In re R.L. CA2/5

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts

A. The family Father and D.M. (mother) met in 2015, got married, and divorced in 2019. They share two children together: (1) R.L., a boy born June 2016, and (2) C.L., a girl born September 2018.1 In August 2023, the family court awarded father sole physical custody of R.L. and C.L.

Mother and father each have other children from previous relationships. Those children are not parties to this dependency proceeding.

2 B. Father sexually abuses C.L. in May 2024 In May 2024, father went into the bathroom with C.L., closed the door, knelt on the floor next to C.L. after she got out of the shower, and put one of his hands on C.L’s buttocks and the other on her vagina. As he did so, he asked “‘does this feel good?’” and C.L. responded, “‘that tickles.’” Father’s girlfriend at the time heard the interaction through the closed door, interrupted father by opening the door, and confronted him. Father responded by asking if she was “‘jealous of a five-year old.’” Father’s girlfriend reported the incident to mother, who reported it to the police. R.L. said that father had never touched him or exposed him to any sexual conduct. C. …