody and the Stanislaus County Community Services
Agency (agency) initiated the underlying dependency proceeding.
                                                            
1       All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise
indicated.

                                                               2
 
 

              The agency’s petition contained allegations that the child was at substantial risk of
suffering serious physical harm as a result of her parents’ inability to adequately protect
her and provide adequate care due in particular to mother’s substance abuse (§ 300, subd.
(b)),2 the parents were incarcerated and could not arrange for the care of the child (§ 300,
subd. (g)), and the child’s siblings had been neglected and there was a substantial risk
that the child would likewise be neglected (§ 300, subd. (j)).
              Detention and Relative Placement
              The day after the agency placed the child in protective custody, the paternal
grandmother (grandmother) expressed a desire to have the child placed with her. The
grandmother allegedly cared for the child when mother was previously in jail.
              The grandmother lived with three other adults and two grandchildren in a two-
bedroom apartment. The grandmother was directed to complete an application and have
everyone in her home “live scan.”
              At a detention hearing on June 29, 2012, a superior court judge made temporary
detention orders and directed the agency to investigate the grandmother for possible
relative placement. The judge also continued the matter for a further detention hearing in
early July 2012.
              A social worker tried to obtain from the grandmother the names and background
information of the other adults in her home, in time for the early July hearing. However,
when the social worker contacted the grandmother, she stated the other adults were asleep
at the time and she was unwilling to disturb them. The social worker explained she could

                                                            
2       The section 300, subdivision (b) count included one factual allegation against father. It
was identical to the allegation included in the section 300, subdivision (g) count. Specifically,
both counts alleged that father was incarcerated and sentenced to six years for a probation
violation as a felon in possession of a weapon, his sentence began on January 10, 2012, and he
was unavailable to meet the child’s needs and did not appear to have made any arrangements
prior to his incarceration.

                                                               3
 
 

not run a criminal background check on the other adults without the information, which
in turn would delay possible placement with the grandmother. The grandmother said she
understood.
              Another superior court judge, who was normally not assigned to juvenile court,
conducted the further detention hearing in early July. During an off-the-record
discussion, the judge learned the matter was continued as a contested hearing for the
social worker to “check out relative placement.” Counsel for mother requested an
additional continuance while county counsel for the agency objected. The judge
continued the detention hearing to July 11 to allow the agency enough time to complete
its assessment. The judge urged mother to communicate with relatives that they needed
to be forthcoming with their information and cooperative with the agency.
              Yet another superior court judge, whose regular assignment was in the juvenile
court, conducted the July 11 hearing. She expressed concern that the posture of this case
was strange in that the child was detained on June 26 and the matter was set and
continued over for a contested detention hearing. In the judge’s view, the case should be
set for a jurisdictional hearing. County counsel on behalf of the agency agreed and
explained the agency continued to assess relatives.3
              Counsel for mother requested that the child be placed with the grandmother. He
claimed the three other adults in the grandmother’s home had been fingerprinted. There
was no evidence before the court, however, that the grandmother’s home had been
cleared for placement.
              The court confirmed the detention orders previously made in June 2012 and set the
matter for a jurisdictional/dispositional hearing in August 2012.

                                                            
3     A paternal aunt also expressed an interest in placement. However, she apparently never
completed the application that the agency forwarded to her.

                                                               4
 
 

       Although the relatives living with the grandmother were cleared in mid-July, the
social worker discovered the child’s adult uncle lived next door to the grandmother and
was in and out of her home. The living arrangements between the two apartments were
described by the family as “fluid.” As a result, the uncle needed to be fingerprinted
before the grandmother could be approved for placement. However, he refused.
       Consequently, on August 1, 2012, the agency denied the grandmother’s placement
request. The grandmother administratively challenged the denial, which was upheld in
late August.
       As of early September, the uncle completed the fingerprinting process, the results
of which raised concerns and a history “that may or may not be exemptible.” In the
meantime, the agency placed the child in a “concurrent placement” and was not willing to
reconsider placing the child with the grandmother.
       Jurisdictional/Dispositional Hearing
       The agency recommended that the juvenile court sustain the petition, adjudge the
child a dependent, remove her from parental custody, and deny the parents reunification
services.
       At the jurisdictional/dispositional hearing on September 12, 2012, father made an
offer of proof as to what would be his testimony. One, he had a petition pending and was
hopeful he would be released from custody within the next six months due to a
sentencing error he believed the court made in his recent criminal case. Second, he had a
bond with the child, and had taken steps to prepare for her arrival, including by preparing
a nursery, obtaining baby supplies, and becoming educated regarding Down Syndrome.
Third, once he was incarcerated, he made efforts to provide for the child, including by
executing a power of attorney in an attempt to provide financially for her and to establish
a legal guardianship with the grandmother. Father also requested placement of the child

