[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6270274,"mediaKeyId","3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5","parentId",3037064,"title","Court continues DFPS conservatorship for Carlista Ross; orders drug testing if mother is located","audioSeconds",385,"startMs",7636000,"endMs",8021000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5&start=7636&end=8021","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5/thumbnail_7636000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6270274/Texas/Court-continues-DFPS-conservatorship-for-Carlista-Ross-orders-drug-testing-if-mother-is-located","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270274-edc2681322bc88ff807f4438d7428bbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775359718&Signature=L7ZC8jU61p04RSQJ~984Yn5Z1iBr7nOOnMMJx0Iw1Gn4SFm6gRZYR7wa-Lfv2BWgckc0lABPAdBwpclaYkIW1AWvW8z-nO4sQ6l0bPyVCK9tmNxm5RgaEAE8tqtxxaQWxHyg0p-9MxHozjLC0GMYLoFwLQS-toM3UU7hwIdxHKSOOYtXXUl6zseqdeCDRjD~dPOvno45jI1fvbg2cEnC4lQY18k8VtDb9zcyw4ZhirtLZEHZ3xKS-LfrU7-T5uTW8GxAbZZLNVhwRIO2BSfiEz-cXrorxOT-H5A4671eV1b9SQAA2n96oFGLIEYlalzhBhLr6EPynI0CNttXa2fKEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-17T12:54:18.187Z","article","The High Plains Child Protection Court continued the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as temporary managing conservator for infant Carlista Ross and ordered that the mother be compelled to provide drug testing if she can be located.

DFPS worker Avery Hoganson reported that Carlista is doing well in placement and starting to crawl; the agency has had difficulty reaching the mother, Erica Ross, who has not been in consistent contact with caseworkers since late winter. DFPS said the last attempted drug screen in February was not completed and that the agency should be authorized to pursue hair-follicle and urine testing if the mother is found.

The judge found a continuing danger to return the child to the mother at this time, continued the child’s placement and set the final hearing for July 8, 2025, on a 9:00 a.m. docket. The judge also noted a misdemeanor matter and a motion to revoke tied to the mother that may explain her lack of contact; DFPS said a warrant is outstanding on that matter.

The court reiterated that DFPS should continue reasonable efforts to locate the mother and ordered drug testing if she is located.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Potter County Docket 4-15-25","oneSentenceSummary","At a review hearing, the court continued DFPS as temporary managing conservator for infant Carlista Ross, ordered drug testing for the mother if she can be located, and scheduled a final hearing for July 8, 2025.","taxTitle","High Plains Child Protection Court, District Court Judges, Judicial, Texas","taxId",66318,"location","Texas","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6270279,"Court continues placement for Amber Hightower, orders services; aggravated circumstances filed against father",0,8087000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5&start=8087&end=8087","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5/thumbnail_8087000.jpg","/articles/6270279/Texas/Court-continues-placement-for-Amber-Hightower-orders-services-aggravated-circumstances-filed-against-father","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270279-f2a76e6492e15f28469b3c7437624410/orig.mp4?Expires=1775359718&Signature=XFLBSf2xXcSqtnOHGYXWX8uwX6a5xOnx2R6oTFJMiFF6Cbkga6FqWcE5RUv8ntXI00GUFJQzMKlrR5Ei7Nl133V7sAZVaErfQ-g3KqjZtXSl3lCAneG8sNFuYK6~AfatfV9SxAiX~CZW3cBzyAjbH1Skf~rc46aarOTuZVbdlrymXhkawQ6sVIB~C8~6Dnsl-UebKQQ8-G6mLXaivF7v~lJIMwDDZvveQTlMItt~XDLaZphqiK9mO7oaRpf2wF-BU-6NBvDmQiDFAL0zghNtXr53rVBmtLRnOzk08Z7NhuqQOoNq4LmsLI2V9FpfioNGzfdizyqExwVKV40MRXfxmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At an initial permanency hearing in the High Plains Child Protection Court, the judge continued the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as temporary managing conservator for Amber Hightower, ordered the mother’s service plan as a court order, and left the child in the current foster placement while the department pursues reunification efforts.

DFPS caseworker Mickey Lane reported that Amber is placed with her sister in a foster home, is participating in services for developmental delay, and that the father is incarcerated on charges that include sexually related offenses and a motion to revoke on registration obligations. DFPS advised that the mother has begun or completed several services: parenting classes, psychosexual and psychosocial assessments and that payment scheduling was pending for a court-ordered psychological evaluation.

