This is Dr. Charles Sophy down here.
Dr. Charles Sophy is board certified
in three clinical specialties,
adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry,
family practice.
He's also the medical director
for the Department of Child and Family Services
here in Los Angeles,
which by the way is the largest such agency
in the entire United States.
What would be the exposure they would have
knowing what they know
if they turn this child back over to these two?
Well I mean already knowing what you know
and you've waited is an issue.
And then if you were blinded enough to give her back.
The four of you would never see that kid again.
I keep saying I'm common sensical.
So I look at this in terms of like a resume.
Like if they were going to adopt a child for example.
Well we would look and see
okay Chris and Jessica's parenting resume.
Well address, they're about to be homeless.
Prior employment, Chris has been fired
for alcohol use and missing weeks of work.
They're both currently unemployed.
Skills, well they lost guardianship of their only child.
Admitted alcoholics, failed rehab,
admit abuse and consumption while caring for a child.
Urinated on herself at Easter egg hunt
in front of the daughter,
arrested at Easter trying to drive intoxicated.
History of driving with a child in the car,
DUI conviction,
totaled two cars,
history of physical abuse with each other
in front of the child,
history of black pass out drunks,
history of neglect,
history of police called due to drunk disturbances
the daughter in the house,
alcohol induced seizure in front
That would be the resume.
Where would that fall in the stack?
Would be pretty low.
Your mother says she comes in the apartment,
the potty chair isn't even emptied.
It's just packed full of dirty diapers
all over the floor around.
I don't recall it. I apologize.
Of course you don't.
You weren't there. You were drunk.
Unfortunately your daughter is stone cold sober.
Yeah.
She's there for all of it.
I don't really know what to say.
I mean I'm sorry, you know.
In 11 days your temporary guardianship expires.
What do y'all want to see happen?
I mean I have to reinstate it.
So we can get ourselves better.
(audience applause)
What do you think.
I feel the same.
I have to fix myself before I can take her.
They brought with them the extension
through the end of the school year, correct?
There is a line where you either put a date
or that certain expectations are met.
And I would have to put in
the certain expectation clause here.
I'd want you guys to prove that you can keep her safe.
That's what we're looking for.
We wanna see a successful rehabilitation.
You should really want it for her.
(audience applause)
So at least time wise,
you're willing to extend this, correct?
And I ask you that because I need to know
before you leave here today
that this has been extended or not.
You can not extend it
or you can extend it
and based on what you decide to do
that informs what I need to do.
And here's my plan if you're willing to sign
to extend this at least through
the end of the school year,
then I'm not going to report this to Dr. Charles Sophy
who's sitting down here.
Which if I do,
then there's gonna be a mobile team is gonna show up
and they're gonna take this child
and put her into foster care.
Because there is no way in hell I can
in good conscience as mandated reporter
allow the risk of this child being returned to you
in 11 days.
That's not gonna happen on my watch.
I can't let that happen.
If you're willing to extend it,
then I don't have to do that.
And I don't wanna put this child in foster care.
I want her to stay with these people.