Court Opinion

ID: 2718151
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-14 19:02:15.690349+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:07:10.835385
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/14/14 In re Sebastian Z. Ca4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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.

                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

In re SEBASTIAN Z., a Person Coming
Under the Juvenile Court Law.
                                                                 D065378
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
                                                                 (Super. Ct. No. SJ12683)
         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

ASHLEY Z. et al.,

         Defendants and Appellants.

         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Garry G.

Haehnle, Judge. Affirmed.

         Patti L. Dikes, under appointment by the Court of Appeal for Defendant and

Appellant Ashley Z.

         William Hook, under appointment by the Court of Appeal for Defendant and

Appellant Paul Z.
       Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County

Counsel, and Thomas C. Hughes, Jr., Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and

Respondent.

       Stacey Otzmann, under appointment by the Court of Appeal for Minor.

       Ashley Z. and Paul Z. separately appeal an order under Welfare and Institutions

Code1 section 366.26 selecting adoption as the permanent plan for their son Sebastian Z.

and terminating their parental rights. They contend the evidence was insufficient to

support the juvenile court's finding that Sebastian was likely to be adopted within a

reasonable time. We affirm.

                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       In November 2011 the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency

(the Agency) filed a petition under section 300, subdivision (b), alleging that Sebastian

was exposed to violent confrontations between his parents involving Paul's use of

physical force against Ashley that caused her to sustain physical injuries. Specifically,

the petition alleged that in Sebastian's presence, Paul threw Ashley against a wall of the

motel room they were occupying and headbutted her, causing injury to her nose. The

force of the headbutt caused Ashley to lose consciousness, fall to the ground, and fracture

her elbow. The Agency removed Sebastian from the parents after the police arrested Paul

for spousal battery. The court ordered Sebastian detained in foster care. On December

1      All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

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22, 2011, the court issued a restraining order prohibiting Paul from contacting Ashley for

a period of one year.

       At the jurisdiction and disposition hearing in February 2012, the court sustained

the petition and made a true finding on the section 300, subdivision (b) count. The court

declared Sebastian a dependent of the court and ordered him removed from his parents'

custody and placed in a foster home. The court ordered the Agency to provide the

parents reunification services.

       In its status review report for the six-month review hearing, the Agency concluded

that both parents had "shown engagement in services but [required] more time and

participation in services to fully comprehend their role in exposing their child to domestic

violence and to learn tools to maintain healthy relationships to establish trust and provide

stability and safety for their child." The Agency recommended the parents be provided

six more months of reunification services. At the six-month review hearing in August

2012, the court continued Sebastian's out-of-home placement and ordered that the parents

be provided services to the 12-month date of January 15, 2013.

       In its report for the 12-month review hearing, the Agency noted that Paul and

Ashley were continuing in a relationship and living together despite the restraining order

prohibiting Paul from contacting Ashley. Paul had tested positive for marijuana and

Ashley had tested positive for methamphetamine and told hospital staff that she and Paul

had used ecstasy. The Agency was concerned about Ashley's substance abuse and the

fact she had been dishonest about it with the social worker. Additionally, the Agency

social worker and a number of Ashley's service providers had observed that Ashley was

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emotionally unstable and needed psychiatric evaluation and medication to help stabilize

her moods.

        Paul had shown limited progress since the six-month review hearing. He was not

enrolled in any services and had not shown progress in taking responsibility for his

actions or understanding the impact that exposure to domestic violence had on Sebastian.

The Agency reported it was most concerned about the fact that Paul and Ashley had both

admitted having contact and residing with each other throughout the dependency

proceedings "despite vehement denials throughout the case . . . about their contact with

each other." The Agency concluded there was not a substantial probability that Sebastian

would be returned to his parents by the 18-month date. Accordingly, the Agency

requested that the court terminate reunification services for both parents and set a section

366.26 hearing.

        At the 12-month review hearing, the court found the parents had not made

substantive progress with their case plans and there was not a substantial probability that

Sebastian would be returned to their custody within the next six months. The court

terminated the parents' reunification services and set a section 366.26 hearing for June 27,

2013.

