If anything has happened to Isa Celis, Tucson will be in mourning.  The latest I heard is that Police are trying to get in touch with neighbors they haven’t been able to contact in the last month.  Law enforcement is leaving questionnaires.

If CPS, a non-law enforcement agency staffed by poorly paid child welfare investigators (starting at $32,000 with the highest, most experienced level now getting paid about $40,000, working with outdated, often broken office equipment, out of tiny cubicles, using their own vehicles to get around)…doesn’t interview every family member…any teachers…any Doctors…any daycare workers…all parents not living in the home in a case…they are raked over in the news.

How is it that law enforcement with all their resources… more than Child Protective Services … hasn’t been able to contact local people?  You would have thought neighbors…all of them…would have been interviewed three weeks ago.  There have been several law enforcement agencies….numerous deputies, police officers and I believe other outside law enforcement investigating this case.  If a child is missing, can the Police ask to come in to the neighbor’s houses?  I don’t know.  If not, the law should be changed to allow them access…in the case of a missing child/suspected abduction/kidnapping.

Where are the neighbors?  How many times has a child gone missing and the ultimate outcome is the child was taken by a neighbor?

I have no great love for CPS…since 2005 there have been numerous reports on child abuse/neglect cases and a couple of deaths wherein the agency was previously involved with the family.   It’s actually the family that fails the child…and yes, there are a couple of workers who need more training or shouldn’t be in the field.  But, last I heard, CPS hasn’t gotten the technology to predict behavior.  Does law enforcement have this?  On Television’s Criminal Mind’s the FBI staff have profilers who can forecast what will happen and who is probably the perpetrator.  But, that’s not real life is it?

Child deaths are prominent in the news.  The new CPS Director in Phoenix, Clarence Carter…has changed some things.  But, then every new Director makes his/her mark.  Every 4 years or so CPS gets a new one that’s going to solve everything.  One of the recently appointed, since “retired” Directors from out of State had the Agency spend a fortune on a new lengthy, cumbersome documentation program in the computer.  Workers spent as much time investigating and interviewing children as they did typing in the required information in the computer.   Mr. Carter is now issuing reforms to decrease some of the time spent in documentation.  Every few years the agency goes through a major change in style and emphasis.  If you are there long enough, you’ll have seen some old “style” come back into vogue and emphasis.

“New” programs come into vogue and are funded…but money isn’t put in the front end to help the investigators and ongoing workers who are actually dealing with the cases.  No one asks what they need.

A couple of front line workers in Tucson are on administrative leave…and some supervisors.  The local program manager is still here…since, I don’t know…2004, 2003, 2005?  She was allocated a new position a few months ago…an assistant deputy to help her manage six assistant program managers who oversee the various sites/offices around Tucson.  CPS investigators get 3-4 new child abuse/neglect reports every week. Each investigator…and they keep them on their caseload till they close them or take custody and petition the court and transfer to an Ongoing worker who will oversee Court orders.   Each parent in a court case will be appointed his and her own attorney, by the court, usually paid for by the State because they can’t afford counsel.  Some investigators have 40-90 open investigations.  Why?  Think.

What is the deal with Sergio Celis?  If something is going on………..and he voluntarily agreed to stay away…why hasn’t CPS filed a court case and WHY hasn’t law enforcement arrested him???  Think…….think.

Mr. Celis may have sketchy things in his background…maybe he’s depressed…I don’t know….but if it is suspected that he did something to his daughter why is it that CPS and Law enforcement can’t do a darn thing???

On the other hand, if the family isn’t involved…why haven’t all the neighbors been personally interviewed????  By law enforcement…?

No one knows what is going on.  The wall around the Celis home is 5 feet 8 inches tall and made of concrete.  Not the easiest wall for a perpetrator to bound over.  Maybe a meter box in the back gave an uplift of one to two feet.  But, why this house when it’s one of the most fortress like buildings in the neighborhood?  Who would go and steal a child from a house like that?

On the other hand………..if someone has been watching the family and saw this beautiful little girl…let’s say the 100+ sexual predators in her area of town…….who’s to say that she wasn’t targeted.

What if this person got friendly with mom and/or dad?  What if this person had been inside the fence?  What if someone watched…saw where she lived?  Figured out where in the house she slept?  What if she got up in the middle of the night and walked out the door?  What if she decided to open her window for air?  What if some night creature heard?  Would the dogs have slept through all that?  I don’t know.  I have a puppy…so he could sleep through anything when he’s tired.  I don’t know about these dogs.

It’s not easy for anyone or any agency to deal with the nightmare of a missing child case.  Everyone feels for Isa Celis.  What a happy looking little girl we see in home videos.  Please let her be alright…no child should suffer.

