In re M.N. CA6

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. Petition (January 2020) On January 23, 2020, the Department filed a petition under section 300, subdivisions (a), (b) (1), (c), and (i) relative to the minor. The Department alleged that on January 22, San Jose Police officers placed the minor in protective custody because she was at risk of physical and emotional harm and neglect in her parents’ care because of the minor’s exposure to ongoing domestic violence. On January 20, “father perpetrated high-lethality-risk domestic violence in the family home in the child’s presence” with actions consisting of calling mother names and punching her in the head, resulting in bleeding, pointing a loaded gun at mother, and firing two shots in the air inside the home. The minor fled, hid in an alley, and called for assistance. Mother transported father, a convicted felon on parole, to an unknown destination, leaving without knowing the minor’s whereabouts or condition. After being contacted by the police, mother denied any domestic violence, and she was cited for child endangerment. The Department reported that “mother’s choice [was] to protect the father rather than prioritize the child’s safety and…