In Re James M.

Homer E. Detrich, Director of the San Diego County Department of Public Welfare (the Director), has appealed from a judgment dismissing his petition to declare four children free from the custody and control of their natural and legal father.

The children are James M., born October 16, 1963; Daniel M., born April 23, 1965; Deanna M., born April 30, 1968; and Beverly M., born July 21, 1969. They are full brothers and sisters. The two eldest are boys; the two youngest are girls. All were bom in San Diego County to Sergio M., their father, and Judith M., their mother, who is deceased.

The judgment appealed from was entered May 22, 1975.

The petition was filed July 21, 1974.

The San Diego County Probation Department filed its report in which it recommended the petition be denied, and set forth the reasons for its recommendation.

The matter was determined upon the basis of that recommendation and report, oral and documentary evidence, and a written stipulation as to certain facts, and that certain written reports of psychiatrists, psychologists and others might be considered by the judge as having been properly received in evidence. The truth of the contents of the…