Substantial evidence supported the juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings where children reported mother physically abused them. Parents contended that the evidence was insufficient to sustain a jurisdictional finding because there was no physical evidence of abuse on the children. The appellate court concluded that substantial evidence supported the juvenile court’s jurisdictional findings. Both children testified mother struck them daily and kicked them, and that father witnessed the behavior and did not stop it. Mother admitted hitting one of the children in the mouth. The children stated they had witnessed domestic violence and were afraid of their mother. The children’s testimony is not diminished because they did not carry bruises on the day the abuse was discovered.
Case Summaries