In re D.J. CA4/1

BACKGROUND

Marcus has a history of heavy substance abuse and criminal convictions dating

from 1988 or earlier, when he was a juvenile. He was convicted of theft offenses;

inflicting corporal injury on a cohabitant in 1990, 1991 and 1992; and possessing drugs in

1990, 1992 and 1999. After 1999, Marcus continued to commit crimes and use drugs.

He experienced periods of sobriety while he was incarcerated. He supported himself by

selling drugs.

Marcus has six children who are older than D.J. The oldest child lives with her

mother and Marcus has no contact with that child. The remaining five older children

were subject to seven or eight juvenile court dependencies. Some of the dependencies

were based in part on Marcus's substance abuse and domestic violence. During the

dependencies, he completed reunification services including substance abuse treatment,

domestic violence treatment, parenting classes, therapy and anger management. Marcus

Marcus never sought presumed father status.

Further statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code unless otherwise specified. 2 initially reunified with two of the children, then they were removed from…