Court Opinion

ID: 4021119
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-02 22:03:30.603577+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:24.424000
License: Public Domain

Filed 8/2/16 In re Michael K. 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                  NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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 MICHAEL K. et al., Persons Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law.

FRESNO COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF                                                                F073160
SOCIAL SERVICES,
                                                                         (Super. Ct. Nos. 07CEJ300293-6 &
         Plaintiff and Respondent,                                                07CEJ300293-7)

                   v.
                                                                                         OPINION
MANUEL K.,

         Defendant and Appellant.

                                                   THE COURT*
         APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Mary Dolas,
Judge.
         Lauren K. Johnson, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and
Appellant.
         Daniel C. Cederborg, County Counsel, and Brent C. Woodward, Deputy County
Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
                                                        -ooOoo-

*        Before Levy, Acting P.J., Franson, J. and Peña, J.
                                   INTRODUCTION
       Appellant Manuel K. (father) contends the juvenile court erred in terminating his
parental rights at a Welfare and Institutions Code1 section 366.26 hearing because the
juvenile court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry into Indian ancestry of his sons,
Michael and Gage, failed to provide adequate notice to the tribes, and erred in concluding
the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), 25 U.S.C. section 1901 et seq., did not apply. We
disagree and affirm.
                    FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY
       On October 24, 2014, the Fresno County Department of Social Services
(department) filed a section 300 petition on behalf of 17-year-old Manuel and one-year-
old Michael.2 The petition alleged the children were at substantial risk due to mother’s
history of substance abuse, unstable housing, and continued instability despite receiving
family reunification services in 2007. The petition also alleged father and mother
exposed the children to ongoing domestic violence. It also was alleged Manuel was at
risk because no parent or guardian was willing or able to provide an appropriate plan for
his care due to his out-of-control behavior and his mental health needs.
       On September 26, 2014, the department had received a referral regarding Manuel.
Manuel had a diagnosis of psychotic disorder—not otherwise specified and required
medication and treatment. Mother did not keep follow-up appointments or ensure he
took his medication.
       Manuel was brought to the children’s crisis unit after he was found masturbating
in front of his three younger sisters at his maternal grandmother’s home; had reportedly
committed the same act on a prior occasion; and the grandmother indicated she could not

1     References to code sections are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless
otherwise specified.
2     Manuel is not the subject of this appeal; he turned 18 years old in 2015. Michael
and Gage are the subject of the appeal.

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control Manuel. Manuel had been living with his grandmother because father’s
whereabouts were unknown and mother did not have stable housing.
       On October 10, 2014, father met with a social worker and stated there was an
agreement for grandmother to care for the children until the parents were more stable;
stated Manuel did not masturbate in front of others; and father denied using drugs.
       The family had a prior history with the department dating back to 2007; the
parents had reunified with their children in 2009. Mother had a criminal history dating
back to 1996; father’s criminal history dated back to 1992. Father’s criminal history
included narcotics violations, willful cruelty to a child, conspiracy to commit a crime,
driving under the influence, providing false information to the police, and disorderly
conduct.
       The department’s detention report recommended that Manuel and Michael be
detained due to Manuel’s mental health needs, drug use by the parents, the family’s
unstable lifestyle, and the domestic violence in the home. At the October 29, 2014
detention hearing, Manuel and Michael were detained.
       Mother and father both had completed form ICWA-020, parental notification of
Indian status. Father indicated he had no known Indian ancestry. Mother indicated she
may have Indian ancestry, but did not specify any tribe. Mother and father were both
present at the detention hearing, during which the juvenile court ordered mother to meet
with the department and provide additional information regarding her possible Indian
heritage. The juvenile court appointed counsel to represent father in the proceedings.
       Mother did not meet with the department after the detention hearing. The
jurisdiction report, however, states that mother notified the department she does not have
any Indian ancestry. The department recommended the juvenile court find that ICWA
does not apply.
       Father’s counsel filed a statement of contested issues for the jurisdiction hearing.
The issues to be contested all related to allegations of the petition that would give rise to

