Court Opinion

ID: 9375772
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-28 20:02:27.287283+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:01.647788
License: Public Domain

Filed 2/28/23 In re I.D. 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                 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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                COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION ONE

                                         STATE OF CALIFORNIA

 In re I.D., a Person Coming Under                               D080675
 the Juvenile Court Law.

 SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH                                         (Super. Ct. Nos. J521021A-C)
 AND HUMAN SERVICES
 AGENCY,

           Plaintiff and Respondent,

           v.

 I.D. et al.,

           Defendants and Appellants.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County,
Browder A. Willis III, Judge. Reversed and remanded for further
proceedings.
         Janelle B. Price, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Defendants and Appellants.
         Liana Serobian, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Respondent Father.
      Pamela Rae Tripp, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for
Respondent Mother.
      Claudia G. Silva, County Counsel, Caitlin E. Rae, Chief Deputy County
Counsel, and Lisa Maldonado, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and
Respondent San Diego County Health and Human Services.
      The juvenile court sees the full spectrum of the human experience, from
abject tragedies to instances of reaffirming hopefulness. And then there are
cases like this that are impossible to describe, much less conclusively
evaluate. In a moment of understatement, the judge here concluded, “[T]here
is something going on in that household that creates a danger and a risk” to
the children who are the subject of this dependency action. Yet despite the
virtually undisputed evidence that the children’s father, R.D. (Father) was at
the center of the “something” going on, the court elected to leave them in his
care and custody, albeit on condition that he reside with the maternal
grandparents. Although we routinely defer to the best judgment of the
juvenile court in such placement matters, this is the exceptional case where
the evidence points to only one reasonable conclusion—that Father
represents a substantial danger to the children’s health and well-being if they
are left in his care. Accordingly, while we affirm the court’s order declaring
the children dependents under section 300, subdivision (b)(1) of the Welfare

and Institutions Code,1 we reverse the dispositional order and remand for
further proceedings.

1     All other statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code
unless otherwise stated.
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              FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A.    Family History
      In April 2022, the San Diego County Child Abuse Hotline received a
report of neglect and abuse involving minors I.D. (age 13), T.D. (age 12), and
A.D. (then age 4). A social worker from the San Diego County Health and
Human Services Agency (Agency) investigated the report, which included
allegations that unknown individuals were entering the family’s home and
engaging in sexual activity with H.D. (Mother) while the children and Father
slept. Father allegedly had video evidence of these activities, but he claimed
he was unable to access the videos because people were breaking into his
home, his phone and his camera system and deleting them. The videos that
Father provided the social worker and police failed to show the activities he
claimed were recorded. Mother had no memory of the alleged activities.
      Father additionally maintained that “car loads” of unknown individuals
were going to the home where they tracked and stalked the family. He
reported strange noises outside the home, claiming that a wire to the internet
box was cut and window screens were damaged. The police were contacted,
but they determined no crime had been committed. Father owns a rifle, and
recently purchased a handgun and a shotgun to protect the family from
people he claimed were coming near the home.
      The family has repeatedly relocated to various motels and relatives’
homes to evade the unknown stalkers. Even so, Father believed these
stalkers were able to locate the family. He told the children that strangers
were around their home, that he had videos of them, and that Mother needed
to be restrained so she would not contact or engage in sexual activities with
them. He restrained Mother with tape, handcuffs, and a straitjacket, and
locked her in a closet to prevent her from having sex with strangers. The

