Filed 11/24/14 In re Elyse W. CA2/8
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION EIGHT
In re ELYSE W., a Person Coming Under
the Juvenile Court Law. B255841
LOS ANGELES COUNTY (Los Angeles County
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND Super. Ct. No. DK03740)
FAMILY SERVICES,
Plaintiff and Respondent,
v.
JIMMIE W.,
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Philip
Soto, Judge. Affirmed.
Nicole Williams, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Appellant.
Richard D. Weiss, Acting County Counsel, Dawyn R. Harrison, Assistant County
Counsel, Navid Nakhjavani, Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
_____________________________________
Father Jimmie W. appeals from a juvenile court order concluding it would be
detrimental to minor Elyse W. to place her with father pursuant to Welfare and
Institutions Code section 361.2.1 We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In February 2014, five-year-old Elyse W. was living with her mother, Monica O.,
along with her four-month-old half brother, James O.2 The Los Angeles County
Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) detained Elyse and James after
receiving referrals indicating mother was exhibiting paranoid and erratic behavior, and
she may have been using illegal drugs. Mother told family members she thought people
were trying to kill her and the children. At one point, while in a two-story building,
mother “was yelling and asking if the children would die upon impact on the floor if
pushed.” At times mother left Elyse with the maternal grandmother, but then demanded
her back. Mother attempted to file a report with law enforcement alleging the maternal
grandmother was “manipulating [Elyse] to not like the mother.” On February 15, mother
was taken to a hospital pursuant to a section 5150 hold. At the time of detention, father’s
whereabouts were unknown. The maternal grandmother reported he was incarcerated.
Elyse was placed with her maternal aunt.
In late February, Father was located in Utah. He told DCFS he was unable to
attend a hearing scheduled for March 4, but would attend the jurisdiction and disposition
hearing later that month. Father wanted Elyse released to him, and he was willing to
have his home in Utah assessed for placement.
A March 2014 jurisdiction and disposition report indicated father was married and
living with his wife and four children in Utah. Another child of father’s was living in Los
Angeles with his mother. Father met mother when he was 18 years old. After mother
became pregnant with Elyse, father and mother moved between the homes of the
maternal grandmother and the paternal grandfather, until father and mother’s relationship
1 All further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.
2 James O. is not a subject of this appeal.
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ended. Father denied any domestic violence with mother. According to father, while he
lived in California he had telephone contact with mother and Elyse around once a week,
and he visited Elyse “every couple of days.” After he moved to Utah, father had
telephone contact with mother and Elyse around twice per month. However, father had
not had any contact with Elyse and mother for around one month before the dependency
proceedings were initiated. Father explained that mother changed her telephone number
a lot; when he heard from mother after a month she had a new telephone number. Mother
informed father then that Elyse had been taken away. Until the dependency proceedings,
father was unaware that mother had any mental health issues.
Father was involved in a dependency matter in December 2010. Allegations of
emotional abuse of two of father’s children were substantiated. Father admitted to DCFS
that at one point he had a violent altercation with his wife. Father reported his wife
stabbed or “cut” him after learning of his infidelity. According to father, their son was
sleeping during the incident. Father also admitted that when police searched him on the
day of the incident, cocaine powder was found in his pocket. The case was dismissed
after father and his wife took domestic violence and parenting classes.
The jurisdiction and disposition report indicated father had suffered three criminal
arrests. The first was a 2008 arrest for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse/cohabitant,
which was dismissed, and a drug possession charge from the same date.3 The jurisdiction
and disposition report appeared to indicate charges were suspended and father was sent to
drug court. Father also had a 2009 arrest for possession of a controlled substance, and a
2012 “fugitive from justice” arrest. Father told DCFS he was not arrested for possession
of a controlled substance. He explained that he was arrested for receiving stolen
property—a video game console—and he spent three months in jail. Father said he was
3 The jurisdiction and disposition report provides the same summary details for both
the 2008 arrest and the 2010 dependency matter. Although this suggests the incident and
arrest occurred either in 2008 or in 2010, it is not clear which is the correct date, or
whether there were two separate incidents.
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currently on probation and agreed to provide the social worker with the information for
his probation officer.
