In re Beautifull C. CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

Pricilla R. and Johnny C. appeal from the juvenile court’s orders under Welfare and Institutions Code section 366.26 terminating their parental rights to their daughter, Beautifull C.1 They contend that the court abused its discretion in denying their requests for a contested hearing and that the Department’s unclean hands barred it from arguing they did not have a sufficient bond with Beautifull. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Beautifull Tests Positive for Methamphetamine at Birth; the Department Files a Petition Under Section 300, Subdivisions (b)(1) and (j); and the Juvenile Court Sustains the Petition and Removes Her When Pricilla gave birth to Beautifull in July 2020, they both tested positive for methamphetamine. Pricilla denied abusing drugs and claimed a friend gave her a cup of coffee that “must have been spiked with [m]ethamphetamines.” Johnny denied seeing Pricilla use drugs. One week later, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services filed a petition under section 300, subdivision (b)(1), alleging that Pricilla’s substance abuse placed Beautifull at risk of serious

1 Statutory references are to the Welfare…