In re A.J.

FACTS AND HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS

On July 31, 2019, A.J., then 11 years old, was taken into protective custody after father and stepmother were arrested for armed robbery. A.J. had been in father’s sole custody since he was a baby and did not have a relationship with his mother. Before father’s arrest, A.J. and father had been homeless and living in father’s vehicle.

2 On August 2, 2019, a section 300 petition was filed on A.J.’s behalf, alleging that the minor came within the provision of section 300, subdivision (b), failure to protect; section 300, subdivision (g), no provision for support; and section 300, subdivision (j), abuse of sibling. At the August 5, 2019 detention hearing, the juvenile court found the San Joaquin County, Human Services Agency (Agency) had made a prima facie showing that A.J. came within the provisions of section 300, was at substantial risk of danger, was removed from parental custody and was placed with his paternal grandfather. The minor’s mother made her first appearance and was appointed counsel at the September 18, 2019 jurisdiction hearing. Although father had obtained a signed transportation order for the hearing, he was not present at the…