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children believed Father’s claims, including that these “safety measures”
failed to work as Mother somehow escaped and then returned to her
restraints. They reported trying to stay awake to ensure Mother did not get
away, which adversely impacted their school attendance and participation.
      The two older children became angry after being told of Mother’s
alleged sexual activity with strangers, and both participate in therapy to
address their emotions. I.D., the oldest child, was described as hypervigilant,
terrified, anxious, and sad because of the events he believed were taking
place around their house. He reported feeling responsible for protecting his
younger siblings, and experiencing nightmares and trouble breathing due to
anxiety. I.D.’s therapist diagnosed him as having an adjustment disorder
with mixed anxiety and depression. She confirmed that the issues reportedly
occurring at home left him sleep deprived. Mother’s psychiatrist and Father’s
therapist both expressed concern about the children’s safety while residing in
a chaotic home with parents who have untreated mental health issues.
      Mother had restraining orders against Father in 2009 and 2019 to
protect her and the children from domestic violence. Father then completed
services for domestic violence. He was psychiatrically hospitalized in 2019
where he was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and posttraumatic
stress disorder. Although he had been prescribed psychotropic medication, he
denied taking it currently because he did not think he needed it.
      During her interview, Mother requested that Father be present for
emotional support. She had no key to the home and no cellphone, so she
could not contact or invite strangers into the home. While she denied
recalling the activities with strangers that Father reported, she believed
some had happened as he described.

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      Mother’s psychiatrist diagnosed her with major depressive disorder and
was evaluating her for dissociative identity disorder and/or schizoaffective
disorder. She participated in therapy, and the therapist expressed concern
that she was being manipulated psychologically by Father. The Agency was
concerned that it appeared to be the same pattern of control that
characterized the relationship when domestic violence was alleged in 2009.
Then, like now, Father reportedly controlled and isolated Mother, subjecting
her to continual surveillance.
      On May 11, 2022, the Agency requested and the court issued a
protective custody warrant, removing the children from their parents’ custody
out of concern for their safety. It then filed a petition alleging that the
children came within the provisions of section 300, subdivision (b)(1).
Specifically, the petition asserted that the children have suffered or were at
risk of suffering serious physical harm or illness by the inability of the
parents to provide regular care for children due to the parents’ mental illness,
developmental disability, or substance abuse.
B.    Detention Hearing
      Two days later, on May 13, the court held a detention hearing. The
Agency recommended that the children be removed from their parents’ care
and that the parents be allowed supervised visitation. These
recommendations were based on concerns regarding the children’s safety due
to Father’s continued and escalating pattern of control over Mother and both
parents’ declining mental health. In the Agency’s view, there was “reason to
believe that the children and [M]other are at risk of possible death if left in
the [F]ather’s care.”
      The court detained the children and ordered supervised visitation for
each parent separately. It expressed concern about the children’s emotional

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well-being, including the anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances they
were experiencing. The children were allowed to remain with the maternal
grandparents and were to receive therapy without the presence of a parent.
The parents were to receive psychological evaluations and were allowed to
visit the children according to a schedule.
C.    The Agency’s Reports
      In June and July 2022, the Agency prepared and filed a
jurisdiction/disposition report and a series of addendum reports. The
children continued to reside with the maternal grandparents and were
interviewed multiple times. I.D. reported ongoing domestic violence with
Mother as the aggressor because she gets angry that “no one believes her.”
He reiterated his understanding that people were stalking the family and
breaking into their home, and said he felt exhausted, angry and sad. His
mental health evaluation suggested that depression, anxiety, anger, and
adjustment to trauma adversely affected his ability to function.
      T.D. believed he was in protective custody because the “government”
thought his parents were not keeping the children safe when they argued.
He explained that they had cameras installed inside and outside the home to
protect them from the strangers Father said were coming to the home. He
reported feeling angry and sad, and his mental health evaluation concluded
that anger was adversely affecting his ability to function.
      A.D. believed she was living with maternal grandparents because
Mother had done “ ‘too much stuff’ ” that was “ ‘kinda bad.’ ” She was
otherwise unable to articulate what was happening with her parents. Her
mental health assessment revealed multiple areas of concern that needed to
be monitored.

