In re N.L. CA4/3

I.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On March 14, 2019, at about 10:30 a.m., Son left the home of Mother and went next door to a gas station by himself. Son was barefoot, shirtless, and looking for candy. The worker at the gas station told police that Son often came into the store looking for food. Police had received a similar call about three weeks prior. Police determined Mother would be arrested due

1 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code. Mother filed this appeal, which only concerns the court’s section 366.26 rulings as to Daughter. The presumed father never appeared in court and is not a party.

2 to the reoccurring nature of the issue. Police went to Mother’s home where Daughter was present and hungry. Mother told the officers that the father of both children might be in custody. Police noted that milk inside of the refrigerator appeared to have gone bad. Mother told police the two children had not had breakfast, stating that they “were not ‘morning eaters.’’’ Both children complained of hunger and were provided with snacks. Mother was taken into custody on charges of child abuse. (Pen. Code, § 273, subd. (a).) The children…