        The court ultimately held the section 366.26 hearing on December 11, 2013. In an

addendum report filed on November 15, 2013, for the hearing, the Agency reported that

Paul was arrested for spousal abuse on November 1, 2013. He and Ashley, who was

eight months pregnant, had been living together in hotels. During an argument over

payment for a hotel room, Paul punched Ashley in the mouth and cut her lip. Ashley told

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the arresting officer that before Paul hit her on the mouth, he put his hands on her throat

and strangled her to the point that it was difficult to breathe for about 20 seconds. He

then grabbed her face with his hands and pressed his fingers against her chin and cheeks,

causing her teeth to lacerate the inside of her cheeks. She told the officer there had been

10 to 20 instances of domestic violence during the course of her and Paul's relationship.

       At the section 366.26 hearing, the court found by clear and convincing evidence

that Sebastian was likely to be adopted if parental rights were terminated and that none of

the circumstances listed in section 366.26, subdivision (c)(1)(B)(1), that would make

termination of parental rights detrimental to Sebastian existed. Accordingly, the court

terminated parental rights and referred Sebastian to the Agency for adoptive placement.

                                  Sebastian's Placements

       Because the sole issue in this appeal is whether substantial evidence supports the

court's adoptability finding, we address Sebastian's placements in greater detail.

Sebastian has undergone six changes in custody since his initial detention in this case.

He was first placed in a foster home where he stayed for about four months (November

16, 2011 to March 9, 2012). He was then placed with a nonrelative extended family

member (NREFM) in Yorktown, Virginia for about five months (March 9, 2012 to

August 14, 2012). On August 14, 2012, he was placed in a temporary respite home in

Virginia for three days, and on August 17 he was returned to San Diego and temporarily

placed in Polinsky Children's Center (PCC) (August 17, 2012 to September 12, 2013).

He was next placed in a confidential foster home for nine and a half months (September

12, 2012 to June 21, 2013). On June 21, 2013, began his current placement, in which he

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has done remarkably well. At the time of the section 366.26 hearing, he had been in the

home of his current caregivers for about six months.

       The first night Sebastian was in his initial foster home, he woke up in the middle

of the night, knocked over the night stand by his bed, and removed everything from the

drawers. In November 2011 the foster mother's adult daughter reported that Sebastian

was aggressive and "really rough." He had hit and kicked the foster mother and he

climbed on furniture in her home and tried to jump off his high chair. When he became

upset, he bit himself and his jacket or tried to bite someone else. He accompanied the

foster mother to a doctor's appointment and became angry when she would not let him

run around the clinic. He kicked and bit the foster mother and yelled "help! help!" in the

doctor's office. He was not in daycare because he tried to bite another child there and

used bad words. He got angry when he did not get things he wanted, like gum and soda,

and he refused to go to the bathroom in the toilet despite being potty trained. He said

"no" to everything and liked to grab women's breasts and say, "boobies boobies."

       In January 2012, the foster mother's daughter reported that Sebastian had recently

become more defiant than usual. He said "no" to everything, yelled, fought, and did not

want to go to sleep at night. He bit another child placed in the foster home during a car

ride and the bite left teeth marks on the child's hand. The child had done nothing to

provoke Sebastian. Sebastian's caregivers told a psychologist who was providing

Sebastian services that his behavior had worsened since his visits with his parents had

increased. He was mumbling more and had "meltdowns" for no reason, and he threw

tantrums lasting three to four minutes about 25 times per week.

                                             6
       In March 2012, Sebastian began his placement with the NREFM in Virginia. The

NREFM reported that Sebastian continued to have "behavioral concerns." He threw

tantrums and hit the other child in the home. He could not play alone and demanded to

be the center of attention. The NREFM stated that overall, "He is doing good. We have

our moments and are both adjusting."

       Sebastian attended play therapy once a week during his Virginia placement. His

play therapy provider reported that he was very inquisitive and asked a lot of questions,

which she considered good for a child his age. The provider stated, "[Sebastian] is

receptive to redirection, will volunteer statements, rather than needing to be asked

exploratory questions and volunteers information, both of which are good. He focuses on

taking care of babies (baby dolls)[,] feeding them, changing them, etc. This is a repeated

theme in sessions."

