Justice Francis Rothschild wrote, "We conclude that the petitioners never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel for purposes of Penal Code section 273a, subdivision (a). A complaint for an arrest warrant filed on March 28 charges social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, 30, and Patricia Clement, 65, and their respective supervisors, Kevin Bom, 36, and Gregory. Stephanie joined the Alliance in 2015. The unprecedented charges against them held up to 11 years in prison, if convicted. As Children'S Social Worker at Los Angeles County, STEFANIE A RODRIGUEZ made $49,663 in total compensation. Although Clement and Bom had declined to comment at the time, Patricias perspective becomes clearer in the docuseries when she breaks down upon being investigated by the DAs office and says that she had nothing to do with the death of Gabriel Fernandez. Later investigations revealed Rodriguez had never received information which showed Pearl Rodriguez had abused and neglected her other children. The rise of social media and technology have helped increase greater access and availability to news and information, both in the timeliness of sharing information, as well as crossing the barriers of time and space that existed prior to the growth of the online experience. salary. Negligent child welfare workers may face prison time in connection with the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200,'' wrote Justice Francis Rothschild. On March 28, an arrest warrant was issued for Stefanie Rodriquez, Patricia Clement, Kevin Bom, and Gregory Merritt. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Staff writer Hannah Fry contributed to this report. Stefa Rodriguez Found 5 people in California, Florida and 6 other states. In 2017, social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, Patricia Clement, and supervisors Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were charged with child abuse and falsifying public records. A Los Angeles County superior court judge on Thursday dismissed a case against four social workers charged in the death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez. However, the case against the four took a turn earlier this year after a California appellate courtruled that a lowertrial court which denied a motion to dismiss the charges should have granted the defense's motion to dismiss the case against them, according to NBC Los Angeles. Social work practice involves the understanding of human development, behavior and the social, economic and cultural institutions and interactions. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "Allowing a social worker to evade liability for falsifying a public document would incentivize social workers to put their own interests in avoiding liability for their misdeeds above the purpose of the states child welfare statutory scheme, which is child safety," she wrote. "There is, therefore, no probable cause to hold them on charges of violating those laws and the trial court should have granted the motions to dismiss.". or redistributed. Aguirre is still on death row. Netflixs The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is not just a look at the horrific abuse that Gabriel faced at home, which eventually led to his death. A UCLA graduate, she is originally from Duarte, Calif., and is a native Spanish speaker. invisible stranding in knitting. The defense filed a motion to dismiss their case, so they did not go to trial or appear before a jury. When social workers came over, Aguirre and Fernandez would hide him . The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Pearl Fernandez was sentenced to life in prison in 2018 and Aguirre received the death penalty. Four social workers: Kevin Bom, Greg Merritt, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement were charged with child endangerment which resulted in death, and falsification of public documents. However, on January 23, 2020, the panel refused to reconsider this ruling. But I think that there was some measure of justice for Gabriels family when the decision came down for Isauro Aguirre and Pearl Fernandez got life in prison.". Social Worker: 107 S DIVISION ST SPOKANE, WA 99202 (509) 838-4651: 1033275649: MS. JEANA N PAUL MA Individual: Marriage & Family Therapist: 107 S DIVISION ST They also may need a license; specific requirements vary by state. Of this total $30,591 was received Los trabajadores sociales Stefanie Rodrguez y Patricia Clement, as como sus supervisores, Kevin Bom y Gregory Merritt, fueron acusados de un delito grave de abuso infantil y un delito grave de falsificacin de registros pblicos despus de que el nio muri en mayo de 2013. Gabriel endured ongoing abuse and torture from his mother, Pearl Fernandez, and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, leading to his death. They're not facing new charges, instead the district attorney's office will not object to a motion to dismiss the charges against them, the Antelope Valley Press reported. This information is according to Los Angeles County payrolls for Faced with the trial and the likelihood of prison, the social workers moved the case to the California appellate court. La madre de Gabriel, Pearl Sinthia Fernndez, fue condenada a cadena perpetua por su participacin en el deceso de su hijo. Jennifer Nied is the fitness editor at Womens Health and has more than 10 years of experience in health and wellness journalism. In Standard 1.01, the Code acknowledges there are times when the social worker's responsibility to society at large, or a specific legal obligation of the social worker, may . Have you been looking for a home in a quiet location, where there would be room for a large family, and. Unfortunately, in the case against the social workers, state law is not on our side. In 2019, Stephanie had the opportunity to become a Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner. Location. 