                                             5
 
 

with his mother or sister in the event the court rejected his request for reunification
services.
       During closing arguments, when county counsel began to address the issue of “any
requests for placement of relatives,” the juvenile court interjected:

       “I’ll tell you right now, I’m not going to make any orders for direct
       placement. It is completely up to the Agency as far as an appropriate
       placement, unless one is able to show that the Agency has abused its
       discretion, but this Court is not going to make any orders for direct
       placement at this time.”
       Following the parties’ closing arguments, the court exercised its dependency
jurisdiction over the child pursuant to section 300, subdivisions (b), (g), and (j).
Regarding father, the court remarked:

       “Unfortunately, the presumed father is also incarcerated. He also has a
       history of substance abuse as well as a conviction for a violent felony. His
       criminal record is concerning, although, he presents as a nice individual,
       and I am not saying he is not a nice individual, but, unfortunately, given the
       circumstances, the Court has no option but to find, based upon a
       preponderance of the evidence, that the petition is true.”
       The court made the requisite findings to remove the child from parental custody,
including that reasonable efforts had been made to prevent or eliminate the need for
removal. The court also denied the parents’ reunification services under section 361.5,
subdivision (b)(10) and (11), and subdivision (e)(1).
       At a hearing on October 2, 2012, father’s counsel again requested that the child be
placed either with the grandmother or father’s sister. The agency opposed the request
and the juvenile court declined to address it, explaining “this Court is not supposed to get
involved in the issue of placement unless one can―alleges that the Agency has abused its
discretion with regard to placement decisions.” The court then set a section 366.26
hearing to select and implement a permanent plan for the child.

                                              6
 
 

        Mother filed a petition seeking an extraordinary writ from the juvenile court’s
order denying reunification services and setting a section 366.26 hearing. This court
denied mother’s petition in an unpublished opinion filed in January 2013. (A.B. v.
Superior Court (Jan. 11, 2013, F065883).) On our own motion, we take judicial notice of
the court file and the unpublished opinion in the prior appeal, case No. F065883. (Evid.
Code, §§ 452, subd. (d)(1), 459, subd. (a).) The above background information is based,
in part, on the facts reflected in our prior opinion, which considered the same reports
relevant to this case.
               Father’s counsel also filed a notice of intent to file a writ. However,
counsel subsequently informed this court she would not be filing a writ petition.
Consequently, this court issued an order granting father leave to personally file a writ
petition. After no petition was filed, the action was dismissed as abandoned.
        Section 366.26 Hearing
        On January 22, 2013, the agency filed a “366.26 WIC” report recommending that
parental rights be terminated and a permanent plan of adoption be established for the
child. The report noted that the child was currently placed in a foster home with a family
who wished to adopt her and who was capable of meeting her special needs.
        The section 366.26 hearing was held on February 1, 2013. Father made an offer of
proof, similar to the one he made at the jurisdictional/dispositional hearing, namely that
he was bonded with the child and he took steps to prepare for her arrival. Father also
objected to termination of his parental rights. However, in the event the court freed the
child for adoption, father requested she be placed for adoption with the grandmother or
his sister.
        After listening to closing arguments, the juvenile court terminated parental rights
and ordered adoption as the child’s permanent plan.

                                              7
 
 

       On February 14, 2013, father filed a notice of appeal from the February 1 order
terminating parental rights.
                                        DISCUSSION
       Father contends he received ineffective assistance from the outset of the case, the
consequence of which was the termination of his parental rights. According to father,
counsel should have argued that the section 300 allegations against him were
unsustainable because he was able to show he could arrange for the care of the child
through placement with the grandmother and he was not required to prove this
arrangement was suitable; rather that burden belonged to the agency. (See In re S.D.
(2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 1068, 1079 [nothing in section 300, subdivision (g) requires
incarcerated parent to prove affirmatively the suitability of his or her caretaking
arrangements].) Father acknowledges that “[s]ince there were allegations found true
against mother, the court still would have had jurisdiction.” However, he contends, “the
court should have proceeded pursuant to section 361.2 as to him since he was a non-
custodial parent and his counsel should have so argued.” Father asserts his counsel could
have had no possible tactical reasons for not making these arguments or for failing to
request custody under section 361.2.
       Preliminarily, we note father forfeited his claim of ineffective assistance of
counsel by failing to raise it in a timely appeal or writ petition. (In re Meranda P. (1997)
56 Cal.App.4th 1143, 1160.) To overcome forfeiture, father argues he was denied due
process. We disagree. However, even assuming father had not forfeited the issue, we
would reject his claim on the merits.
       Section 317.5, subdivision (a), provides “[a]ll parties who are represented by
counsel at dependency proceedings shall be entitled to competent counsel.” In order to
establish that his counsel in a dependency proceeding was ineffective, “a parent must
demonstrate both that: (1) his appointed counsel failed to act in a manner expected of
                                              8
 
