In re I.B. CA2/5

I. BACKGROUND

A. The Dependency Investigation and Petition On Sunday, August 28, 2022, Mother picked Minor up from Father’s home after a visit. Mother noticed Minor seemed upset and was tugging at her shorts. Minor revealed Father digitally penetrated her vagina, and Mother took Minor to the emergency room. Minor advised the treating doctor that, while napping at Father’s home, she awoke to find Father touching her vagina. Minor advised that this was the first time Father had touched her inappropriately. Although the genital examination revealed no abrasions or lacerations, the doctor repeatedly advised Mother that the absence of such findings did not indicate an absence of abuse—a fact that Mother appeared to have difficulty accepting. The hospital reported the matter to the local authorities. In a police interview the following day, Minor related the same facts she told the doctor. Mother told the police officer she thought Minor was not telling the truth.

1 This was Minor’s age when dependency proceedings began.

2 Two days later, a social worker from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (the Department) interviewed Mother and Minor. Although…