 

You may have noticed…I’ve been preoccupied and haven’t written regularly lately.  Well…if you had a new addition to your family you’d be busy and tired too.

Remember babies, toddler hood, and puppies? Sure you do. Are you yawning yet?

I’m proud to announce a new addition to our family – our puppy Finnegan. I named him that because Finnegan in Gaelic (the Irish National language) means “small white haired one”.

Finnegan has long, wavy silky white hair. We brought him home Saturday, May 12th… after an hour and a half drive from Gold Canyon, Arizona.

He rewarded me as we neared the house.  We slowed our speed after getting off the highway and made some turns. This was his signal to vomit.  Such is the nature of puppies on car rides. His prior home mom had purposely not given him lunch…she knew better.

I dipped my hand in his carrier and saw the vomit.  Maternal (dogternal?) instinct kicked in as I opened the door. I took my little 6 pound 12 ounce boy out of the crate. I had my husband hand me a paper towel and some water from the front seat to wipe Finnegan’s mouth.  I am a pushover…but not stupid.

I was grateful I’d wiped his little puppy smile, as I was immediately rewarded with a darting tongue into my mouth. He was so happy. He doesn’t have an unhappy bone in his little body.

We arrived home and the adventure began. I couldn’t figure out how to get him into the harness to leash him and walk him in…I have technical issues.

I carried Finnegan in.  After showing him his exercise pen, his sleeping crate and toys, we relaxed.  I made dinner and he ate like no one ever fed him and finished dinner in seconds. This went on …the cleaning and licking of his bowl…in record time…for his first three to four days.  I guess after that he realized we wouldn’t starve him and he slowed down.

Everyone day I learn something new and every day I am amazed at what he teaches me…about him…about life…about myself. I couldn’t be happier………….or more tired.

We found our puppy at long last.  Pictures…many…and stories..many…to follow. But right now Finnegan is lying under the chair in my family room so his little body can lie on tile.  He’s a hot little guy and prefers tile floors, sheets, and slick surfaces to expensive dog beds and cushy daybeds.  Go Figure.  I put a pillow case on the crate pad in his night night place and he sleeps like a …dog.

Gotta go.  Someone stole my socks.  Puppy love…what can I say…nothing better.  Can I get a WOOF?

Water…precious resource

I finally got my hard water situation straightened out. No, not the beach…. the water in my house. I was tired – as I mentioned in a previous article – of getting calcium marks on countertops and filmy stuff on shower doors. I finally got a water softener and water filtration system in my house.

The water I use from the taps in my kitchen is good to go now – free of hardness, sediment, potentially harmful chemicals and yuck factors. It tastes great and by the way, the water in the taps in our bathrooms even tastes good now.

I researched and chose four companies for demonstrations and information: Eco Water Systems - a locally grown family company ( Phone: (520) 881-1740-33301 N Chapel Ave); Culligan Water Conditioning ( (520) 792-9700 1230 S Campbell Ave www.culligan.com; Water Tech of Tucson – another local company with an on-site studio and factory you can visit – (Phone (520) 638-9440 4601 S 3rd Ave www.watertectucson.com) and Kinetico (Phone (520) 293-6687 or 549-2133, 1870 W Prince Rd, Ste 7 .

All have websites and interesting information you can read. All the representatives were pleasant and all came to my home to test the water and demonstrate how their systems work. All provided price quotes. Kinetico was the most expensive. Culligan and Eco were around the same price and had very likeable representatives.

All four companies are Better Business Bureau A rated. Water Tech has a local facility you can tour. We chose Water Tech. The price was reasonable, the personnel knowledgeable and the system included both a filtration and softening feature and is compact enough to fit in our garage.

The best is – the water of course! I cannot believe how much better my skin feels – not so dry and itchy. My hair is smoother, silkier and less frizzy and I no longer get water spots on my glasses, counter tops and stainless steel sink. All the water in my house tastes good and I feel safer and healthier.

I’d highly recommend checking out the companies for yourself, you can’t go too wrong with any of them. For us it was a matter of cost, owner credibility, being able to tour their facility, quick response and no fancy schmancy bells and whistles. When you got a good product, you don’t have to bedazzle the customer. They had just what we wanted at the right price.

I have to go now, all this water talk has gotten me thirsty.

Police released information that Child Protective Services made a voluntary agreement with Sergio Celis.  He is not to have contact with his sons.  He agreed to leave the family home.  That does not mean the children were “removed” from the father or the family.

 

This type of agreement is developed during a meeting with the family and concerned professionals, as well as the CPS investigator, supervisor and CPS meeting facilitator.  If the CPS agency got information from law enforcement that the father had done something to put his children in the way of harm, the agency needed to take action.  But, maybe there wasn’t enough information to take the situation to court, under our Arizona laws.