 

reasonably competent attorneys acting as diligent advocates; and that (2) this failure
made a determinative difference in the outcome, rendering the proceedings
fundamentally unfair in that it is reasonably probable that but for such failure, a
determination more favorable for [the parent’s] interests would have resulted.’
[Citations.]” (In re Dennis H. (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 94, 98.)
       “A court need not evaluate whether counsel’s performance was deficient before
examining prejudice suffered by defendant. [Citation.] Thus, a court may reject a claim
if the party fails to demonstrate that but for trial counsel’s failings, the result would have
been more favorable to the defendant. [Citation.]” (In re Nada R. (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th
1166, 1180.)
       Father’s prejudice argument rests on the assertion that the juvenile court probably
would have granted a timely request for custody under section 361.2. Assuming this
statute applied in father’s case, the record does not support this assertion.
       Section 361.2, subdivision (a), provides:

       “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.”
       “Among the factors in determining detriment are the noncustodial, incarcerated
parent’s ability to make appropriate arrangements for the care of the child and the length
of that parent’s incarceration.” (In re Noe F. (2013) 213, Cal.App.4th 358, 368.) “At
disposition, the length of a parent’s incarceration may be a factor in determining
detriment under sections 361, subdivision (c) and 361.2, subdivision (a), but a finding of
detriment cannot be based solely on the fact a parent is incarcerated.” (Id. at p. 369.)

                                               9
 
 

              There were numerous factors present in this case on which the court could have
based a finding that it would be detrimental to place the child with father, including his
serious criminal background and the length of his incarceration; i.e., six years. (Contrast
Isayah C., supra, 118 Cal.App.4th at p. 700 [father’s plan to have child live with paternal
relatives during father’s “relatively short incarceration” was not “a sufficient showing of
detriment under section 361.2[, subd.] (a)”].) At the jurisdictional/dispositional hearing
in this case, the juvenile court specifically observed that father’s “criminal record is
concerning.” The court noted that, in addition to his current incarceration, father had “a
history of substance abuse as well as a conviction for a violent felony.” The length of
father’s prison sentence and the court’s express concerns about father’s history of
criminality and substance abuse cast doubt on his assertion that the court likely would
have granted a request for custody under section 361.2.
              More importantly, father is unable to show he could make suitable arrangements
for the child’s care during his incarceration as the agency would not approve the
placement he sought. Although counsel did not specifically raise section 361.2, she made
multiple requests for placement with the grandmother. However, the juvenile court
repeatedly indicated it would not involve itself in the agency’s placement decisions
“unless one is able to show that the Agency has abused its discretion.” While disagreeing
with the agency’s reasons for rejecting placement with the grandmother, father apparently
has never argued or attempted to establish the agency abused its discretion.4 Because

                                                            
4        In light of the agency’s reported concerns about the paternal uncle’s fingerprinting
results, we are doubtful father’s counsel could convince the court the agency abused its
discretion in disapproving the grandmother’s request for placement of the child. On appeal,
father complains “[t]here is nothing in the law that requires guests of a placement to Live Scan
first.” However, the record indicates the paternal uncle was more than a mere guest. As noted
above, he lived next door to the grandmother, he was in and out of her apartment, and the family
described the living arrangements between the two apartments as “fluid.”

                                                               10
 
 

father has not demonstrated he was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to request custody
under section 361.2, his ineffective assistance of counsel claim fails.
       We also disagree with father’s claim he was prejudiced by his counsel’s failure to
make the correct legal argument in challenging the section 300 allegations against him.
His assertion that the challenged section 300 findings will result in his name being placed
on the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) is incorrect. It is the agency’s duty, not the
court’s, to report known or suspected cases of child abuse to the Department of Justice.
That duty is triggered by an investigator determining that it is more likely than not that
child abuse or neglect occurred, not by the sustaining of a section 300 petition. (Pen.
Code, § 11169, subd. (a).) The CACI referral process is strictly administrative in
function and has no direct relationship with jurisdictional findings under section 300.
                                      DISPOSITION
       The order terminating parental rights is affirmed.

                                             11