In re eli R.
Filed 7/31/06 In re eli R. CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 977(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 977(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 977.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
| In re ELI R., a Minor. | |
| KARIE R., Petitioner and Appellant, v. DUSTIN G., Objector and Respondent. | E038790 (Super.Ct.No. RID208173) OPINION |
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Thomas H. Cahraman, Judge. Affirmed.
Mary A.S. Swanson for Petitioner and Appellant.
Nicole Williams, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Objector and Respondent.
Stephen S. Buckley, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor.
Karie R., mother of Eli R., contends the trial court erred in denying her petition under Family Code[1] section 7822[2] to terminate the parental rights of Eli's biological father, Dustin G. She argues the court's ruling was based purely on speculation and conjecture and thus is not supported by substantial evidence. We disagree and affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
A. The probation officer's report.[3]
Karie and Dustin met in 1998. She was 16 years old; he was 17. When Karie was in her senior year of high school, she and Dustin became engaged. A short time later, Karie learned that she was pregnant, but waited three months before telling Dustin. She then learned from mutual friends that Dustin was romantically involved with someone else. {CT 5} Thereafter, Karie had virtually no contact with Dustin; however, she remained close with Dustin's parents, who seemed to be supportive of her and her pregnancy.
When Eli was born in May 2001, Dustin was in the delivery room, Karie having notified him of her scheduled inducement date. After she gave birth to Eli, Karie went home with her mother (where she and Eli remained until May 2004), while Dustin returned to stay with his girlfriend. Initially, Karie received an occasional $50 check from Dustin; however, no payments were made during the two and one-half years prior to filing her petition.
After Eli's birth, Dustin's parents continued to communicate with Karie and even gave her a baby shower in their home. They became critical of her parenting, however, and also insisted that she make weekly drives from Riverside to Menifee to visit them. As a result, the visits eventually ceased, although Dustin's parents were â€
