Court Opinion

ID: 2745573
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-10-24 20:04:39.316272+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:54:17.402863
License: Public Domain

Filed 10/24/14 In re D.C. 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                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 D.C., a Person Coming Under the
Juvenile Court Law.
                                                                 D066079
SAN DIEGO COUNTY HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY,
                                                                 (Super. Ct. No. CJ1163)
         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.

CIERRA C.,

         Defendant and Appellant.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Laura J.

Birkmeyer, Judge. Affirmed.

         Cristina Gabrielidis, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and

Appellant.

         Thomas E. Montgomery, County Counsel, John E. Philips, Chief Deputy County

Counsel, and Erica R. Cortez, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
       Cierra C. appeals from a judgment declaring her son D.C. a dependent of the

juvenile court under Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivision (b)1 and

removing D.C. from her custody.2 Cierra contends there was insufficient evidence to

support the juvenile court's findings that there was a risk of harm to D.C. if he were

returned to her custody and that there was no reasonable alternative to removal. Cierra

also contends there was insufficient evidence to support the court's order requiring that

her visitation with D.C. be monitored. We affirm.

                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

       On April 4, 2014, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (the

Agency) filed a petition on behalf of three-week-old D.C. under section 300, subdivision

(b) alleging that on the day he was born, D.C. tested positive for amphetamine and/or

methamphetamine and marijuana, and Cierra tested positive for the same substances.

The petition further alleged that Cierra denied using drugs after she discovered she was

pregnant, but admitted to a history of use. On four occasions she failed to submit to drug

testing requested by Agency. The alleged father admitted to drug use and tested positive

for the same substances on March 17, 2014. Both parents admitted to having two

incidents of domestic violence with each other—Cierra was arrested for inflicting

corporal injury in October 2013 and the father was arrested for battery on the mother in

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

2      In a dependency case, the disposition order is the first appealable order and
constitutes the judgment in the case. (In re S.B. (2009) 46 Cal.4th 529, 532; In re Melvin
A. (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 1243, 1250.)
                                             2
February 2014. The petition alleged that "the parents remain in contact with each other

while the child is present and are untreated for substance abuse and domestic violence[,]

and there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer serious physical harm or illness."

       In the Agency's detention report, social worker Hongsing Phou stated when he

interviewed Cierra in the hospital the day D.C. was born, Cierra denied drug use and did

not have a plausible explanation for her and D.C.'s testing positive for drugs. Cierra

admitted she had smoked cigarettes and marijuana, but said she stopped smoking when

she was told she was pregnant at the sixth month of her pregnancy. Phou told Cierra she

would not have tested positive for marijuana if she had stopped smoking it then, but

Cierra was adamant that she had stopped smoking marijuana when she learned she was

pregnant three months before D.C. was born.

       Regarding the positive tests for amphetamine, Cierra told Phou that approximately

six days before D.C.'s birth, she had an ear ache and asked the alleged father to get her

some Tylenol. The father brought her some pills that he claimed were a generic Tylenol

he had received from the paternal grandfather's friend. Cierra did not believe the father

would give her drugs knowing she was pregnant, but after she took the pills she felt sick

and fell asleep. She said she had used methamphetamine in the past but not since May

2013. A doctor at the hospital where D.C. was born reported that Cierra had tested

positive for amphetamine and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in August 2013. Phou

reported that Cierra's "claims that [D.C.'s positive drug test] was a result of the Tylenol

are unfounded. Tylenol or Tylenol with codeine does not contain

amphetamine/methamphetamine or marijuana."

                                               3
       Phou interviewed the alleged father in the home on March 17. The father said that

Cierra was not currently abusing any drugs and that he did not allow her to use drugs

once they learned she was pregnant. When Phou asked the father about his own drug

abuse, he admitted he had used "speed" before Phou came to the home. The father tested

positive that day for marijuana, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.