 

Removal of children must meet stringent legal requirements that the CPS investigator would need to detail in a written petition to the court.

 

A voluntary agreement is time limited and has stipulations.  For example, there is a monitor appointed whose role it is to assure that the father doesn’t violate the agreement.  Typically and it is my best guest -  that the mother was given the designation as monitor – which would mean that at this time she is trusted by the CPS agency, as well as law enforcement and willing and able to set and maintain these limits.

 

In addition to that, there may be drop in visits to the home randomly, by a CPS investigator.  Or, there could be a trusted family member monitoring and visiting additionally.

 

All parties, including both parents need to agree to and sign off on a voluntary.  It is not legally binding.  However, if he violated it, that could provide legal weight for the agency to initiate a court case.  In the worst case scenario, if the mother were enabling the violation, the children may be removed and put with approved relatives, or if that is lacking, in foster care.

 

The agreement doesn’t mean that Sergio Celis is considered to have done something wrong or hurt his daughter.  It is a precaution.

 

If there was grave concern, there would be court action (through the Pima County Juvenile Court) initiated by CPS and not a voluntary contract.

 

It may be that he has a past record of arrests for driving while intoxicated with the children in the car.  Or, he had an arrest several years ago – at a younger age – for using marijuana, cocaine or other drugs.  Or, it could simply be based on whatever information law enforcement provided.  Keep in mind if that were concrete and irrefutable proof he was somehow involved or negligent, then law enforcement would have initiated an arrest – don’t you think?

 

Sergio could be severely depressed about his daughter’s disappearance and so guilty that he has verbalized suicidal ideation.  He could be unable to function due to depression, leading him to cry continually and/or react in unpredictable ways that adversely affect his boys.

 

There may have been an incident of prior domestic violence which raised concerns.  This is possible, but not probable because if he had hurt his wife and/or children before and Becky Celis did not take action to prevent and protect – the CPS agency could potentially take legal custody as it might appear Becky is afraid or unable to protect.

 

He may be angry or not, with his sons, or they perceive he is…and they may think he blames them for the incident – after all, they almost always slept in their brother’s room.  Why not that night?  The boy(s) may have stated they are worried or fearful about this.

 

There may be someone who is targeting Sergio, placing him in jeopardy, and to remain in the home would further jeopardize his children’s safety.

 

Perhaps Sergio owes money to unsavory people…and that puts the rest of the family at risk.  Is he a gambler?  Was there any drug dealing going on in the house?  Was there traffic going in and out that the neighbors are now reporting on?  Did he do something to anger the wrong people?

 

There may have been statements made by one or both parents that is inconsistent…or not matching, that raises concerns about what happened.  It may be his affect when he reported his child missing, his chuckling about telling his wife to “get her butt home” raised flags in some way.  We never know how people will respond to a crisis – you cannot jump to conclusions.

 

Perhaps Sergio had become overly vigilant in the home to the point it frightened the boys.  Maybe he began to stay up all night, patrolling the house and checking doors and on the hour – who knows.

 

The boys may have said something that concerned investigators – maybe one of both heard someone else in the house that morning.

 

Maybe the boys think their father is angry with them; after all, why wasn’t Isa sleeping in their room that night like she normally does?  He may not be able to assuage their guilt (if they have any), if he himself too feels guilty or distraught.  What’s left in him to give the boys right now?  He is the man, the protector…and like any father he has to feel terrible about whatever happened.

 

Police, now believe Isa’s disappearances abduction.  However, they haven’t ruled out the parents.  Law enforcement is not sure who the abductor(s) are and whether, somehow, Sergio brought the people to the home – however innocently – himself.

 

Time will tell.  Law enforcement recently stated that CPS was at the family home in December.  Why?  Was there a domestic violence incident?  Did neighbors hear something?  Did a child tell the teacher something?  Did people observe cars and strangers coming to the home all hours of the night?  Or maybe only after Becky went to work?

 

It takes time to develop information to “solve” a case.  Both CPS and law enforcement are expected to know and turn over rocks and leads and swiftly figure out what’s going on.  But, of course, that’s what we’ve learned as a society to expect.  Doesn’t CSI and all the other investigators, law enforcement agencies and other professionals we see portrayed on Television figure it all out in an hour.  It’s only a matter of time before people start questioning whether Police know what they are doing or if they have done enough.  We know if CPS had any prior involvement, it will all be turned back on that Agency.

 

Such is child welfare.  Such is the nature of frightening times.  No one knows right now what is going on.  And let’s remember, it’s all about Isabel…and keep praying, and keep thinking good thoughts and keep the focus on her.  Now is not the time to judge and reach a conclusion.  We still need to focus on finding her.

