Los Angeles County Department of Children Services v. Venus A.

*933 Opinion

Venus A., the mother of minor Venus B., appeals from a disposition order in which custody of Venus B. was taken from her parents and the child was placed with her maternal grandmother.

The trial court believed Venus B.’s testimony in the adjudication hearing that her stepfather had fondled her on several different occasions. In the court’s assessment, Venus’s evidence was true. He observed “she was under a great deal of stress, she didn’t want to be here testifying.”

The minor reported the conduct following a school program in which children were told about inappropriate touching by adults. The minor’s second grade teacher testified that on March 29, 1989, a safety program was presented at school. The minor reported that she did not like it when her daddy got on top of her when she was in bed. She repeated this information when she talked individually to her teacher and further told the teacher she did not like it when he touched her in her private areas. No other students that day made any complaints. The minor cried during their conversation but washed up and pulled herself together when the other children came to the classroom. Both parents denied any…