       The Agency allowed Cierra to take D.C. home and created a safety plan to allow

him to remain in the home pending completion of an investigation by the Agency. The

safety plan included Cierra's agreement to submit to drug testing on demand. The

Agency asked Cierra to drug test on March 27, March 28, April 1 and April 2, but she

failed to test on each of those dates. The excuses Cierra gave Phou for failing to test

were that (1) the stitches from her cesarean section came out and she was in a lot of pain

and could not walk; (2) D.C. had an appointment with a pediatrician; (3) the weather was

too cold for D.C. to be out; and (4) she could not find a ride. Phou offered to take Cierra

to the drug test location and gave her two bus passes. On April 4, 2014, the Agency

obtained a protective custody warrant and detained D.C. at Polinsky Children's Center.

The next day he was placed in a licensed foster home.

       At the detention hearing on April 7, 2014, Cierra's counsel told the court that

Cierra was planning to begin a substance abuse program the next day and was committed

to doing whatever it took to get her son back. On behalf of Cierra, counsel requested

"any and all voluntary referrals from the social worker above and beyond substance

abuse" and suggested "a domestic violence or healthy relationship referral . . . ." The

court found a prima facie showing had been made that D.C. was a person described by

                                             4
section 300, subdivision (b), and ordered him detained in licensed foster care or the home

of an approved relative or nonrelative extended family member. The court granted Cierra

liberal supervised visitation and ordered her not to be under the influence of alcohol or

drugs while visiting D.C. The court also ordered that the alleged father not be present

during Cierra's visitation. Cierra visited D.C. the day after the detention hearing, but

failed to show for three additional scheduled visits later in April.

       Social worker Jose Padilla prepared the Agency's jurisdiction/disposition report.

Padilla reported that Cierra failed to show up for two scheduled jurisdiction/disposition

interviews with him. When Padilla called Cierra to ask why she missed the second

interview appointment, Cierra told him she would not be meeting with him and did not

understand why D.C. had been removed from her. Cierra continued to deny using

marijuana and methamphetamine during the last three months of her pregnancy and did

not know why D.C. tested positive for those drugs. She thought marijuana might still be

in her system from several months ago and because she was around a lot of people who

smoked it. She denied any current drug use. Padilla asked if she was willing to drug test

that day and she said she needed to consult her attorney before drug testing. Padilla

asked to reschedule the jurisdiction/disposition interview but Cierra refused. She told

him she just wanted her baby back and would see him in court.

       Cierra failed to show up for drug test appointments on April 11 and April 15,

2014, even though Padilla had informed her that her failure to test on April 15 would be

considered a positive test. Cierra again refused to drug test for the Agency on April 17.

Padilla concluded that Cierra and the alleged father both had a substance abuse problem

                                              5
that they needed to address through treatment. Their drug use impaired their ability to

adequately and safely parent D.C., and it appeared they were "not supporting each other

in efforts of sobriety." Padilla also reported the Agency's concern that the parents would

continue to engage in domestic violence in D.C.'s presence, which would put D.C. in

"physical and emotional harm's way."

       Padilla filed an addendum report in which he discussed a meeting he had with

Cierra at court on May 12, 2014. Padilla asked Cierra if she had changed her mind about

visiting D.C.3 Cierra said she did not want to visit D.C. until she got him back. Padilla

explained that visitation was part of the reunification process. Cierra said she understood

that but was hoping the Agency would just return D.C. to her or she would "win" the trial

(i.e., the contested jurisdiction/disposition hearing) and get him back. She said it was too

hard for her to see him and not be able to take him home, and that it would be hard on

D.C. to see her and not be able to go home with her. Padilla asked Cierra what she was

doing with her time. She said all she did was cry and miss her baby.

       Padilla asked Cierra why she had failed to appear for a drug test on April 29.

Cierra said she did not trust the Agency or the staff at the drug testing site and felt they

would "lie" on her drug test. She denied using drugs. Padilla noticed Cierra's eyes were

red and glossy and her jaw was moving slightly, and he could hear suction noises coming

from her mouth. He asked her if she was under the influence of drugs and she said, "No."