The search for little Isabel Celis continues. Tucson Police disclosed that Sergio Celis, Isa’s father, met with Child Protective Services late last week and that he agreed to a voluntary separation from his two sons. The boys continue to live at home with their mother Rebecca.

Police reported they developed information that raised concerns as to the boy’s safety and they contacted the CPS agency. Within a day, this was clarified and restated in a slightly different way – law enforcement stated it is routine for CPS to be called when any child goes missing, so CPS was involved from the beginning of the case. I worked for CPS as an investigator for years, both here and in Florida, and don’t recall ever being called in at that point.

If CPS was involved from the beginning of the Celis Case, it is because there was a concern that something about the situation law enforcement found concerned Police about the home’s safety, the family, or frequent visitors to the home. It may not have been concerns regarding the child’s parents, but perhaps concerns that a relative who visits has a serious arrest record, may use drugs or is suspicious in some way.

The law agency may discern that the parents are not protecting the child/children in the home from this individual or individuals – either because they can’t, will not, or do not show awareness this individual is potentially dangerous.

CPS gets reports from law enforcement and they are taken by a central hotline in Phoenix. Generally, CPS is called if let’s say, the Police or Sheriff arrest parents and there is no relative who can or is able to take custody of the children while the parent is incarcerated. They also call if they are at a home due to a drug situation, which could be parents and/or others selling drugs from within the child’s residence.

Law enforcement typically will call if they stop a vehicle due to DUI and the mother and/or father is driving while intoxicated or under the influence of recreational drugs and the minors are in the vehicle. There are other reasons, but generally it is because the child/children are determined to be hurt, injured, sick/ill, neglected and exposed to dangerous people, or are at risk of grave injury or harm due to the caretaker’s actions…or the home environment is so chaotic, dirty and unsanitary there is a serious concern for the child/children’s welfare.

Domestic violence situations are also ones where CPS is commonly called, if the violence is in the child’s home between his/her primary caregivers and/or the parents allow others in the home who engages in violence which could potentially harm the minor – that is a failure on the parent’s part to protect.

CPS and law enforcement are partners, each with defined responsibilities and access to different types of records and tools, skills and abilities. The two agencies pool their resources.

Up until about 2007, CPS workers were unable to access information on criminal activity or records, outside of general websites…where the persons may be identified by name and date of birth, but not by social security information so the agency would be able to verify it is the same person.

Due to a change in the law made by the legislature, CPS was given permission to call Department of Public Safety to get information. The number of requests was limited and the time for DPS to answer could be two hours, several hours or days or weeks later…initially. It was a work in progress.

In about 2009/2010, the Agency was allowed its own access to DPS records after receiving training as to confidentiality. No training or material was provided on how to read the records or understand them, what the codes meant and how to navigate the site. That was a matter of trial and error for each worker. In government, resources may slowly come, equipment arrives – but training on how to use the resources/equipment may not be available for months. Such is life in government and especially in social welfare agencies that are typically not funded to provide extensive or rapid training.

If you are interested in the law, as it applies to parental abuse/neglect of children, you can examine Arizona’s law at http://www.azleg.gov/arizonarevisedstatutes.asp?title=13. Title 13, Title 13 – Criminal Code.

However and whoever responds is written into our laws, as made and modified by our State Legislators. Below are some areas of the law that address children. It is Chapter 36, Family Offenses, that specifically addresses family offenses…these are the areas that delineate what CPS could be involved in. It’s easy to go to the ARS (Arizona Revised Statutes) website, just copy and paste the address above into your browser.

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The next article will address possible  reasons why Sergio Celis can not live at home.

Little 6 year old Isa has a  megawatt sweet smile.  All the photos we’ve seen, published by the press and police, show a child who seems to be happy, healthy, well dressed and cared for. She looks just like her mother.  We all wish for her safe and speedy return.

In Tucson, we are all worried for her and frustrated, wishing we could do something to help.  But law enforcement needs to do their job, uninhibited and unencumbered.

What happened? She’s been gone 12 days now, 2 weeks on Saturday. We don’t know.  It’s scary right now here…considering we’ve had a recent incident where someone climbed in through another window to molest some little girls.  And, he…hasn’t been found.  We’re told it is not related, who knows?

I checked public records websites for both the parents and you can too. Now, whether or not these are actually the parents is a question, as who would really know?  They may just be people with the same names.  The only one I know is right is the first, as this is the one that Tucson Police released information and dates on.