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"Over the years, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has taken significant steps to mitigate risk and improve our capacity countywide in order to best serve vulnerable children and families and as a department we remain committed to ensuring that reform continues," the agency said. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! "There is, therefore, no probable cause to hold them on charges of violating those laws and the trial court should have granted the motions to dismiss.". According to the NASW Code of Ethics (1999), dual relationships occur "when social workers relate to clients in more than one relationship, whether professional, social, or business" (p. 9). Stefanie Rodriguez Found 287 people in California, New York and 39 other states View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. An arrest warrant filed March 28 identifies the four Los Angeles social workers as Stefanie Rodriguez, 30, Patricia Clement, 65, Kevin Bom, 36, and Gregory Merritt, 60. "We conclude that the petitioners never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel for purposes of Penal Code section 273a, subdivision (a). However, this seems to be the end of the case against Rodriguez, Clement, Bom and Merritt. stefanie rodriguez social worker now. The median salary for a social worker in the United States is $46, 270. Following graduation Stephanie worked for seven years as a Children and Family Services, Social Worker, with Childrens Administration (now known as DCYF). As Children'S Social Worker at Los Angeles County, STEFANIE A RODRIGUEZ made $49,663 in total Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. El qu y porque desde Washington: Dnde qued la investigacin a Mxico y sus fronteras? Ve el perfil de Stephanie Rodriguez en LinkedIn, la mayor red profesional del mundo. Resiliency Express LCSW PC. A UCLA graduate, she is originally from Duarte, Calif., and is a native Spanish speaker. I wish Gabriel was alive," and "every day I wish that I made better choices," according to NBC Los Angeles. But really the bigger problems, the systemic problems, its very, very difficult to understand whats going happen with that, and how thats going to change, Knappenberger continued. The couple was convicted of Gabriel's murder, and .css-7qz8rz{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#f7623b;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #feebe7 50%, #feebe7);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-7qz8rz:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}Fernandez is currently serving a life sentence for her role, while Aguirre is on death row for his. . She has also studied questions at the intersection of social media and social justice, with research on topics including feminist hashtags, social work's social media response to COVID-19, social media platforms used by political extremists (such as Gab), and disinformation impacting Black and brown communities. In the appellate court ruling in early January, Associate Justice Victoria Gerrard Chaney agreed that the four social workers could not be charged with child abuse. Both Pearl Fernandez and her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, wereconvicted on a count of first-degree murder with Aguirre sentenced to death after jurors found Gabriel was viciously beaten to death in 2013after enduring horrendousabuse from his supposed caretakers. Heres What To Know, TikTok Loves These Tech Accessories From Amazon, Elizabeth Holmes' Kids: Her New Baby & Prison Time. Library. We further conclude that the petitioners were not officers within the meaning of Government Code section 6200. But prosecutors also saw culpability in the hands of state workers who were entrusted with protecting Gabriel. It was in limbo for a long time but in January 2020, the 2nd District Court of Appeal issued the directive to dismiss the charges against the social workers, saying, We conclude that the petitioners never had the requisite duty to control the abusers and did not have care or custody of Gabriel for purposes of Penal Code section 273a, subdivision (a). LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey continues to stand by the charges. Alejandra Reyes-Velarde is a Metro reporter for the Los Angeles Times. November 18, 2022 - After a decade of advocating, the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) today celebrates the passing of Bill C-5, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act that repeals mandatory minimum sentencing for certain drug offences. "The petitioners' actions here prevented the system from working in whatever way it might have had they done their jobs honestly, and offers no incentive for either DCFS or individual social workers to work to reform and repair the parts of the system that may fail the children it is intended to protect. The verdict in their case seems to be fair in this regard since they were not directly responsible for Gabriels death. "We have, in effect, encouraged DCFS and its social workers to cover their tracks if they stumble on the cracks in the system.". Cundo terminar? "Over the years, the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has taken significant steps to mitigate risk and improve our capacity countywide in order to best serve vulnerable children and families and as a department we remain committed to ensuring that reform continues.". In Lomeli's ruling, the judge found that the social workers were "factually innocent" of the crimes, according to NBC Los Angeles. Tammie Underbrink Elementary Librarian. Los Angeles County social workers Stefanie Rodriguez, 35, Patricia Clement, 69, and supervisors Kevin Bom, 41, and Gregory Merritt, 64, were each been charged with one felony count of child. Although a social worker's primary commitment is to his or her client, the Code outlines that social workers have a responsibility to the larger society as well. