AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The case involves an adjudication hearing concerning the children of Jennifer W. (Mother) and Keaton B. (Father), identified as K.B. and B.B. The events leading to the case occurred on May 31 and June 1, 2017, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the family was staying at a motel during their travel back to Farmington, New Mexico. The district court found the children to be abused under the Abuse and Neglect Act due to the parents' condition and actions during these dates, which placed the children in a situation that endangered their life or health (paras 2-14).

Procedural History

• [Not applicable or not found]

Parties' Submissions

• Petitioner-Appellee (Children, Youth & Families Department): Argued that the children were placed in a situation that endangered their life or health due to the parents' actions and condition on May 31 and June 1, 2017 (paras 3-9).
• Respondents-Appellants (Jennifer W. and Keaton B.): Contended that the district court erred in its application of Section 32A-4-2(B)(4) of the Abuse and Neglect Act and that substantial evidence did not support the finding of abuse (para 1).

Legal Issues

• Whether the district court erred in its application of Section 32A-4-2(B)(4) of the Abuse and Neglect Act.
• Whether substantial evidence supported the district court's finding that the children were abused under Section 32A-4-2(B)(4).

Disposition

• The New Mexico Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's finding of abuse under Section 32A-4-2(B)(4) of the Abuse and Neglect Act (para 26).

Reasons

• Per B. Zamora, J. (with J. Miles Hanisee, J., and Kristina Bogardus, J., concurring):
  The Court of Appeals rejected the parents' interpretation of Section 32A-4-2(B)(4), distinguishing it from the criminal child abuse statute and emphasizing that an abuse and neglect proceeding is not a criminal prosecution. The court found no basis to equate the definition of an abused child under Section 32A-4-2(B)(4) with criminal child abuse under Section 30-6-1(D)(1) (paras 16-17). The court also found substantial evidence supporting the district court's finding of abuse, detailing the erratic behavior of the mother, the father's negligence, and the condition of the children during the incident. The court concluded that the parents' actions and conditions on the specified dates placed the children in a dangerous situation, affirming the district court's decision (paras 18-25).