Padilla asked her to drug test that day and told her that a "no show" to the test would be

3      Cierra apparently had told Padilla that she was not going to visit D.C.
                                              6
considered a positive test. He also asked her to talk to the drug abuse specialist at the

court. Cierra responded, "No, I won't go talk to her. I don't have a drug problem. I just

want my baby back." Cierra said she did not trust Padilla or her attorney, and felt that her

attorney was "working for you guys."

       Padilla reported that Cierra continued to contact the alleged father. D.C.'s foster

mother shared with Padilla an exchange of hostile text messages between Cierra and the

father that Cierra initiated and accidentally sent to both the foster mother and the father.

       At the contested jurisdiction/disposition hearing on May 22, 2014, the court

admitted in evidence the curricula vitae of Phou and Padilla and the Agency's detention

report, jurisdiction/disposition report, and addendum report. The court also heard

testimony from Phou and Cierra. The court found by clear and convincing evidence that

the allegations in the petition were true and declared D.C. a dependent of the court. The

court ordered D.C. removed from Cierra's custody and directed the Agency to provide

Cierra reunification services. The court further ordered drug testing for Cierra and

ordered her to participate in substance abuse treatment and undergo a psychological

evaluation.

                                       DISCUSSION

                                 I. Dispositional Findings

       Cierra contends there was insufficient evidence to support the juvenile court's

findings that there was a risk of harm to D.C. if he were returned to her custody and that

there was no reasonable alternative to removal.

                                              7
       To remove D.C. from Cierra's parental custody, the court was required to find by

clear and convincing evidence that "[t]here is or would be a substantial danger to [his]

physical health, safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being . . . if [he] were

returned home" and that removal was the only reasonable means of protecting his

physical health (§ 361, subd. (c)(1)). "The parent need not be dangerous and the minor

need not have been actually harmed before removal is appropriate. The focus . . . is on

averting harm to the child." (In re Diamond H. (2000) 82 Cal.App.4th 1127, 1136.) The

court is entitled to consider the parents' past conduct and current situation and gauge

whether they have progressed sufficiently to eliminate any risk. (In re S.O. (2002) 103

Cal.App.4th 453, 461; cf. In re Jonathan R. (1989) 211 Cal.App.3d 1214, 1221.)

       On appeal, Cierra has the burden of showing that there is no substantial evidence

justifying removal. (In re Diamond H., supra 82 Cal.App.4th at p. 1135; In re Geoffrey

G. (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 412, 420.) Evidence is substantial if it is " ' "reasonable,

credible, and of solid value." ' " (In re S.A. (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 1128, 1140.) It is the

trial court's role to assess the credibility of witnesses and resolve the conflicts in the

evidence. (In re Casey D. (1999) 70 Cal.App.4th 38, 52.) "We do not evaluate the

credibility of witnesses, reweigh the evidence, or resolve evidentiary conflicts. Rather,

we draw all reasonable inferences in support of the findings, consider the record most

favorably to the juvenile court's order, and affirm the order if supported by substantial

evidence even if other evidence supports a contrary conclusion." (In re L.Y.L. (2002) 101

Cal.App.4th 942, 947.)

                                               8
       We conclude substantial evidence supports the court's removal order. Cierra and

D.C. tested positive for illegal drugs at D.C.'s birth and Cierra admitted she used drugs

during the first six months of her pregnancy. The Agency allowed Cierra to take D.C.

home from the hospital after his birth, despite his and Cierra's positive drug tests, and

created a safety plan that included Cierra's agreement to submit to on-demand drug

testing. However, Cierra repeatedly failed to drug test after D.C.'s birth and appeared to

be under the influence of drugs when she met with Padilla at court 10 days before the

jurisdiction/disposition hearing. Her explanation for testing positive for amphetamine

(taking two unlabeled pills that were supposed to be generic Tylenol six days before

D.C.'s birth) was implausible and did not account for her testing positive for marijuana.