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      Although she had no independent recollection, Mother accepted
Father’s reports that she continued to escape from restraints to have sexual
encounters with unknown individuals. She explained that she never
experienced memory loss before January 2022. In May 2022, while seeking
treatment at San Diego Mental Health Hospital, fentanyl was found in her
system although she had no recollection of taking it. She declined to be
treated on an inpatient basis. Later that month, Mother was taken to the
hospital due to an overdose of her psychotropic medication. She claimed it
was impulsive and “mostly” an “accident.” Since then, Father said he has
taken responsibility for dispensing Mother’s medication to avoid overdoses.
      In June 2022, Mother sought treatment at the hospital after feeling
“out of it.” Again, she tested positive for fentanyl without any recollection of
taking it. Later that month, Mother woke up with bruising on her face, red
marks on her neck, and swelling on her eye, lips and leg/foot. She was taken
to the hospital for evaluation and treatment and stated her belief that she
was drugged and sexually assaulted by a neighbor, despite having no
recollection of such an event. Mother, however, was reportedly handcuffed to
Father that night as a “safety” precaution. The injuries were determined
have resulted from an assault, but police did not believe there had been a
crime.
      Although the children exhibited some behavioral issues while living
with the maternal grandparents, they felt safe and were sleeping better.
They also said they wanted to be placed with their parents or Father. Both
T.D. and I.D. received treatment for depression, anxiety and/or stressors and
behavioral dysregulation. T.D. continued to suffer from an adjustment
disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. He was classified as a

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victim of emotional abuse. I.D. was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress
disorder.
      According to the Agency, “the power and control dynamic that is
typically present with domestic violence” was still apparent in the parents’
relationship. Because the video evidence failed to support Father’s claim of
Mother’s alleged sexual encounters, the Agency believed he was delusional or
fabricating the encounters “in an attempt to control [Mother] and maintain
his power over her.” Of further concern was that Father’s unsubstantiated
allegations led the children and those in Mother’s support system to question
Mother’s mental health. The Agency stated that the children “have been
significantly impacted by the parents’ delusions and continue to suffer the
emotional impact even while separated from the parents.” It concluded that
“it is not safe for the children to return home to their parents until they are
able to consistently demonstrate that they are addressing their mental health
over a period of time.”
D.    The Parents’ Psychological Evaluations
      In June 2022, Mother and Father both completed psychological
evaluations. Mother was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, depressive
type with persecutory delusions, generalized anxiety disorder, personality
disorder, primarily dependent, paranoid, and borderline features. The
evaluator concluded that Mother was “exhibiting delusions due to her fixed
beliefs which are contrary to evidence” and that her “[b]eliefs are based on
information received from [Father] and via vague video and audio footage in
which multiple collateral reporters, to include police officers and hospital
staff, have been unable to depict [sic] such acts.” Mother is “highly
dependent in her relationship” with Father and put his needs “above those of
hers and her minor children.” She also “expos[es] her children to frequent

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domestic disputes and arguments,” which “last[ ] for hours at a time,” and
“allow[s] her children to witness her being restrained and boarded up to
appease [Father’s] fears of infidelity.” The evaluator believed that Mother
should enroll in an inpatient, residential, or intensive day treatment
program. It was also “highly recommended” that she participate without
Father “due to concerns of ongoing domestic violence dynamics and potential
for a shared psychotic disorder.”
      Father was diagnosed with a delusional disorder involving jealousy and
persecution, a severe major depressive disorder, an unspecified trauma-
related disorder, and antisocial personality traits. It was noted that, after he
returned home following modification of the restraining order in 2021, “there
have been multiple allegations of [Father’s] efforts to utilize power and
control tactics upon the family, including efforts to convince [Mother] of the
alleged sexual abuse, intruder, and escape delusions and including the
children in the reported response to these beliefs.” In the evaluator’s opinion,
Father embraced “beliefs that are without substantiation, are absent of
supportive evidence, are highly implausible, and exceedingly resistant to
challenge.”
      The evaluator continued, “Given the history of substantiated domestic
violence, as well as concerns over potential delusional behaviors and power
and control dynamics, . . . the veracity of his claims and the explanation of
the motives for his actions has been repeatedly called into question.
[Father’s] flawed reasoning and possession of multiple firearms further cause
concern that his impaired perceptions can lead to disproportionate reactions,
potentially leading to use of the weapons.” Furthermore, “[t]he most
emergent factor that resulted from [Father’s] evaluation is the presence of
fixed false beliefs related to the sexual indiscretions of his wife, the uninvited

