In re Victoria T. CA4/2

BACKGROUND

I. Detention

In January 2023, Father called local law enforcement to paternal grandparents’

home, alleging that they were influencing seven-year-old Victoria to act out against him.

He did not want paternal grandparents to have any contact with Victoria. When law

enforcement arrived at the home, Victoria asked that they arrest Father for “emotional

abuse.” Law enforcement arrested Father for child abuse and obstruction.

When interviewed by the San Bernardino County Department of Child and Family

Services (CFS), Victoria reported that she lived with Father in paternal grandparents’

home. She explained that she and paternal grandmother were close and that she missed

paternal grandmother. Victoria described Father’s controlling behavior and how he

refused to allow her out of his presence, including when he slept and went to the

bathroom. She said that he would slap her in the face with an open hand and hit her with

a closed fist to discipline her. Victoria and paternal grandparents were afraid of Father,

and Victoria was “pleased” that law enforcement had arrested Father and that Mother was

going to care for her.

2 When CFS spoke to Father, he denied…