In re A.M. CA1/5

BACKGROUND

On August 30, 2019, the Agency filed a section 300 petition on behalf of Minor, then six years old. The petition alleged Minor’s father (Father) intentionally “ ‘whoop[ed]’ ” Minor with a belt and extension cord, causing broken bones and other serious injuries.2 The petition alleged Mother lived in Arkansas and was unable to meet Minor’s needs due to “untreated substance use.” The petition was subsequently amended to add an allegation that Minor lived with Mother from 2013 to 2015 and, during this time, Mother hit Minor leaving scars and bruises and failed to protect Minor from Father’s physical abuse. The Agency’s detention report stated on August 26, 2019, Father called Minor’s maternal grandmother, Linda B.,3 and asked her to care for Minor because he was no longer able to. Linda saw Minor had injuries and immediately took him to the hospital. The Agency had been unable to contact Mother or Father. Linda told the Agency she had been caring for Minor on and off since he was 18 months old; Father was granted custody approximately one year ago; both parents had neglected and physically abused Minor; and Mother was transient, a drug addict, and had untreated mental…