San Diego County Health & Human Services Agency v. Stephen P.
Opinion
lead Opinion
Haller, J.
Stephen P. (Stephen), the father of Justice R, Devin R, Stephen M. R, and Hunter R, appeals the termination of his parental rights *185 pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26. 1 Stephen contends the juvenile court should have granted an evidentiary hearing on his petition to modify (§ 388) the court’s earlier rulings that he had been given notice of the proceedings as required by law and that the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (Agency) had made reasonable search efforts to find him. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On October 6, 2002, Agency took Justice, seven years old, Devin, five years old, Stephen M.P., three years old, and Hunter, one year old, into protective custody after their mother, Tricia P., was arrested for using a stolen credit card. 2
Tricia identified the children’s father as Stephen and said she believed he was living in Arizona. Stephen and Tricia were married in June 1995; Tricia said they had separated and she was divorcing him. Agency initiated a parent search for Stephen. Susan G., the maternal grandmother (maternal grandmother) who was living in Arizona at the time, told the social worker that…