In re V.R. CA2/4

INTRODUCTION

The trial court found true allegations that Randolph R. (father), father of 12-year- old V.R. and eight-year-old A.R., physically and emotionally abused the two minors. The boys were released to their mother’s care. The court ordered father to have monitored visitation with A.R., but ordered that father would have no visitation with V.R. until further order of the court. Father appeals the no-visitation portion of the order. We affirm. The evidence showed that V.R. experienced depression, suicidal ideation, and a suicide attempt arising from years of abuse, and V.R. insisted that he did not want to visit his father. There was ample evidence to support the court’s finding that visitation would be detrimental to V.R.’s safety and emotional well-being.

BACKGROUND

A. Factual background On September 21, 2015, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) responded to a report involving V.R. and A.R. The reporting party stated that father hit V.R. in the face about six days earlier, causing V.R. to fall backward onto a vacuum cleaner, hit his head, and lose consciousness. The following facts are from the DCFS detention report, police report, DCFS…