The court sustained an objection to a speculative remark during testimony and clarified that, because aggravated-circumstances allegations have been filed against the father, a family plan was not filed for him. The judge warned the mother about the consequences of failing to complete court-ordered services and encouraged her to use the time while the child is not in her care to focus on completing required programs. The judge also instructed DFPS not to change the child’s placement unless there is an agreement or a court order and set the next court date for a final hearing in late June 2025.","At an initial permanency hearing, the court continued DFPS as temporary managing conservator for Amber Hightower, ordered service plans, noted aggravated circumstance allegations against the father, and set a final hearing in late June 2025.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6270284,"Court orders family-service plans and continues placement in Jordan Lundegreen status hearing",504,5592000,6096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5&start=5592&end=6096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5/thumbnail_5592000.jpg","/articles/6270284/Texas/Court-orders-family-service-plans-and-continues-placement-in-Jordan-Lundegreen-status-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270284-849f07775abea3eff904e345499a40e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775359718&Signature=TsNhMSg0iq5bgzNxCNB4BYcq7k9Lin3XuN8-Ufn5MzxnyRNO8rPJoYxTBuFM2r-LDlcQ7hMAf7bO-C9TpeUonj7xnbcv7zwPt18pg-QkM-MxjtVP1QgbtdVhQrOvx4CPfEYCgADhCI8bxhu5vtfzXwvIfuJhFvgE57IPUlfwMIJpZMoJ0CODaAx-ARlY1xwNO7FVSK0kTbJwnGLSoovp3ZKlGt6SBWrrCodc6F7Z4BdhcB23gn9iXNCjxENcsn~FAMsw-~2wnCyS9Y9zOSBasqDmd6q8ri9WeHPAKgAMGAvK76Z5mkKd5OSSKi145aUGZoOQsGULVPI7uovrRnZQFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A judge in the High Plains Child Protection Court continued the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as temporary managing conservator for Jordan Lundegreen and ordered the family service plans to be entered as court orders. The court found a continuing danger to return the child home and scheduled an initial permanency hearing for Aug. 12, 2025.

DFPS pharmacy specialist Bridal Salinas reported that Jordan is placed in foster care, has medical follow-up for a suspected atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis and was temporarily quarantined after being exposed to a measles outbreak; follow-up appointments and scheduling for required services are in progress. Salinas said both parents signed family plans of service and that the department had sent service authorizations; some services were awaiting scheduling and payment confirmation.

The judge told parents the court requires compliance with service plans and warned that failure to work those plans could lead to the child not returning home or, in the worst case, termination of parental rights. The court ordered DFPS to continue reasonable efforts to reunify the family, continued the child’s current placement and set the initial permanency hearing for Aug. 12, 2025, on the 9:00 a.m. docket.","At a status hearing, the court continued DFPS as temporary managing conservator for Jordan Lundegreen, found continuing danger to return the child home, ordered service plans to be court orders and set an initial permanency hearing for August 12, 2025.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6270289,"Court continues DFPS conservatorship, approves step-up visits as part of reunification plan for Adriel Ruiz",587,3799000,4386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5&start=3799&end=4386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5/thumbnail_3799000.jpg","/articles/6270289/Texas/Court-continues-DFPS-conservatorship-approves-step-up-visits-as-part-of-reunification-plan-for-Adriel-Ruiz","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270289-f09bf3d7a41185c05df6a72bf12165e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775359718&Signature=CnH0WvK1H2syLTmLuy3e6nz-6HPpJ8XquItu1gP8lB7VkblSTg2Y6eX5CkFWXPHjcICPhPj7tViMqbSpL0kvneutzaIyUQ2BgIlsgA0gTRQxmUWIihHST98tZn8~e1GFhkDP529-NG9eWlgv6Y5U-6nvuZmyYwIsUAPcBIxGUgO5YgIIYpmcmgnkLsi0nVB0KfxQEDaPINoRU5PtyM66wwNbp7~yBCqs4d3R1TAxQIZtAetcYQQ6974dpA5fp-uzBm7EqKTX0HWq059EpgYbwR9DTKZUYIDpb7Jxug~KaPu1Ub-sgGKqD1CvmleywpC0~o9aaeFdUu9FtLvoziq19g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A judge in the High Plains Child Protection Court continued the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) as temporary managing conservator of infant Adriel Ruiz and set a further hearing, while confirming a gradual reunification plan that started unsupervised visits and will move toward overnight visits if those go well.

DFPS permanency specialist Jennifer Campos told the court that Adriel is “doing really well,” has completed a normal swallow study and is crawling, and that the agency had begun unsupervised visits between the child and father, Marco Ruiz, with a second unsupervised visit expected the day after the hearing. Campos said the plan is to do about a month of unsupervised visits and then begin overnight visits, with the goal of slowly moving to reunification if placement and the child’s caregiver are comfortable.

