W.B.

I.

BACKGROUND

Investigation and Detention

San Bernardino County Children and Family Services (CFS) began investigating

the welfare of D.B. (the child) following three referrals based upon allegations of general

neglect and emotional abuse by C.P. (mother) and W.B., the petitioner and alleged

father.1 Mother had an extensive CFS history and had other children previously removed

due to substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health issues. Parental rights were

terminated in those cases. The allegations in the referrals included mother regularly

using drugs without W.B. intervening, the child not gaining weight and suffering from

poor hygiene, and domestic violence between mother and W.B.

A crime report generated a few days after the child’s birth stated that W.B. did not

want mother to have the child at the hospital for fear that she would be contacted by law

enforcement and arrested for her felony warrant. According to the crime report, W.B.

claimed to not know mother’s whereabouts but brought the child out for deputies to

determine whether she needed medical attention.

Although mother filed a notice of intent to file a writ petition pursuant to California…