In Re Alexis W.

The divorce of Ann W. and Jerome W. in 1991 triggered an intense tug-of-war over the couple’s substantial wealth and their children. The youngest two, Alexis and Jennifer, then respectively ages 14 and 9 and in their mother’s physical custody, never would have come to the attention of Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) but for the filing of a police report accusing the father of sexual molestation of the girls. As it turned out, Ann’s live-in bodyguard, Hassan C., who has an extensive criminal record, had manipulated the older child into writing a squalid tale which she recanted shortly thereafter. Sadly, by then, the dependency petitions had been filed and the girls detained due to the allegations against the father, the mental instability and alcoholism of the mother, and the unsuitability of her home.

SSA filed a first amended petition deleting sexual abuse references after Jerome voluntarily submitted to a lie detector test, Alexis recanted and Jennifer denied any knowledge of inappropriate conduct. The petition alleged substantial risk to the minors as a result of Ann’s failure to adequately supervise and protect them, her inability to provide regular care…