Her explanation for her reluctance to test in the future was her unfounded fear that the

Agency and drug testers would "lie" on her drug test—i.e., report a positive test if she

actually tested negative. Although Cierra consistently denied having a drug problem,

when she was asked on cross-examination at the jurisdiction/disposition hearing why she

had not drug tested, she responded, " . . . I figured if I started [testing], that testing would

be kind of like incriminating myself . . . ." Despite her counsel's representation to the

court at the detention hearing that she was planning to begin a substance abuse program

the next day, as of the time of the jurisdiction/disposition hearing, Cierra had not

participated in any substance abuse treatment services. Based on the evidence regarding

Cierra's substance abuse, denial of drug use, and refusal to drug test, the court could

reasonably find that Cierra wanted D.C. returned to her custody and wanted to continue

to use drugs after his return.

                                               9
       The evidence of Cierra's denial of a drug problem after testing positive for

substance abuse and her refusal to undergo further drug testing is itself sufficient to

support the court's findings that there was a risk of harm to D.C. if he were returned to

her custody, and there was no reasonable alternative to removal. The removal order is

further supported by evidence that Cierra remained in contact with the alleged father,

who was a drug abuser, and that both she and the father had engaged in domestic

violence. In the jurisdiction/disposition report, Padilla expressed the Agency's concern

that Cierra and the father would continue to use methamphetamine and other illegal

substances and neglect D.C.'s needs, and that "the parents will continue to engage in

domestic violence in [D.C.]'s presence[,] which will place [D.C. in] physical and

emotional harm's way." The court was entitled to find Padilla's opinion credible, and to

give great weight to his assessment. (In re Casey D., supra, 70 Cal.App.4th at p. 53.)

       The court's finding that there was a sufficient risk of harm to D.C. to justify his

continued removal from Cierra's custody was further supported by evidence that Cierra

was suffering from untreated depression. Cierra was diagnosed with postpartum

depression when she was discharged from the hospital after giving birth to D.C. Padilla

reported that 10 days before the jurisdiction/disposition hearing, Cierra told him that that

she had not returned to work "and that all she does is cry and [miss] her baby." At the

jurisdiction/disposition hearing, the court noted Cierra's display of "extreme emotions in

the courtroom and . . . some behavior that would appear to necessitate a psychiatric

                                             10
evaluation of mother."4 The court stated, "I have some real concerns as to whether there

may be some postpartum depression in mother's statements about how she has been

crying constantly . . . . And I want to make sure that she is able to fully engage in her

services." The court ordered a psychological evaluation over Cierra's objection, and

reiterated that it had "been very concerned about [Cierra] and her behavior in the

courtroom and her affect. I note that she has seemed at times almost despondent. There

is quite a bit of crying. There are references in the [Agency's] report to her having long

periods of crying, and the court has significant concerns and would like to get her help

and be properly directed."

       The court's removal order was also supported by evidence that although the court

granted Cierra liberal supervised visitation with D.C. and Padilla informed her that

visitation was part of the reunification process, she rarely visited him, failed to show up

for scheduled visits, and ultimately told Padilla that she did not want to visit D.C. until he

was returned to her.

       Finally, the removal order was supported by evidence of Cierra's general refusal to

cooperate with the Agency after D.C.'s detention. She refused to meet with Padilla for a

jurisdiction/disposition interview and when she was asked at the jurisdiction/disposition

hearing why she had refused to meet with him since he was assigned to the case, she

testified, "Because . . . I haven't wanted him to twist anymore of my words than he

already has." When she was asked if she would be willing to participate in services that

4      The court orally ordered a "psychiatric" evaluation, but its written order stated that
Cierra "shall undergo a psychological evaluation."
                                             11
the Agency would request if D.C. were returned to her, she equivocally responded, "I

don't know about any services by the Agency. It depends on what you mean by that.

Because . . . I'm really disappointed in the Agency the way that they have handled things

with me, and the things they suggested for me. I don't know. I mean, if it's in my baby's

best interest, of course."