The websites are:

http://apps.supremecourt.az.gov/publicaccess/caselookup.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

http://www.cosc.pima.gov/home.asp?include=pages/record_search.htm

http://www.jp.pima.gov/home.htm

http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/courts/QDPS/Search/CitySearch.aspx

Here’s what I found, all Public records:

 

Public Access to Court Information – Case Search

The Arizona Judicial Branch is pleased to offer Public Access to Court Case

•             This first  is the case that Tucson Police Department reported on their daily News Update about a week ago….regarding their dogs.

Case Number:   M-1041-CR-12033022

Title:      ST OF AZ VS CELIS SERGIO DAVID              Category:            Criminal

Court:   Tucson Municipal Court  Filing Date:        04/19/2012

Judge:   None     Disposition Date:

SERGIO DAVID CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1   Date of Birth: 12/1970

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

QX0067819          1              LOCAL CHARGE

QX0067819          2              LOCAL CHARGE

QX0067819          3              LOCAL CHARGE

QX0067819          4              LOCAL CHARGE

QX0067819          5              LOCAL CHARGE

Case Activity

Date      Description         Party

04/26/2012         CAL: ARRM-CRIMINAL

04/19/2012         COMPANION FILE EXISTS             D 1

04/19/2012         FILE MADE          D 1

04/19/2012         FILED: COMPLAINT-CITATION

 

Party Name        Case Number    Case Caption     Filing Date

SERGIO CELIS     C20033207

EFREN ROMERO VS REBECCA CELIS          6/5/2003

SERGIO D CELIS C314567

8/13/1996

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       L5344282

5/13/1997

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       L99330

5/13/1997

Case Information  Case Number:              File Date:             Judge:   Party Information

Party Full Name                Party Role           Name Type

SERGIO DAVID CELIS

Groom  True

REBECCA LAURA SNYDER

Bride     True

Public Access to Court Information – Case Search             M-1041-TR-97298861

SERGIO D CELIS DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85711          Tucson Municipal Court

M-1041-TR-98220350

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85711          Tucson Municipal Court

M-1041-TR-5021372

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85747          Tucson Municipal Court

J-1003-TR-200600860

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 587475193 Ajo Justice

M-1041-TR-7107906

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85747          Tucson Municipal Court

M-1041-TR-11015469

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85711          Tucson Municipal Court

M-1041-CR-12033022

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85711          Tucson Municipal Court

M-1041-CR-12033020

SERGIO DAVID CELIS       DEFENDANT       12/1970                TUCSON, AZ 85711          Tucson Municipal Court

Case Information

SERGIO DAVID CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1   Date of Birth: 12/1970

Case Activity

Date      Description         Party

04/26/2012         CAL: ARRM-CRIMINAL

04/19/2012         COMPANION FILE EXISTS             D 1

04/19/2012         FILE MADE          D 1

04/19/2012         FILED: COMPLAINT-CITATION    D 1

Case Number:   M-1041-TR-11015469

Title:      ST OF AZ VS CELIS SERGIO DAVID              Category:            Traffic

Court:   Tucson Municipal Court

Filing Date:          02/16/2011

Judge:   HON KAREN MAISH LEAVITT       Disposition Date:              08/02/2011

SERGIO DAVID CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1   Date of Birth: 12/1970

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

CP0102787          1              FAIL TO STOP FOR RED LIGHT      08/02/2011         DEFENSIVE DRIVING/DISM NO MVD

Public Access to Court Information – Case Search              n

 

The Arizona Judicial Branch is pleased to offer Public Access to Court Case

 Case Information Case Number:              M-1041-TR-7107906       

Title:      ST OF AZ VS CELIS SERGIO DAVID              Category:            Traffic

Court:   Tucson Municipal Court   Filing Date:          11/06/2007 Judge:           None     Disposition Date:

SERGIO DAVID CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1   Date of Birth: 12/1970

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

C13402938           1              LOCAL CHARGE                 12/11/2007         PLEA GUILTY/RESP SENT IMPOSED

C13402938           2              FAIL TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESP

Case Activity

Date      Description         Party

12/11/2007         FUND: 2007 SURCHARGES (84%)               D 1

12/11/2007         FUND: BASE FINE             D 1

12/11/2007         FUND: PROB SURCH 2006             D 1

12/11/2007         FUND: TCC CASE PROCESS FEE 84%          D 1

12/11/2007         HELD: ARRAIGNMENT    D 1

12/11/2007         TIC: SCHEDULED PAYMENT DATE              D 1

12/06/2007         CAL: ARRM-CIVIL TRAFFIC            D 1

12/06/2007         MISC: CALENDAR UPDATE           D 1

11/06/2007         FILED: COMPLAINT-CITATION    D 1

 

