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Tuesday, September 26, 2000

Children to remain with CPS
Infant's health improves in foster care, judge told
By Dan Parker
Caller-Times
An 8-month-old girl has gained weight and shown improved health since being put in a foster home after medical officials said she was malnourished, a lawyer said in court Monday.
   Nueces County Court-at-Law No. 5 Judge Carl Lewis ruled on Monday that the girl and her three siblings should remain in temporary custody of Child Protective Services for now.
   Richard Branch, 40, and Trudy Georganna Branch, 39, were arrested Sept. 9 and remained at Nueces County Jail on Monday on suspicion of child endanger ment.
   Their bonds have been set at $50,000 each.
   During the court hearing, which was conducted partly to determine who should have custody of the children, neither parent spoke.
   The Branches' infant daughter was admitted to Driscoll Children's Hospital on Sept. 7 under orders of a doctor who said the infant was wasting away.
   Medical staff said she weighed 10.6 pounds, could not sit up and appeared to have a yellowish color that could have been caused by malnutrition, according to court documents.
   The couple's other three children - a 10-year-old boy, a 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl - were removed from the Branches' custody the next day by Child Protective Services caseworkers.
   Attorney Lauren Ranly, who was appointed to represent the children, said the 8-month-old girl has gained 1-and-a-half pounds since being taken to the hospital.
   The infant was released from the hospital Sept. 19 and was in foster care Monday.
   Ranly said the baby tires easily but is in good spirits.
   Attorneys representing the parents did not oppose the idea of child welfare officials maintaining custody of the children for the time being because the parents are in jail and could not care for the children. The attorneys said the Branches would not waive their rights to the children once the parents are released from jail.
   Lewis imposed several orders on the Branches, including requirements that the parents, when they are released, receive psychological evaluations and counseling; take parenting classes; and be allowed to visit their children only while under supervision of child welfare authorities.


Staff writer Dan Parker can be reached at 886-3746 or by e-mail at parkerd@caller.com

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