Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Frederick S.

*1116 Opinion

Frederick S. appeals from the order of the juvenile court terminating his parental rights as to his son, and selecting adoption as a permanent plan. He claims his due process rights were violated by lack of proper notice of the proceedings. We conclude notice was not in accordance with the statutory requirements for notice to an alleged father, but find the error harmless. We affirm the order.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL SUMMARY

Appellant is the biological father of Kobe A., who was bom in February 2001. Appellant was incarcerated just two days after Kobe’s birth, and remained in prison throughout most of these proceedings.

Kobe’s mother and his half-sister, Joy, tested positive for cocaine when Joy was bom in September 2003. Voluntary family maintenance services were unsuccessful, and Kobe and Joy were detained by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) in December 2003. A dependency petition was filed pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, 1 alleging that mother failed to protect the children. The petition and the detention report named appellant as Kobe’s alleged father and Anthony J. as Joy’s alleged…