Case Number:   J-1003-TR-200600860       Title:     ST OF AZ VS CELIS SERGIO DAVI Category:            Traffic

Court:   Ajo Justice    Filing Date:                06/02/2006

Judge:   None     Disposition Date:              06/29/2006

SERGIO DAVID CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1   Date of Birth: 12/1970

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

T00065991           1              LOCAL CHARGE                 06/29/2006         BAIL/DEPOSIT GIVEN/FORFEITED

Date      Description         Party

06/29/2006         FUND: 2002 PROBATION SURCHARGE    D 1

06/29/2006         FUND: 2002 SURCHARGES (80%)               D 1

06/29/2006         FUND: BASE FINE             D 1

06/29/2006         NO CONTEST PLEA           D 1

06/28/2006         CAL: DEFAULT JUDGMENT HEARING

06/14/2006         TELEPHONE CALL              D 1

06/02/2006         COMPLAINT FILED-UNIFORM CITATN

Case Information  Case Number:   M-1041-TR-98220350

Title:      STATE OF ARIZONA VS CELIS       Category:            Traffic

Court:   Tucson Municipal Court  Filing Date:          03/16/1998

Judge:   None     Disposition Date:              03/24/1998

SERGIO DAVID CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1   Date of Birth: 12/1970

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

C05696460           1              DRIVE W/ LICENSE SUSPENDED/REVOKED/CANCELLED; DUI         03/24/1998         PLEA GUILTY/RESP SENT IMPOSED

C05696460           2              NO CURRENT REGISTRATION      03/24/1998         COMPL DISMISSED BY COURT

C05696460           3              FAIL TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL RESP             03/24/1998         COMPL DISMISSED BY COURT

Date      Description         Party

08/20/1999         REACT / FACTS CONVERSION

04/30/1998         MOTION: DEF-FOR EXTENSION  D 1

03/23/1998         JAIL/PRISON      D 1

03/16/1998         FILED: COMPLAINT-CITATION    D 1

Public Access to Court Information – Case Search

Case Number:   M-1041-TR-97298861

Title:      STATE OF ARIZONA VS CELIS       Category:            Traffic

Court:   Tucson Municipal Court  Filing Date:        12/26/1997

Judge:   HON ROBERT L CASTILLO              Disposition Date:              07/08/1998

SERGIO D CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1             Date of Birth: 12/1970

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

C05682337           1              DUI; ALCOHOL DRUGS TOXIC VAPOR OR COMBINATION               07/08/1998         COMPL DISMISSED BY COURT

C05682337           2              LOCAL CHARGE                 07/08/1998         PLEA GUILTY/RESP SENT IMPOSED

Date      Description         Party

08/20/1999         REACT / FACTS CONVERSION

07/01/1998         CAL: TRIAL-JURY               D 1

07/01/1998         FUND: 96 BASE FINE       D 1

07/01/1998         FUND: 96 SURCHARGES                D 1

07/01/1998         HELD: JURY TRIAL (CONV)            D 1

02/12/1998         FUND: ATTORNEY FEE REIMB      D 1

12/26/1997         FILED: COMPLAINT-CITATION

 

Case Number:     File Date:             Caption:               Judge:

Party Full Name                Party Role           Name Type

EFREN ROMERO

Plaintiff                True

REBECCA L. CELIS   Defendant     True

SERGIO CELIS   Defendant            True

Case/Document Information

Order    Order Of Dismissal/Dismissing    ORDER OF DISMISSAL    12/17/2003         Available at Courthouse

Stipulation          Stipulation & Order         STIPULATION & ORDER OF DISMISSAL    12/17/2003         Available at Courthouse

Notice   Notice Of Settlement/Offer        NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT               11/26/2003         Available at Courthouse

Ptstate Pretrial Statement           COUNTERDEFENDANT ROMERO’S PRE-HEARING STATEMENT     11/13/2003         Available at Courthouse

Notice   Notice Of Service             NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PLNTF ROMERO’S FIRST SUPPLEMENT TO DISCLOSURE STATEMENT                 10/22/2003         Available at Courthouse

Answer                Answer/Response To Counter/Cross Claim          EFREN ROMERO’S REPLY TO COUNTERCLAIM      9/15/2003                Available at Courthouse

Notice   Notice Of Service             Notice of Service              8/18/2003            Available at Courthouse

Notice   Notice Of Service             NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PLAINTIFF ROMERO’S RULE 26.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT                 8/15/2003            Available at Courthouse

Notice   Notice Re: Arbitration/Arbitrator              NOTICE RE: COMPULSORY ARBITRATION/ APPOINTMENT OF ARBITRATOR                 8/8/2003              Available at Courthouse

Amended            Answer/Response          AMENDED ANSWER & COUNTERCLAIM                 7/15/2003            Available at Courthouse