       On August 14, 2012, the NREFM notified the Agency that she would no longer be

able to care for Sebastian because his aggressive behaviors, which included hitting,

biting, and spitting, were no longer manageable. Sebastian had bitten the caregiver's

grandson with enough force to draw blood, and had hit the caregiver's disabled daughter.

As a result, the caregiver could no longer allow the children to play together. Sebastian's

behaviors had become so overwhelming that the caregiver resorted to physical discipline,

including slapping him across the mouth. The Agency placed Sebastian in a temporary

respite home in Virginia that day. On August 17, 2012, he was returned to San Diego

and placed at PCC to await placement in a Foster Family Agency home.

                                             7
       On September 12, 2012, the Agency filed a section 387 petition alleging the

court's previous disposition placing Sebastian in the home of a NREFM had not been

effective in the protection or rehabilitation of Sebastian and was no longer appropriate.

The petition recommended modifying the disposition to place Sebastian in the home of a

foster caretaker. The court sustained the petition and ordered Sebastian placed in a

licensed foster home.

       The Agency placed Sebastian in a confidential foster home on September 12,

2012. The foster mother reported ongoing problems with his defiant and aggressive

behavior. He had problems with sharing and he hit other children in the home. He was

difficult to put down to bed for the night and he woke up in the morning and screamed

until he got out of bed. The foster mother said Sebastian's behavior was manageable with

one-on-one attention. She had to constantly supervise him or he would get into trouble.

       Sebastian was in individual therapy and his therapist reported that he responded

well in therapy. The therapist described Sebastian as "a very smart boy who is having

some aggressive and acting out behaviors." The therapist was teaching him to say what

he wanted and did not want instead of acting out in an aggressive manner.

       In its report for the section 366.26 hearing, the Agency noted Sebastian continued

to present significant behavioral challenges. Although he could be charming, sweet, and

playful and he responded well to attention, his caregiver reported that he could also be

defiant and aggressive toward adults and other children, and he had significant tantrums.

He sometimes awoke early in the morning and dumped food out of cabinets.

                                             8
       On June 21, 2013, Sebastian's foster mother gave a seven-day notice to terminate

Sebastian's placement due to severe behaviors, including tantrums, defiance, aggression

toward adults and younger children, eating until sick, and getting up in the middle of the

night. The Agency moved Sebastian into his current confidential licensed foster home,

which had an approved adoptive home study. The Agency informed the new caregivers

of Sebastian's negative behaviors and attachment difficulties, and reported that the

caregivers had both used techniques learned from their adoption specialty classes and had

shown an understanding of Sebastian's needs.

       In an addendum report filed on September 27, 2013, for the section 366.26

hearing, the Agency noted Sebastian had responded well to his caregivers and was

forming an attachment to them. He was becoming a different and happier child. After a

month in the home, Sebastian became more relaxed and claimed the house as "my

house." He was beginning to use words like "I'm mad," instead of pinching, hitting, or

kicking. The Agency reported that Sebastian was "highly adoptable" and the caregivers

had "a willingness to adopt him."

       In a second addendum report filed on November 15, 2013, the Agency reported

that "Sebastian remains doing well in his current placement and his current caregivers

continue to express interest in adopting Sebastian." The caregivers reported a number of

specific examples of Sebastian's improved behavior and emotional health, including his

eating with manners and minimal playing at the table; saying "I'm sorry" more and

understanding that his actions can hurt people's feelings; talking about his friends at

daycare and sharing the events of his day, both good and bad; talking about long-term

                                              9
future plans; falling into the caregivers' daily and weekly routine; being ready to go when

being picked up at daycare; and not playing as rough. The Agency concluded that

Sebastian was residing "in a safe and positive home environment with caregivers who

love and care for him."

                                           DISCUSSION

             Sufficiency of the Evidence To Support the Court's Adoptability Finding

       Paul and Ashley contend there was insufficient evidence to support the juvenile

court's finding that Sebastian was likely to be adopted within a reasonable time. They

argue that Sebastian's severe emotional and behavioral issues made him generally

unadoptable. We disagree.

