In re Samantha P. CA4/3

INTRODUCTION

Jose P., the father of the minor Samantha P., appeals from the order vesting jurisdiction over Samantha in the juvenile court and the disposition order removing her from his custody. Samantha came to the attention of Orange County Social Services Agency (SSA) when her school reported bruises on her arm. Samantha claimed that 1 Maria B., Jose’s wife or live-in girlfriend, had caused the bruising. Jose did not believe Samantha and proffered several alternative theories for how she acquired the bruises. We affirm the jurisdiction order. We do not reweigh evidence or reassess credibility, and Jose’s appeal of this order is, in essence, an attack on both. The bottom line is that the juvenile court believed Samantha when she asserted that Maria had hit her hard enough to cause significant bruising. Consequently, Jose’s persistent denials and refusal to believe Samantha meant, in the court’s view, that he was not going to protect her from future assaults. There was therefore “a substantial risk that [Samantha] will suffer[] serious physical harm” in Jose’s custody. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 300, subd. 2 (b)(1).) As for the disposition order, we affirm that as well. Even with…