A social worker interviewed Elyse for the report. With respect to Elyse’s
relationship with father, the report recounted: “When asked if she has seen her father,
Elyse stated, ‘Jimmie?’ This investigator then asked the child if she calls her father
‘Jimmie’ and the child stated, ‘No, Daddy.’ This investigator asked Elyse if she know[s]
where her Father lives and she stated, ‘Utah.’ When asked if she would like to visit with
Father or live with Father, Elyse nodded and stated, ‘No. He is far. I want to be close to
my granny.’ When asked if she misses Father, Elyse stated, ‘I don’t know . . . I haven’t
seen him.’ When asked if she knows what Father looks like, Elyse stated, ‘I don’t
know.’ ”
The maternal aunt told the social worker father had not contacted Elyse since she
was detained and placed in the aunt’s home. According to the aunt, Elyse did not
remember father much and knew little about him. The aunt recalled that father only lived
with mother in the maternal grandmother’s house when Elyse was one year old, and he
was never “constant” or consistent in contacting Elyse. The aunt told the social worker
her family really loved Elyse and she was happy in their home. She opined: “ ‘[Elyse]
has been through a lot and we want to make sure she is a happy kid’ . . . ‘[Father] is a
stranger to her and Elyse has gone through a lot of changes already . . . I don’t think that
Elyse will have stability with her dad.’ ”
The maternal grandmother told a social worker father had no relationship with
Elyse, he had not seen her since she was three years old, and he had never tried to visit
her. She also said father was “aggressive,” and he and mother fought a lot when they
both lived with her. The maternal grandmother opined: “ ‘I don’t think [father] can care
for Elyse. He also has a strong character and he would fight a lot with my daughter so I
would grab Elyse and take her to the living room so she didn’t see that.’ ”
DCFS recommended that Elyse “address her relationship with her father in a
therapeutic setting in order to reunify with father in the event that she does not reunify
with mother,” but did not recommend immediate placement with father. The report
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concluded: “In regards to . . . Elyse . . . being released to the father. . . it appears that the
child has not had consistent contact with the father for about two years. It is important to
consider that, when asked if she would like to reside with her father, Elyse said no and
reported she wants to remain close to her maternal grandmother . . . and that she wants to
continue to reside in the home of her maternal aunt. . . . Due to the Court order dated
03/04/2014, the Department has initiated an I.C.P.C. to have [father’s] home assessed in
order to consider the release of the child to the father.”
At the late March jurisdiction and disposition hearing, the juvenile court declared
Elyse and her half-brother to be persons described by section 300. At disposition,
counsel for DCFS argued Elyse did not want to reside with father and had only a minimal
relationship with him. Although counsel noted DCFS did not blame father for the state of
the relationship, he argued it was necessary to “deal with where the child is now,” and
she did not want to leave her placement with the maternal aunt. Counsel suggested
conjoint counseling between father and Elyse, and argued “the child’s best interests
including her mental health and well-being must be taken into consideration . . . .”
The court noted it needed to find “a judgment detrimental to the child being
returned to father,” and asked Elyse’s counsel for argument. Elyse’s counsel informed
the court Elyse wished to remain with the maternal aunt. Her counsel further argued:
“It would be emotionally detrimental to uproot her and send her back now to Utah to a
different state with a family that she really hasn’t had much contact with in the past so I
do believe it would be emotionally detrimental to uproot her.” Father argued DCFS had
not shown detriment to Elyse if placed with father under section 361.2. Father requested
custody of Elyse and asked that the court either close the case with a custody order to
him, or, as allowed under section 361.2, subdivision (b)(2), place Elyse with him and
order a home visit within three months.
The juvenile court ordered Elyse removed from mother’s custody. The court
further concluded “it would be detrimental to the child to be returned to the father who is
living out of state. So briefly have her suitably placed.” The court indicated evaluation
of father was to continue under an I.C.P.C. in Utah. Father was allowed unmonitored
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telephone contact with Elyse, and unmonitored day visits if father was in California.
The court denied father’s request for family reunification services.
DISCUSSION
I. The Juvenile Court’s Ruling Under Section 361.2 Was Not Reversible Error
On appeal, father contends: 1) the juvenile court prejudicially erred in failing to
make required findings under section 361.2, subdivision (c); and 2) there was insufficient
evidence to support a finding of detriment under section 361.2, subdivision (a). We find
no basis for reversal.
Under section 361.2, subdivision (a), “[w]hen a court orders removal of a child
pursuant to Section 361, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent of the
child, with whom the child was not residing at the time that the events or conditions arose
that brought the child within the provisions of Section 300, who desires to assume
custody of the child. If that parent requests custody, the court shall place the child with
the parent unless it finds that placement with that parent would be detrimental to the
safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child.” Subdivision (b) of
the section provides several placement options if the court in fact places the child with
the previously noncustodial parent. Under subdivision (c), “[t]he court shall make a
finding either in writing or on the record of the basis for its determination under
subdivisions (a) and (b).” The juvenile court must make a detriment finding under
subdivision (a) by clear and convincing evidence. (In re Patrick S. (2013) 218
Cal.App.4th 1254, 1262 (Patrick S.).)