       " 'The juvenile court may terminate parental rights only if it determines by clear

and convincing evidence that it is likely the child will be adopted within a reasonable

time. [Citations.] In making this determination, the juvenile court must focus on the

child, and whether the child's age, physical condition, and emotional state may make it

difficult to find an adoptive family. [Citations.] In reviewing the juvenile court's order,

we determine whether the record contains substantial evidence from which a reasonable

trier of fact could find clear and convincing evidence that [the child] was likely to be

adopted within a reasonable time. [Citations.]' [Citations.] We give the court's finding

of adoptability the benefit of every reasonable inference and resolve any evidentiary

conflicts in favor of affirming. [Citation.]"

       "A child's young age, good physical and emotional health, intellectual growth and

ability to develop interpersonal relationships are all attributes indicating adoptability.

                                                10
[Citation.] ' "Usually, the fact that a prospective adoptive parent has expressed interest in

adopting the minor is evidence that the minor's age, physical condition, mental state, and

other matters relating to the child are not likely to dissuade individuals from adopting the

minor. In other words, a prospective adoptive parent's willingness to adopt generally

indicates the minor is likely to be adopted within a reasonable time either by the

prospective adoptive parent or by some other family." ' " (In re Gregory A. (2005) 126

Cal.App.4th 1554, 1561-1562.) However, the likelihood of adoptability may also be

satisfied by a showing that a child is generally adoptable, independent of whether there is

a prospective adoptive family. (In re A.A. (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1292, 1313.)

       The evidence sufficiently supports the court's finding by clear and convincing

evidence that Sebastian was likely to be adopted. At the contested section 366.26

hearing, the court admitted into evidence the initial assessment report and two addendum

reports that the Agency prepared for the section 366.26 hearing. In one of the addendum

reports, the Agency concluded Sebastian was generally and specifically adoptable. The

Agency described him as "smart, engaging, fun, and very cute." In its initial assessment

report, the Agency concluded Sebastian was generally adoptable and described him as

"bright, charming, and adorable."

       The Agency reported that Sebastian's current caregivers had an approved adoptive

study and "a willingness to adopt him." In addition, there was a paternal relative in

Missouri who was interested in placement and had experience with adoption. The San

Diego County Adoptions Coordinator reported there were 61 families in San Diego

County that would be interested in a child with Sebastian's characteristics, which

                                             11
included his age, ethnicity, gender, attachment difficulties, aggressive behaviors, and

family history involving drug use. The Agency viewed Sebastian as "highly adoptable."

The court was entitled to find the Agency's opinion credible, and to give great weight to

its assessment. (See In re Casey D. (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 38, 53.)2

       As we noted in our statement of facts, the Agency reported in its November 2013

addendum report for the section 366.26 hearing that Sebastian continued to do well in his

current placement and that his current caregivers continued to express interest in adopting

him. He was adjusting well to the daily and weekly routine of the caregivers' home; his

behavior was improving; he had become far less aggressive; he was forming attachments;

and he had made friends in daycare. The fact that Sebastian was able to attend fulltime

daycare is itself evidence of dramatic improvement in his emotional and behavioral issues

that the parents contend made him generally unadoptable.

       Based on the evidence that Sebastian was a bright, charming, adorable four-year-

old child; there were numerous families in San Diego County willing to adopt a child

with his characteristics; a paternal relative was interested in adoptive placement; his

severe emotional and behavioral issues had dramatically improved in his current foster

placement; and his current caregivers had expressed willingness to adopt him, the court

2     In its oral ruling at the section 366.26 hearing, the court found: "There are a
number of families that he is generally adoptable to, 60 some odd families within the
county that would adopt a child [with] Sebastian's characteristics. He is also specifically
adoptable by the current caregivers."

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reasonably found by clear and convincing evidence that Sebastian was likely to be

adopted within a reasonable time.3

                                        DISPOSITION

       The order selecting adoption as Sebastian's permanent plan and terminating

parental rights is affirmed.

                                                                            HALLER, J.

WE CONCUR:

              McCONNELL, P. J.

                          IRION, J.

3      The Agency filed a motion to augment the record with additional evidence of
subsequent events contained in the juvenile court file: a permanency planning review
report dated June 13, 2014, and the court's June 13, 2014, minute order. We deny the
motion.
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