In re J.G. CA4/1

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

Factual Background2

JG was born in January 2005. His parents, Father and Mother, met and began

dating in 2001 or 2002 and moved to Arizona at the end of 2004. In November 2004,

while pregnant with JG, Mother was pursued in a police chase; she fled to Mexico and

remained there for one month. Mother returned to Arizona and gave birth to JG.

About one year later, Mother was arrested for bringing drugs into the United

States across the Mexican border, and received a four-year sentence in Arizona. Father

and JG then moved to San Diego to live with Father's parents. During the next four

years, Mother maintained contact with JG through letters, cards, phone calls, and

occasional visits.

While Mother was incarcerated in Arizona, Father began his relationship with his

current wife, Nicole. Father, JG, and Nicole moved in together in October 2007. In May

2008, Father filed for and was awarded legal and physical custody of JG, with Mother's

approval. Nine months later, in February 2009, Father and Nicole married.

All further unspecified statutory references are to the Family Code.

We summarize the relevant facts in the light most…