The court found the father in compliance with his service plan and mother in partial compliance, noted barriers to the mother completing services while living in Colorado, and said the department should continue reasonable efforts toward reunification with the father. The judge ordered the case continued for a final hearing on July 8, 2025, on a 9:00 a.m. docket and emphasized the court’s interest in monitoring progress.

Defense counsel for father Javier Rivera and DFPS counsel were present; interpreter services were arranged for the father. DFPS supervisor Kayla Martinez and permanency specialist Campos participated in the hearing. The judge affirmed that any transition to overnight visits must account for the father’s work schedule and placement’s readiness and directed DFPS to coordinate visits and monitor the step-up plan.

The court’s continuing order keeps the child’s current placement in place and reiterates that the department will use reasonable efforts to reunify the family while protecting the child’s safety.","At a review hearing, the court continued the Department of Family and Protective Services as temporary managing conservator for Adriel Ruiz, noted progress toward reunification with the father, and approved a plan of unsupervised visits moving toward overnight stays and monitored reunification steps.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6270296,"Judge names mother sole managing conservator, bars father from contact in Aurelio Medellin case",1359,1031000,2390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5&start=1031&end=2390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3037064-89cc0964fe0cf1524393780994a2afb5/thumbnail_1031000.jpg","/articles/6270296/Texas/Judge-names-mother-sole-managing-conservator-bars-father-from-contact-in-Aurelio-Medellin-case","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6270296-42ee7c0988e1b6d28d173ae4c945d4fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775359718&Signature=K5aSBVIu3tl44KuOOsipnnVMhAZ4al6~unYgs1MK4R8sBdiSf6X3qokDA2l9NItUrj5gcHV3KGzjg0paDGfuHqt7WK38QJpc4qBsfb8y943FL0Q6JSLWnASqiO4UXISLT0zMS9~~bvaNQrLYVFZOiemymjzVkTe7jHIuP1cfq7DRf52nRK~DHIm0y5ICx~fYj~AsRp0IoeR4ZHOk2BjBAGAjHbRa7YPzaFj~IQq557bSxl1d5zzBNem0VjiOZyc7pKf0uC1-L07hvNtSoWRH2tyPuXfitbGbheuT8ApmKTT681RVMGNIpXhW8JQ6Jj0JUYinn9HXtZ~hzrT0pSJjHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A judge in the High Plains Child Protection Court issued a final order in the case of Aurelio Medellin, naming the child’s mother, Luz Medellin, as sole managing conservator and naming Lorenzo Hernandez as a possessory conservator with no contact between the father and the child.

The court found the outcome was in the child’s best interest and cited the father’s failure to engage with the family plan of service, an admitted positive drug screen and an ongoing criminal history. The presiding judge said, “I do find it is in the best interest of the child, Aurelio Medellin, to name the mother, Luz Medellin, as the sole managing conservator of the child. I'll name Lorenzo Hernandez as a possessory conservator of the child, and I will find that it is in the best interest of the child to not render any specific possession order and to further, enter a no contact order between the father and the child.”

Witness testimony and exhibits introduced at the hearing showed Aurelio has been living with his mother in Borger since a monitored return on Dec. 30, 2024, and that Saint Francis caseworkers described the child and mother as doing “amazing.” DFPS specialist Abigail Lawrence testified that the father had minimal participation in required services: he completed one random drug screen, did not complete counseling, parenting classes, or regular visits, and that contact since his October release from incarceration had ceased. The court took judicial notice that Lorenzo Hernandez had been adjudicated as the child’s father on 06/25/2024.

The court ordered child support be calculated based on minimum wage for one child and directed $50 per month in medical support to begin May 1, 2025. The judge also ordered the Department of Family and Protective Services and all court-appointed attorneys dismissed from the case and said she would sign and circulate the written order.

The child’s attorney of record, Stacy Zavala, and DFPS counsel announced readiness earlier in the hearing. Abigail Lawrence and a second Saint Francis pharmacy specialist, Jordan Alford, testified about casework and monitoring. Counsel for the father acknowledged he had not had recent contact with Hernandez and that Hernandez had been incarcerated during parts of the case.

The order leaves in place that the father may later seek modification; the judge observed he “is obviously always entitled to come back and ask to modify that.”","At a final hearing in a child-protection case, the court named Luz Medellin sole managing conservator of her son Aurelio, limited the father to possessory status with no contact, ordered child and medical support, and dismissed the department from the case.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Court continues DFPS conservatorship for Carlista Ross; orders drug testing if mother is located

Court continues placement for Amber Hightower, orders services; aggravated circumstances filed against father

Court orders family-service plans and continues placement in Jordan Lundegreen status hearing

Court continues DFPS conservatorship, approves step-up visits as part of reunification plan for Adriel Ruiz

Judge names mother sole managing conservator, bars father from contact in Aurelio Medellin case