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intrusion by unknown individuals [in]to the family home, hypervigilance and
paranoid ideation about the safety and security of the home, and the
unfortunate drawing in of his two eldest children [in]to the delusional beliefs
and their respective efforts to address their [F]ather’s misguided concerns.”
Father “struggles to appreciate the severity of his actions as abusive or
neglectful toward his children.”
      The evaluator recommended that Father engage in cognitive-behavioral
therapy, metacognitive training, and pharmacological interventions to
address his delusional disorder. A referral to a domestic violence offender’s
group was recommended “[d]ue to the dynamics of power and control in the
relationship, documented by previous domestic violence, issues of limiting
[Mother’s] access to her family, telephone, and periods in which she had been
physically restrained, handcuffed, placed in a straightjacket, and/or confined
and barricaded in a locked room, unfounded and delusional accusations of
infidelity without justification, and introduction of the dynamic to their
children, resulting in their internalization of Father’s beliefs[.]”
E.    The Contested Hearing
      In July 2022, the court held a contested jurisdictional and dispositional
hearing where the Agency’s reports and the parents’ psychological
evaluations were entered into evidence. The Agency’s recommendations were
supported by testimony from the social worker. Father testified about the
services he was receiving and his relationship with the children. He also
confirmed that he administered Mother’s medication and drove her to
appointments. He maintained that strangers were coming into his house at
night to have sexual encounters with Mother, and that the strangers followed
them when they moved to different hotels and to paternal grandparents’
home.

                                        10
      At the hearing, the Agency argued that no progress had been made
since the children were detained, pointing out that Father still believed
Mother was escaping at night and that she could not care for herself without
his management and assistance. The Agency agreed with a psychologist who
evaluated Father and concluded that his false beliefs and behavior posed a
risk to the children. Minors’ counsel recognized that a bond exists between
Father and the children, but also noted that it led the children to share in
Father’s delusions. She joined the Agency, agreed with the evaluator that
Father posed a risk of harm to the children, and requested that they be
removed from parents.
      Counsel for each parent argued that the court should not take
jurisdiction, but that if it did both parents should have unsupervised visits.
Although Father’s counsel acknowledged there was “obviously something
occurring in this household,” he asserted that the children had never been
harmed physically and that Father’s behavior was that of a concerned father
and husband. He did not address the evaluator’s finding that Father’s beliefs
were delusional, but instead maintained that Mother’s mental health issues
justified Father’s actions and beliefs.
      Prior to its ruling, the court asked Father’s attorney to comment on
Father’s psychological evaluation because it was the “only professional
opinion as to [Father’s] mental health status.” Only then did counsel concede
“there does seem to be an embracing of beliefs that don’t seem to be
substantiated.” But the lawyer insisted that “Father did not ask the children
to become involved in this” instead, “they wanted to help.” He also stated
that the evaluator did not believe “the children’s lives are in danger or the
children would be physically harmed” by Father.

                                          11
      The court recognized “there is something going in that household” that
“creates a danger and a risk” and acknowledged the children have become a
part of it. At the same time, however, it noted “a jumble of confusion” as to
“what is the reality in this case.” The court ultimately found that
notwithstanding this state of confusion, there was a preponderance of the
evidence to sustain the petition under section 300, but not clear and
convincing evidence to remove the children from both parents’ care as is
required by section 361.
      As a result, the court sustained the petition, made a true finding by
preponderance of the evidence, and declared the children dependents of the
court. The children were removed from Mother’s care and placed with Father
on condition that he live with the maternal grandparents. Substance abuse
and domestic violence services were deleted from Father’s case plan, and the

court ordered liberal supervised visitation with Mother.2
                                  DISCUSSION
      The children appeal from the juvenile court’s order returning them to
Father’s care.
A.    Legal Principles
      Section 300 describes the various ways that a child comes within the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court. (§ 300.) Relevant here, and as alleged in
the petition, section 300, subdivision (b)(1)(D), provides that a child “is within
the jurisdiction of the juvenile court” if “[t]he child has suffered, or there is a
substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm or illness, . . .

