In re Vera M.
Appellant Bryan C. (Father), the biological father of dependent child Vera M., was incarcerated during most of the mother’s pregnancy and nearly all of the child’s young life. Father reunited with Vera and her mother (Mother) upon his release from prison. He lived with them for about two months before the child was removed from the parents’ custody after she suffered serious scalding injuries while Father was giving her a bath.
At the jurisdictional hearing, the trial court denied Father’s request to participate because he was at that time only an alleged father. Father established his biological paternity after a disposition hearing had been held and order entered. The court denied his subsequent request for presumed father status and his request to reopen the jurisdiction hearing to contest causation of Vera’s injuries. We conclude the denial of presumed father status is supported by substantial evidence and that a rehearing on the jurisdictional allegations was not required. We affirm.
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