Los Angeles County Department of Children's Services v. Willie J.

A petition was filed in dependency court when Gloria J. was 17. When the adjudication hearing was held, she had turned 18. This appeal asks us to determine whether the court had jurisdiction over Gloria J. at the time of the adjudication hearing after she had turned 18.

The petition was filed November 6, 1985, and alleged that Gloria J., bom February 12, 1968, resided with her father, Willie J. (appellant); and that he failed to exercise proper and effective parental care and control. The petition contained two counts. Count I alleged that appellant had sexually molested Gloria J. during the preceding eight years; count II alleged Gloria’s mother’s interest and ability to parent her were unknown. The detention hearing (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 315) was held November 7, 1985, and the court found that a prima facie case had been made that Gloria J. was a person *837 described under section 300, subdivisions (a) and (d). 1 The adjudication or jurisdiction hearing subsequently was set for December 17, 1985. On December 17, 1985, the hearing was continued to March 10, 1986, because appellant’s counsel was ill. The adjudication hearing finally was held on March 10,1986. Appellant…