2      Minors’ counsel requested an immediate stay, which was denied. After
filing a notice of appeal, counsel then sought a writ of supersedeas from this
court, which we denied.
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by the inability of the parent . . . to provide regular care for the child due to
the parent’s . . . mental illness . . . .” (Italics added.)
      The purpose of the dependency scheme is “to provide maximum safety
and protection for children who are currently being physically, sexually, or
emotionally abused, being neglected, or being exploited, and to ensure the
safety, protection, and physical and emotional well-being of children who are
at risk of that harm.” (§ 300.2, subd. (a).) “The focus shall be on the
preservation of the family as well as the safety, protection, and physical and
emotional well-being of the child.” (Ibid.) While continued care by the parent
is presumed, removal from a parent’s care is supported if there is clear and
convincing evidence there would be substantial danger to the physical health,
safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being if the child were to be
returned home, and there are no reasonable means by which the child can be
protected. (§ 361, subd. (c)(1).)
      Appellate courts typically review a juvenile court’s factual findings for
substantial evidence. (In re J.K. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1426,1433; In re
Yolanda L. (2017) 7 Cal.App.5th 987, 992 (Yolanda L.); In re Sheila B. (1993)
19 Cal.App.4th 187, 199 (Sheila B.).) While this standard of review is a
deferential one, substantial evidence must be credible, reasonable, solid, and
of ponderable legal significance. (Conservatorship of O.B. (2020) 9 Cal.5th

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989, 1006.3 At the same time, the question whether the court applied “the
appropriate legal standard . . . raises a question of law, which we review de
novo.” (Enrique M. v. Angelina V. (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 1371, 1378.)
B.    Analysis
      The Agency and the children first argue that the court applied the
wrong legal standard when it made its dispositional orders. Specifically, they
contend that the court erroneously “believe[d] the standard of proof by which
a jurisdictional finding was made by itself determined the outcome of the
dispositional orders.” We disagree.
      When the court made its jurisdictional finding, it explained that “there
is a preponderance of the evidence that leads this court to believe that there
is something going on in that household that needs supervision and
observation. ¶ So I make a true finding, but it is by preponderance of the
evidence.” Preponderance of the evidence is the correct legal standard for the
juvenile court to apply when determining whether the children fall under its
jurisdiction. (§ 355; In re Joaquin C. (2017) 15 Cal.App.5th 537, 560-561.)
Then, the court went on to explain that “[t]here is something going on in this
case. It is not by clear and convincing evidence.” Although the court did not
specify what the “something” is that is happening, we infer it applied the
“clear and convincing evidence” standard when determining whether to

3      Where, as here, “the trier of fact has expressly or implicitly concluded
that the party with the burden of proof did not carry the burden and that
party appeals, . . . the question for a reviewing court becomes whether the
evidence compels a finding in favor of the appellant as a matter of law” or,
put another way, “whether the appellant’s evidence was (1) ‘uncontradicted
and unimpeached’ and (2) ‘of such a character and weight as to leave no room
for a judicial determination that it was insufficient to support a finding.’ ” (In
re I.W. (2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 1517, 1528 (In re I.W.), disapproved on other
grounds in Conservatorship of O.B., supra, 9 Cal.5th at p. 1010, fn. 7.)
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remove the children from their parents’ care. We thus conclude that the
juvenile court applied the correct legal standard in its dispositional orders.
(§ 361; In re J.K. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1432.)
      Next, the Agency and the children contend “there was no substantial
evidence to support the juvenile court’s findings that [the Agency] and the
[the children] had not met the burden [of clear and convincing evidence] to
show risk of return.” Phrased more simply, they maintain that any
reasonable judge applying a clear and convincing evidence standard would
necessarily conclude that returning the children to Father’s custody posed a
substantial risk to their well-being. After careful consideration of the
evidence, we agree.
      In fact, the evidence of Father’s conduct and the resulting chaos and
emotional harm suffered by the children due to Father’s delusions was
“ ‘uncontradicted and unimpeached.’ ” (In re I.W., supra, 180 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1528.) As the court acknowledged, “The facts of this case are not really in
dispute.” It was uncontradicted that the children were aware of Father’s use
of physical restraints to immobilize Mother and installation of cameras and
alarms throughout the home to track her. As the court stated, “The
household dynamic creates a circumstance where even the older kids are
involved in that restraint. That doesn’t appear to be in dispute at all.” It was
also undisputed that Mother and the children believed Father’s
unsubstantiated claims that Mother was engaging in activities that put the
children at risk, and that people were allegedly stalking the family due to
Mother’s connections and breaking into the home.
      Nevertheless, despite the numerous videos Father provided the social
worker, hospital staff and law enforcement that he claimed showed Mother’s
risky behavior, there was no evidence: 1) Mother engaged in the activities