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an assumption of jurisdiction by the juvenile court. There was no challenge to the
recommended finding that ICWA does not apply.
       On November 12, 2014, the department served completed form ICWA-030 on the
parents, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and eight different Apache tribes. The
ICWA-030 form listed the children’s names and birthdates; the names and birthdates of
both parents, as well as other known relevant information on the parents; and information
on the paternal and maternal grandmothers. Father was served by certified mail with the
ICWA-030 and he signed for the form on November 17, 2014.
       At the initial jurisdiction hearing on November 19, 2014, father was present and
represented by counsel. At the December 10, 2014, continued hearing, father was present
with counsel.
       On December 15, 2014, the department filed responses from the Mescalero and
San Carlos Apache tribes, indicating that the children were not eligible for enrollment
with the tribe. Also on December 19, 2014, the department filed proof of service of the
ICWA-030 on the parents, BIA, and eight Apache tribes.
       The jurisdiction hearing was set for a contested hearing on January 7, 2015, at
which father was not present, but he appeared through counsel. At the jurisdiction
hearing, the juvenile court found the children were minors described by section 300,
subdivisions (b) and (c), and set the matter for a disposition hearing.
       The initial disposition hearing was held on January 21, 2015, at which father
appeared through counsel. The hearing was continued.
       On February 2, 2015, the department filed responses from the Tonto Apache Tribe
and the Kiowa Apache Tribe of Oklahoma. Both tribes indicated the children were not
eligible for membership.
       On February 9, 2015, counsel for the department filed a motion requesting the
juvenile court find ICWA did not apply. In the motion, it was stated that father reported
to the department he “may” have Apache heritage and mother reported she “may” have

                                             4.
Indian heritage. The motion erroneously states the department notified the BIA and three
Cherokee tribes of the proceedings. The ICWA-030 documentation reflects the
department notified the BIA and eight federally recognized Apache tribes of the
proceedings by certified mail, return receipt. The ICWA-030 had been mailed
November 12, 2014; the only responses received indicated the children were not eligible
for enrollment; some tribes had not responded. The motion was personally served on
counsel for father on February 9.
       The continued disposition hearing was held February 10, 2015; father was present
through counsel. The juvenile court found that ICWA did not apply. Reunification
services were ordered for both parents, with supervised visitation. A six-month review
hearing was scheduled.
       On April 17, 2015, the department filed a section 300 petition on behalf of
newborn Gage. Mother told the social worker she had no Indian ancestry. Mother stated
father was the biological father of Gage and she planned to list father on the birth
certificate. Father’s whereabouts were unknown at this time and he had not signed a
declaration of paternity, so the department considered father to be an alleged father.
       Both mother and father were present for the detention hearing for Gage held on
April 20, 2015. Both parents completed form ICWA-020; both indicated they had no
known Indian ancestry. Gage was detained; services were offered; supervised visitation
was ordered; and a jurisdiction hearing was scheduled.
       On April 30, 2015, the department filed responses from the White Mountain
Apache Tribe and Yavapai-Apache Nation indicating Manuel and Michael were not
eligible for enrollment.
       At the May 11, 2015 jurisdiction hearing for Gage, neither parent was present.
The allegations of the petition were found true and a disposition hearing was set. The
disposition report prepared by the department recommended reunification services be

                                             5.
denied to the parents. The department scheduled paternity testing for father to determine
Gage’s parentage; father never showed for the test.
       The contested disposition hearing for Gage was held on June 24, 2015. Neither
parent was present. The juvenile court found ICWA did not apply; denied reunification
services to the parents; and scheduled a section 366.26 hearing for September 21, 2015.
The clerk of the court was directed to mail notice to the parents within 24 hours.
       Manuel turned 18 years old in May 2015. Consequently, no review hearing was
held as to Manuel.
       The report for the July 20, 2015 status review on Michael recommended that the
juvenile court terminate reunification services for the parents. At the hearing, neither
parent was present and the juvenile court terminated reunification services and set the
matter for a section 366.26 hearing.
       On October 22, 2015, the department filed a supplemental petition pursuant to
section 387. The petition alleged the foster mother was abusing Michael. The
department recommended Michael and Gage be removed from their foster parent. On
October 23, 2015, Michael and Gage were removed from the foster mother’s care.
       The section 366.26 report for Gage was dated September 21, 2015. The
department recommended parental rights be terminated and a permanent plan of
adoption. The section 366.26 report for Michael was dated October 26, 2015. The
department recommended termination of parental rights and a permanent plan of
adoption for Michael, as well.
       On November 3, 2015, mother filed a section 388 petition, seeking reunification
services with Michael and Gage. The department recommended mother’s request be
denied. The juvenile court denied mother’s section 388 petition on November 10, 2015.
       The department filed an addendum report dated November 30, 2015. This report
noted that Michael and Gage were bonding with the prospective adoptive parents. The