Father argues that although the juvenile court expressly found placement with
father would be detrimental to Elyse, the court did not comply with section 361.2,
subdivision (c) because it did not explain the factual basis for its decision. However, the
one case father cites to support his argument concerns a juvenile court failure to make an
express finding of detriment, not the failure to state a detailed factual basis for an express
detriment finding. (In re J.S. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1069, 1078.) Father further fails to
provide any legal argument to support the assertion that such a statement of reasons is
required.
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However, even assuming the juvenile court erred in this case by failing to explain
the factual basis for its detriment finding, we would not find the error resulted in a
miscarriage of justice. “We cannot reverse the court’s judgment unless its error was
prejudicial, i.e., ‘ “it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing
party would have been reached in the absence of the error.” ’ [Citation.]” (In re Abram
L. (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 452, 463.)
We cannot conclude that even if the juvenile court had stated the factual basis for
its determination that placing Elyse with father would be detrimental to her safety,
protection, or physical or emotional wellbeing, that it is reasonably probable the court
would have reached a decision more favorable to father. Although the juvenile court did
not specifically reference section 361.2, it expressly acknowledged the necessary
detriment finding required by the statute, and it requested specific argument on that issue.
The court was clearly aware of the appropriate standard and applied it. These facts
distinguish this case from those in which reviewing courts have found the juvenile court’s
failure to make a section 361.2, subdivision (a) detriment finding was prejudicial.
(See e.g., In re Abram L., supra, 219 Cal.App.4th at pp. 461, 463-464; In re Marquis D.
(1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1813, 1821, 1825.) Moreover, as discussed in greater detail
below, substantial evidence supported the juvenile court’s detriment finding. Thus, even
if the juvenile court erred in failing to provide a statement of reasons for the detriment
finding, we would find no prejudice.
II. Substantial Evidence Supported the Detriment Finding
When reviewing a juvenile court detriment finding, “[w]e review the record in the
light most favorable to the court’s order to determine whether there is substantial
evidence from which a reasonable trier of fact could find clear and convincing evidence
that placement would be detrimental to the child. Clear and convincing evidence requires
a high probability, such that the evidence is so clear as to leave no substantial doubt.”
(Patrick S., supra, 218 Cal.App.4th at p. 1262.)
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Here, substantial evidence supported the juvenile court’s detriment finding.
Father admitted a number of criminal arrests and he admitted at least some of the
conduct leading to the arrests. Father was still on probation. He admitted the violent
encounter with his wife, arising out of his infidelity, that resulted in her cutting him with
a knife while at least one of his children was present in the home. He was involved in a
dependency matter in 2010, in which emotional abuse allegations were substantiated.
The maternal grandmother reported father was “aggressive” when living with mother in
the maternal grandmother’s home. Although father said he had regular telephone contact
with mother and Elyse until shortly before the dependency proceedings were initiated,
others reported father had not consistently maintained contact with Elyse. The maternal
grandmother reported father made no effort to visit Elyse in person and he had not seen
her for two years. Elyse barely knew father, did not want to live with him, and wanted to
remain with the maternal aunt. She wanted to stay close to the maternal grandmother,
with whom she had periodically lived while in mother’s custody.
Several courts have concluded that a child’s disinclination to live with a
previously noncustodial parent is not enough, by itself, to sustain a juvenile court finding
of detriment. Courts have reached the same conclusion regarding a child’s lack of an
established relationship with a previously noncustodial parent. (See e.g., Patrick S.,
supra, at pp. 1262, 1265; In re Abram L., supra, 219 Cal.App.4th at p. 464; In re John
M. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1564, 1570.) However, these were not the only factors in this
case. In addition to Elyse’s preference not to live with father and her lack of a
relationship with him, the juvenile court could also consider father’s history of criminal
arrests, his admitted domestic violence with his current wife, the dependency matter
involving his other children, and evidence that he had often fought with Elyse’s mother.
The court could also consider Elyse’s established relationship with maternal relatives,
which would be disrupted by a placement with father in Utah, and her stated desire to be
near her maternal grandmother. (In re Nickolas T. (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 1492, 1507
[although child’s wishes do not control placement, court could properly consider child’s
reluctance to live with mother and his desire to remain in San Diego, where he had lived
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for over six years]; In re Luke M. (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 1412, 1423 [when determining
detriment court could consider sibling relationship that would be disrupted if children
were placed with father in Ohio].) Considering all of the relevant factors, we conclude
there was substantial evidence to support the juvenile court finding that placing Elyse
with father would be detrimental to Elyse’s safety, protection, or physical or emotional
well-being.
DISPOSITION
The order is affirmed.
BIGELOW, P.J.
We concur:
FLIER, J.
GRIMES, J.
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