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described by Father; 2) Mother’s restraints were needed or kept her safe; 3)
Mother escaped her physical restraints and returned to captivity before
Father awoke in the morning; and 4) intruders entered their home
undetected and also tracked the family as they moved to different hotels and
homes. Yet, Father persists in these delusions and continues to place the
children and Mother at risk of harm.
      Seemingly agreeing with the Agency and the children, the court had no
trouble concluding that “there is something going on in that household that
creates a danger and a risk” for the children. Yet it claimed to have
“difficulty” determining the origin of that “danger” and “risk,” whether it was
Father’s “ ‘fixed false belief’ ” or “the family dynamic that is . . . historically
rife with domestic violence.” These are the only two options the court
articulated for its “confusion,” but in either instance there is no substantial
dispute that the children are at risk. Whether Father’s delusional construct
stems from false beliefs or represents an effort to exert power and control
over Mother, Father is responsible for the chaos in the family and resulting
psychological harm to the children. The Agency and the children therefore
necessarily demonstrated that Father represents a substantial danger to the
children by clear and convincing evidence.
      There also was unimpeached evidence of the children’s emotional harm
from the children themselves and various therapists and psychologists. They
were sleep deprived, hypervigilant, and anxious. T.D. was diagnosed as
being a victim of emotional abuse which caused him to suffer from
adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood. All the mental
health providers opined the children were being emotionally harmed. The
evidence was “ ‘of such a character and weight’ ” as to leave room for any
determination other than that the Agency and the children had met their

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burden of demonstrating a substantial risk of harm. (See In re I.W., supra,
180 Cal.App.4th at p. 1528.) Indeed, the objective observations of the social
workers, therapists, law enforcement officers, and psychological evaluators
effectively compelled a removal order. Significantly, the court failed to
address the opinions of the various professionals as to how Father’s mental
health issues detrimentally impacted the children’s well-being.
      The court was apparently impressed with Father’s testimony, which led
it to conclude he had “the intelligence and the thoughtfulness and the
insightfulness to learn . . . and repeat” concepts presented in his “domestic
violence course.” We do not dispute that evaluation; it is one the trial judge
is uniquely suited to make. But Father’s intellectual abilities are not the
issue. A high IQ is no defense against mental delusions, and very intelligent
people can exhibit very controlling behaviors.
      Both parents argue that the court provided “reasonable means” to
protect the children by requiring Father to live with the children at maternal
grandparents. (§ 361, subd. (c).) But living with the maternal grandparents
does not address Father’s multiple mental health diagnoses, nor does it keep
the children safe from “adopting and acting on” his “delusional belief system.”
Father’s evaluator opined that he had already drawn his two oldest children
into his “delusional beliefs” and “respective efforts to address [his] misguided
concerns.” Additionally, a change of location will not protect the children as
Father’s delusions were not just occurring at his home.
      We recognize it is not the appellate court’s function to reweigh the
evidence, and we do not do so here. Rather, the trial court’s reasoning
reflects it was distracted from the key issue: whether Father represented a
substantial risk to the children. Because the evidence on that issue was
overwhelming and effectively undisputed, we are compelled to reverse.

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                               DISPOSITION
     The dispositional orders as to Father are reversed and the matter is

remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.4

                                                                    DATO, J.

WE CONCUR:

HUFFMAN, Acting P. J.

BUCHANAN, J.

4     We base our disposition on the facts existing at the time of the
dispositional hearing which we determined from the record on appeal. On
remand, the juvenile court must make its decision based on the facts existing
at the time of the further proceedings. (See, e.g., In re M.V. (2022) 78
Cal.App.5th 944, 971, fn. 9.)

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