Motion Motion To Set   MOTION TO SET AND CERTIFICATE OF READINESS            7/9/2003              Available at Courthouse

Receipt All Money Receipts         All Money Receipts 320080          7/8/2003              Available at Courthouse

Answer                Answer/Response          ANSWER              7/8/2003              Available at Courthouse

Affidavit               Affidavit Of Service         Affidavit of Service          6/12/2003            Available at Courthouse

Receipt All Money Receipts         All Money Receipts 312845          6/6/2003              Available at Courthouse

Misc       Arbitration/Arbitrator    Certificate of Compulsory Arbitration     6/6/2003              Available at Courthouse

Open     Petition & Complaint      Petition/Complaint         6/6/2003              Available at Courthouse

Public Access to Court Information – Case Search

The Arizona Judicial Branch is pleased to offer Public Access to Court Case Information, a valuable online service providing a resource for information about court cases from 153 out of 180 courts in Arizona. Case Information

 

Case Number:   M-1041-CR-2122872

Title:      ST OF AZ VS CELIS REBECCA         Category:            Criminal

Court:   Tucson Municipal Court     Filing Date:       12/03/2002

Judge:   HON EUGENE H HAYS     Disposition Date:              04/22/2003

REBECCA CELIS DEFENDANT – D 1              Date of Birth: 10/1976

Citation                Count    Description         Disp. Date           Disposition

CL0033825           1              DUI; ALCOHOL DRUGS TOXIC VAPOR OR COMBINATION               04/22/2003         COMPL DISMISSED BY CTY ATTY

CL0033825           2              LIQ IN VEHICLE CONSUME/POSSESS        04/22/2003         COMPL DISMISSED BY CTY ATTY

CL0033825           3              CHILD/VULNERABLE ADULT ABUSE          04/22/2003         COMPL DISMISSED BY CTY ATTY

Date      Description         Party

04/22/2003         MOTION: STATE-TO DISMISS      D 1

04/22/2003         CAL: PRETRIAL-ASSIGNED

03/25/2003         CAL: PRETRIAL-ASSIGNED

03/25/2003         ORDER: TO CONTINUE

01/13/2003         CAL: PRETRIAL-ASSIGNED            D 1

01/13/2003         ORDER: TO CONTINUE

12/11/2002         APPOINTED: ATTORNEY BY COURT           D 1

12/11/2002         HELD: ARRAIGNMENT    D 1

12/11/2002         MISC: RELEASE CONDITIONS       D 1

12/11/2002         CAL: ARRM-DRIVING

12/03/2002         FILED: COMPLAINT-CITATION    D 1

12/03/2002         PROCESS: SERVED/PRIVATE SERVR          D 1

It seems the world is less safe for children.  I don’t remember hearing constantly about children abducted, hurt, missing or abused when I was younger.  Of course, it could seem that way as we are an instant information society, thanks to the media and the handy dandy in-home Internet tool which brings the world to us.

As a former Child Protective Services Investigator, I’ve seen up front and close what children can suffer at the hands of parents/family and caretakers.  There are blatant abusers out there, those that enjoy hurting others or who have a need for power and control and those that have distorted thinking and perceptions.   There are basically well meaning parent(s) who may be somewhat cognitively or emotionally deficient, those parents who are copying how they were raised and haven’t had good parental role models themselves and parent(s) involved in substance abuse and/or struggling with economics and providing for their children(s) basic needs.

Children are injured and also die as a result of accidents – on our roads and in their homes.  They are hurt or killed due to criminal acts by persons outside the home – sometimes someone the parent knows and trusts and sometimes by strangers.  Parental and family abductions account for the majority of missing children.  Stranger abductions are relatively rare and account for about 24% of abducted children.  Most stranger abducted children will have had some kind of contact with the kidnapper in the community.

During 2010, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (see http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/cac/non-family-abductions), law enforcement entered 692,944 children as missing into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database.  The majority of these children were temporarily missing and not abducted.

The FBI’s Crimes against Children Unit provides a quick response to all incidents of crimes against children.   They established the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) Teams in recognition that the first few hours after a child is abducted are critical.

There is an FBI team here in Tucson, helping search for Isabel (Isa) Celis.  I know we are all worried about her.

Being a parent isn’t an easy job.  It seems harder today when children are exposed to so much more.  But, there is help for worried parents on-line.

On the FBI website you can find the following resources: Innocent Images—Online Child Exploitation Investigations; Office for Victim Assistance; Parents Guide to Internet Safety and Safety Tips for Kids

The Polly Klaus foundation, found on-line at www.pollyklaas.org offers a FREE Child Safety Kit.  Another helpful website is http://kidshealth.org.  They provide information on preventing child abductions and what to do if your child is missing.

