In re S.T. CA5

INTRODUCTION

Mother and P.T. (father) have been “culturally”2 married for 22 years and have seven children together: a 21-year-old adult (S.T.), a 16-year-old boy (child 1), a 14-year-old girl (child 2), a 12-year-old boy (child 3), an eight-year-old boy (child 4), a five-year-old boy (child 5), and a three-year-old girl (child 6).3 The entire family resided together. On July 30, 2023, child 2 disclosed father had been sexually molesting her for the past two years. Police investigated and contacted the Fresno County Department of Social Services (the department). The children were removed from the home by the department. The three older children, child 1, child 2, and child 3, were sent to one foster family. The three younger children, child 4, child 5, and child 6, were sent to another foster family. S.T. continued to live at the family home with mother and father. Initially, mother did not believe child 2’s accusations against father and continued to live with him. Mother blamed child 2 for “ruin[ing]” the family. However,

All statutory references are to the Welfare and Institutions Code. Mother and father never legally married but claimed to be “culturally”…