The People of the State of Colorado, In the Interest of A.J.S. and Concerning L.N.S.

Denver, Colorado family law lawyer represented the mother in a parental rights termination case.





¶ 1 In this dependency and neglect proceeding, L.N.S. (mother)

appeals the juvenile court's judgment terminating her parent-child

legal relationship with A.J.S. (the child). We affirm.



I. Background



¶ 2 The Denver Human Services Department filed a petition in

dependency and neglect regarding the one-year-old child and his

two-year-old half-sibling, K.G.S. The petition alleged that mother

had reported that the child's father, D.J.S., had sexually assaulted

K.G.S. and would not leave her apartment. Law enforcement

officers responded and found mother erratic and escalated. An

existing protective order prohibited contact between mother and

D.J.S. The home smelled of urine and there were feces smeared on

the children's cribs, their feet, and the walls. And the petition also

alleged that mother had disclosed recent methamphetamine use.

The petition further alleged that mother had a previous dependency

and neglect proceeding involving K.G.S.



¶ 3 The juvenile court accepted mother's no-fault admission to the

petition and adjudicated the child dependent and neglected. The

court adopted a treatment plan for mother requiring that she,

among other things, (1) complete a psychological evaluation and

follow its recommendations including taking mental health

medications as prescribed; (2) participate in life skills services; (3)

complete a substance abuse evaluation and engage in

recommended treatment; (4) comply with outstanding orders from

criminal cases and refrain from engaging in further criminal

activity; and (5) engage in regular family time.



¶ 4 About thirteen months after the Department filed the petition,

the Department moved to terminate the parent-child legal

relationship between the child and both mother and D.J.S. Shortly

thereafter, mother was arrested and charged with the attempted

murder of her mother, among other offenses. Mother remained

incarcerated awaiting trial at the time of the termination hearing.

Following a hearing, the juvenile court terminated mother's parent-

child legal relationship with the child.



* * *

Affirmed