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Although there may be consequences to social workers who fail to fulfill their duties, the appellate opinion read, the consequences do not include criminal liability for child abuse.. compensation. The Department of Children and Family Services issued a statement on Facebook saying it respect's the court's decision. Super Tuesday results - what's next for the Democratic Party? Source: Los Angeles Times. He was repeatedly beaten, starved, tied up and made to sometimes sleep in a cabinet, authorities said. But it was also noted that various figures in Gabriel's life like teachers and even a security guardreported abuse to the proper channels of Child Protective Services only for the pleas toapparently be ignored as the abuse ramped up. The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez is streaming now on Netflix, Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, The torture and death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, which is the subject of a new, "The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez" is streaming on Netflix now, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The docuseries is also an indictment of the entire system that failed Gabriel. The torture and death of 8-year-old Gabriel Fernandez, which is the subject of a new Netflix true crime series, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, was so horrific that prosecutors thought more than one party had to face charges for what happened to him. I want to thank the dedicated deputy district attorneys who have worked diligently to pursue justice on behalf of Gabriel Fernandez, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement provided to, The district attorney's office confirmed to. The thing she loves most about working at the Alliance, is connecting with caregivers. Merritt sat down with The Atlantic for a long-form interview in 2018, in whichhe expressed guilt for Gabriel's death but said,I dont think theres anything else I could have done." I'm a creative that's passionate about digital content, social media, and communication, with over 5 years of experience. Moreover, following an internal investigation, the four of them were fired from their jobs. She is passionate about sharing TBRI with other caregivers. Two social workers, Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as two of their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were each charged with one felony count of child abuse and falsifying public records. In a dissenting opinion, Associate Justice Victoria Gerrard Chaney agreed that the four should not be charged with child neglect but instead aspublic officers. 2 ac lot. Stefanie Rodriguez was the first person who looked into Gabriel's case, when his teacher put in a call about the possibility of Pearl beating Gabriel at home, for his in-school behavior. Key social work organizations, such as the NASW and AWSB, have begun noting the proliferation of social media usage in education and . Mount Sinai Health System is part of the Medical & Surgical Hospitals industry, and located in New York, United States. boy who was killed by his mother and her boyfriend. The Benefits of Social Media The popularity of social media lies in its emphasis on accessibility. Gabriel Fernandez, 8, of Palmdale, Calif., died after years of abuse from his mother and her boyfriend. His skull was fractured and 12 of his ribs were broken, prosecutors said, and he was forced to eat cat feces and sleep bound and gagged in a cabinet at his home. Ultimately, the social workersStefanie Rodriguez, 34, and Patricia Clement, 69, and two supervisors, Kevin Bom, 40, and Gregory Merritt, 64, all faced charges in connection with the death of Gabriel, with prosecutors allegingthey minimized evidence of Gabriel's abuse. In January, the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that a lower courtshould have granted a defense motion to dismiss the case against the social workers. Social workers Stefanie Rodriguez and Patricia Clement, as well as their supervisors, Kevin Bom and Gregory Merritt, were each charged with one felony count of child abuse and one felony. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Suite 102. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. For master's level social work students, 25% of the curriculum is the field experience, In the publics desire to see vengeful justice meted out, after Gabriels death, it is possible that Clement, Bom, Rodrigues, and Merritt, were all placed in the crosshairs. Call or Email Joe Rodriguez now - (914) 618-5733 Qualifications School: Columbia University School of Social Work Year Graduated: 1996 License and State: 069525. I want to thank the dedicated deputy district attorneys who have worked diligently to pursue justice on behalf of Gabriel Fernandez, Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said in a statement provided to Oxygen.com. About working at the Alliance, is connecting with caregivers STEFANIE Rodriquez, Clement. 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