Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services v. Dennis H.

*1108 Opinion

Introduction

This is an appeal from an order of the juvenile court declaring Cheryl H. a dependent child of the court and ordering Cheryl to remain in her mother’s custody on the condition that Cheryl have no contact with her father. The order was based on findings that Cheryl had been sexually molested by her father and that it would be detrimental to Cheryl if her father was allowed to have contact with her.

Mr. H. appeals from the order claiming a variety of erroneous evidentiary and standard of proof rulings. He also argues there was insufficient evidence to support the order. We exclude some of the evidence as inadmissible but find the remaining proof sufficient to support the trial court’s findings in this case.

I. Statement of Facts and Proceedings Below

On December 31, 1981, a petition was filed by the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) in the Juvenile Court of the Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking to subject Cheryl H. to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court under the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC) section 300, subdivisions (a) and (d).

W&IC section 300 allows the juvenile court to adjudge a minor to be a dependent…