In the Matter of KP & JJ, FH# 2017-1228

Affirmed - DCF did have reasonable cause to support a finding of neglect. The appellant mother and father engaged in a physical altercation with the father's ex-spouse, and ex-spouse's boyfriend, outside of their home which was witnessed by the appellant's eight month old child. While the father testified that the child was asleep throughout the incident, the fair hearing officer did not find his testimony credible since police documents said the child was awake and had witnessed the violence. As such the appellant's actions posed a risk to their children's safety. Furthermore, the appellant father had a history of both 51A reports and threatening his ex-spouse which contributed to the Department's finding.