       In its oral ruling removing D.C. from Cierra's custody, the court noted, "Even

today, as the court sits here and watched her as to whether she would engage in

appropriate services if the baby were returned to her, I watched the change in mother's

demeanor. She smiled and cocked her head and said[] there were some things that [she]

wouldn't do. She would have to see. [¶] . . . [¶] But I have great concerns, even today as

she sits before the court, whether there would be any services that she would willingly

engage in light of the numerous efforts that the Agency made to engage with her while

the baby was in her care. [¶] And also of concern to the court, and another basis for the

show of reasonable efforts [to prevent or eliminate the need for D.C. removal], is that

mother has been offered, as requested by her counsel, . . . voluntary services. In her view

she doesn't want to engage in that. [¶] . . . Reasonable efforts have been made to prevent

or eliminate the need for removal of her child or the attempt to reunify her prior to this

hearing, and, sadly, mother did not engage." It is well settled that we must defer to the

trial court's factual findings that are based on its assessment of live testimony because

" '[w]e review a cold record and, unlike a trial court, have no opportunity to observe the

appearance and demeanor of the witnesses.' " (In re Luke M. (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th

1412, 1427.)

                                             12
       The court's findings that there was a risk of harm to D.C. if he were returned to

Cierra's custody and there was no reasonable alternative to removal are amply supported

by the evidence of Cierra's substance abuse, her denial that she had a drug problem, her

refusal to drug test, her continued contact with the alleged father, her refusal to meet with

the Agency social worker assigned to her case or otherwise cooperate with the Agency,

her untreated depression, and her failure to avail herself of the liberal visitation she was

granted with D.C. Cierra has not met her burden on appeal of showing there is no

substantial evidence justifying removal.

                              II. Requirement of Monitored Visitation

       Cierra contends there was insufficient evidence to support the court's order

requiring that her visitation with D.C. be monitored.5

       The appropriate standard of review for custody and visitation orders is abuse of

discretion. (In re S.H. (2011) 197 Cal.App.4th 1542, 1557-1558; In re Robert L. (1993)

21 Cal.App.4th 1057, 1067.) " 'The reviewing court must consider all the evidence, draw

all reasonable inferences, and resolve all evidentiary conflicts, in a light most favorable to

the trial court's ruling. [Citation.] The precise test is whether any rational trier of fact

could conclude that the trial court order advanced the best interests of the child.

[Citation.] We are required to uphold the ruling if it is correct on any basis, regardless of

whether it is the ground relied upon by the trial judge. [Citation.]' [Citation.] The trial

5        The court did not expressly address visitation in its jurisdiction/disposition order.
The court granted Cierra liberal supervised visitation in its detention order and stated in
its jurisdiction/disposition order that "[a]ll prior orders not in conflict remain in full force
and effect." (Capitalization omitted.)
                                               13
court is accorded wide discretion and its determination will not be disturbed on appeal

absent 'a manifest showing of abuse.' " (In re Robert L., at p. 1067.)

       The evidence that Cierra abused drugs and denied having a drug problem supports

the court's exercise of discretion to require that Cierra's visitation with D.C. be

monitored. Section 300.2 provides that "[t]he provision of a home environment free from

the negative effects of substance abuse is a necessary condition for the safety, protection

and physical and emotional well-being of the child." In its detention order, the court

specifically ordered Cierra not to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while visiting

D.C. Cierra repeatedly denied using drugs despite testing positive for them when she

gave birth to D.C.; she refused to undergo drug testing after D.C. was born; and she

appeared to be under the influence of drugs when she met with Padilla at court 10 days

before the jurisdiction/disposition hearing. Considering these circumstances, the court

could reasonably be concerned that if Cierra were granted unsupervised visitation with

D.C., she would be under the influence of drugs during the visitation, which would create

a risk of harm to D.C.'s physical and emotional well-being because there would be no one

to intervene if her substance abuse caused her to neglect or act inappropriately toward

D.C. On this record, Cierra cannot meet her burden of showing that the requirement of

monitored visitation was a manifest abuse of discretion.

                                              14
                                 DISPOSITION

     The judgment is affirmed.

                                               BENKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

MCCONNELL, P. J.

NARES, J.

                                   15