In re J.C. CA4/2

BACKGROUND

This appeal concerns father’s child J.C. (born 2016). J.C. has two half siblings

who are not at issue in this appeal.

In January 2023 J.C. was living with mother and his two half siblings, but not

father. Father was a truck driver who was often gone working, but he would visit J.C.

when he had time off.

On January 5, 2023, the department took J.C. and his two half siblings into

protective custody after police raided their mother’s home. As to J.C., the dependency

petition includes allegations under section 300, subdivisions (b) and (g). Specifically, the

department alleged mother had a substance abuse problem that placed J.C. in danger, that

father knew or should have known about this substance abuse problem and failed to

protect J.C., and that he left J.C. without provision for support.

When the department asked J.C. who his father is, J.C. said “ ‘I have two dads,’ ”

identifying father as one of them. The other was the father of one of J.C.’s half siblings;

J.C. had witnessed that father’s murder. He could not recall the last time he saw father.

1 Unlabeled statutory citations are to the Welfare and Institutions Code.

2 Father reported he saw J.C.…