The attorney for a father charged with child abuse and disturbing the peace indicated he would be seeking a mental health diversion for his client during a hearing last week in Santa Clarita.
The 53-year-old man pleaded not guilty to a pair of misdemeanor counts involving a dispute with his child that allegedly became physical, according to a Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station report of the December incident.
Deputies arrested the man at his Valencia home on Dec. 8, the day the domestic disturbance was reported to the SCV Sheriff’s Station, according to a Special Victims Bureau detective.
Judge Faye Barnouw ordered both sides to file any evidence regarding the plea at least 10 days ahead of the next hearing, which is April 10.
The parent presented evidence of continued attendance in anger-management and child-abuse courses during a hearing last month, according to L.A. County Superior Court records.
A Superior Court judge on Thursday also terminated a protective order against one of the two individuals listed on the Dec. 12 order, according to court records.
The defendant remains free on his own recognizance pending his next hearing.