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prospective adoptive parents interacted appropriately with the two children and had
demonstrated their ability to nurture and provide for the children.
       On February 3, 2016, the contested section 366.26 hearing was held; it was a
combined hearing for Michael and Gage. Both mother and father were present. The
juvenile court found Michael and Gage were adoptable and none of the exceptions to
adoption applied. The juvenile court terminated the parental rights of mother and father
to Michael and Gage and ordered both children placed for adoption.
       Father filed a notice of appeal on February 4, 2016.
                                       DISCUSSION
       Father contends the juvenile court failed to conduct an adequate inquiry into the
children’s Indian status, failed to provide adequate notice to the tribes, and erred in
concluding the ICWA did not apply. We conclude notice was adequate and the juvenile
court did not err.
   I. Challenge to ICWA Notice
       Father’s opening brief failed to address this court’s seminal case on the waiver of
ICWA issues, In re Pedro N. (1995) 35 Cal. App. 4th 183 (Pedro N.). In Pedro N., the
mother did not raise an issue regarding compliance with ICWA until the juvenile court
terminated her parental rights. (Pedro N., supra, at p. 189.) We concluded mother had
not timely raised the ICWA issue because “all persons involved were aware at the
dispositional hearing, and earlier” of the ICWA issue, and mother did not raise the issue
until two years after the dispositional order. (Pedro N., supra, at pp. 189-190.) Having
failed to raise the ICWA issue timely by appealing from the dispositional order, we
concluded mother was foreclosed from raising the issue in an appeal from the order
terminating her parental rights. (Pedro N., supra, at p. 189.)
       The California Supreme Court issued its decision in In re Isaiah W. (July 7, 2016,
S221263) 1 Cal. 5th 1,      [2016 Cal. Lexis 4742], disapproving Pedro N. and holding
that a parent can raise the issue of ICWA compliance at any stage of the proceedings,

                                              7.
including in an appeal after termination of parental rights. Consequently, father has not
forfeited his right to challenge ICWA compliance.
        Father is not precluded from raising any issues of noncompliance with the ICWA.
Therefore, we address whether the juvenile court complied with ICWA and conclude
there was substantial compliance.
   II. Adequate Notice
   Notice of dependency proceedings is required to be sent to tribes, the BIA, and the
Secretary of the Interior whenever it is known or there is reason to know that an Indian
child is involved. (25 U.S.C. § 1912(a); 25 C.F.R. § 23.11(a); § 224.2, subd. (a); In re
Desiree F. (2000) 83 Cal. App. 4th 460, 469.)
        As to Michael, the department served completed form ICWA-030 on the parents,
the BIA, and eight different Apache tribes. The ICWA-030 form listed Michael’s name
and birthdate; the names and birthdates of both parents, as well as other known relevant
information on the parents; and information on the paternal and maternal grandmothers.
Father was served by certified mail with the ICWA-030 and he signed for the form on
November 17, 2014.
        To the extent father contends the notice in Michael’s case was inadequate because
it contained incomplete identifying information about Michael’s grandparents and other
ancestors, the department is only required, and can only include, information which is
known to it. (§ 224.2, subd. (a)(5)(C).) Father was served with the ICWA-030 forms.
There is no indication in the record the department had additional information that it
failed to include on the forms. If father had more family information available to him
than was included on the forms, then he should have made that information available to
the department and the juvenile court. There is no indication in the record this was the
case.

                                             8.
       As for the failure to send a notice to the Secretary of the Interior, father has not
demonstrated any harm from this procedural error. (In re L.B. (2003) 110 Cal. App. 4th
1420, 1426.) The BIA was served as well as eight federally recognized Apache tribes.
       With respect to Gage, mother and father indicated they had no Indian ancestry
when they filled out the form ICWA-020 in Gage’s dependency case. One of the primary
purposes of giving notice to the BIA and tribes is to determine whether the child may be
eligible for membership in a tribe and an Indian child. (In re Desiree F., supra, 83
Cal.App.4th at p. 470.)
   By the time a petition was filed on behalf of Gage, the tribes who had responded to
the ICWA-030 notice in Michael’s case had all responded that Michael was not eligible
for enrollment in the tribe and was not an Indian child. Both father and mother stated
they had no known Indian ancestry when they filled out the ICWA-020 in Gage’s case.
Consequently, there was no obligation on the part of the department to provide any notice
to any tribe, the BIA, or the Secretary of the Interior because there was no reason to
believe Gage may be an Indian child. (In re Desiree F., supra, 83 Cal.App.4th at p. 469.)
                                      DISPOSITION
       The February 3, 2016, order terminating parental rights as to Michael and Gage is
affirmed.

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