In Re EO

N.M. appeals contending the juvenile court erred when it denied his request to be declared a presumed father. We conclude the trial court applied the applicable statutes correctly and will affirm.

On June 3, 2008, the San Francisco Human Services Agency (the Agency) filed a petition alleging that 14-year-old E.O. and her seven-year-old sister Y.O. were dependent children within the meaning of Welfare and Institutions Code section 300. The petition alleged the girls' mother, N.O. (mother), had failed to protect E.O. from repeated sexual abuse by the mother's boyfriend. The petition named appellant as the alleged father of the girls.

The juvenile court held a detention hearing the following day. Appellant appeared and the court appointed counsel to represent him. The court detained E.O. and Y.O. and placed them in the custody of a relative.

The social worker assigned to the case filed a report on July 7, 2008. It noted that appellant was the biological father of both girls but that he had no contact with either of them until about four months ago. The report recommended that reunification services be offered to mother but not appellant because he was merely a…