The U.S. Department of Justice provides these tools on their website (see http://www.amberalert.gov): AMBER Alert; Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section; Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and Project Safe Childhood

On the U.S. Department of State website (see http://travel.state.gov/abduction/abduction_580.html) find information on International Abductions: Information on Child Abductions

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website (see http://www.missingkids.com) offers: Child Safety Tips;  CyberTip Line;  International Child Abduction Assistance;  and NetSmartz—Online Safety Advice.

Finally, the National Child Identification Program website (see http://www.childidprogram.com) provides information about how you can protect your kids with ID kits.

April is Child Abuse Awareness month.  In 2010, Arizona Child Protective Services received more than 35,000 reports of child abuse involving about 54,000 children.  According to information maintained by Phoenix Children’s Hospital, more than five U.S. children die as a result of child abuse every day.   The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that 70 Arizona children died because of maltreatment in 2010 – over half of them were under one year old.

But, by far, accidents are the number one cause of death for children aged one through eighteen, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The rate of children dying by accidents has decreased significantly since 2009.   The rate drop is attributed to the use of safety and booster seats.

Even so, every hour, one child dies from injuries incurred in fires, falls, drug overdoses and other accidents.  More children are dying from prescription drug overdoses and from suffocation than ever before.

It is everyone’s job to watch over children.  Child protection can’t be left just to CPS, or law enforcement or the parent(s).  There’s too much at stake.  Be alert, be vigilant and don’t be afraid to question, to call law enforcement or CPS with concerns and/or to report something that doesn’t seem right.  Remember that old adage, “it takes a village to raise a child.”  We are the village and the protectors of the future for all children – yours, mine, theirs, and ours.

My passport expires next month.  I knew that this was coming, for a little while, at least since maybe February.  But I forgot and I do digress.

Getting a renewal is not as easy as it once was.  There are pages of instructions on how to do it.  Go on, you know you want to…go to the government’s travel website and read the requirements and documenting information you need to send.

And…you can not smile in your new passport picture.  I think I look better when I smile and find it hard … as a  rule not to smile.  Especially when someone is pointing a camera at me.   Also, you can not pose…you can not tilt your head to get the best angle.  The rule is you have to look straight ahead … so the picture shows you direct on…big nose, double chin, and shadows….not smiling at the photographer.

I went to a photographer in Tucson.  I asked him how this is working.  He said, “everyone just looks angry in their pictures.”  He was wonderful, though, and took several “takes” and put on different lights and settings.  I’m really not sure what he did.  But my old picture was better…now, maybe the 12 years difference in age affected the outcome, but I don’t think so.  I’m just saying.

The worst part is I dilly dallyed so much…I am a busy woman…that I realize I now have to ask for expedited service.  That is another $60 on top of the $110 passport renewal fee.  And then, they recommend that you ask and pay for overnight delivery…another $13…and suggest you send the same way and with insurance due to identity theft issues…click/bada bing…another $10-20 dollars.

It landed up costing me in excess of $190.00.  Times have changed.

If you have nothing better to do and are fantasizing about world travel, be my guest.  Visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

I am going to the SAHBA Home Spring Show, which is this weekend in Tucson.  Of course, I do have a home here, and with homeownership comes responsibilities, updating, refurbishing, repair…it never ends once you buy one.  But I highly advocate buying and getting out of the renter jungle, if you can.

One of my pet peeves…living here, is the quality of the water.  Now, don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t taste like chemical waste…like the water in Phoenix.  But, it is definitely hard and full of calcium…probably other chemicals.

I’m sick of it.  I had my kitchen redone…a big expense for us, financed with a home equity loan…and there are already calcium deposits and scale on my stainless steel sink and quartz countertops.  I am tired of the ring around the toilet and bathtub from rust and calcium.  I know I am not the only one in Tucson experiencing this.

So, I researched Water Softening Equipment and companies in Tucson.  There are quite a few, but I narrowed it down to ones that are members of the Better Business Bureau.  After that, I went to all the websites and soaked up as much information as I could handle 13 pages worth.

Conclusion: You need a physics, chemistry and engineering degree to decide on a Water Softening System.  There are it seems, hundreds of types and options.  OMG, how is a regular person to decipher all this?

I don’t know.  But I printed out my research and I’m going to arm myself with it and test the waters (HAAAHAA) of this industry.  Wish me luck!

I found “River Monsters;” which airs on Animal Planet Sunday nights at 10 p.m.  I was flicking channels because I was having trouble falling asleep.

I’m not a great fan of fishing shows.  Lots of commentary and little action; I’m just saying.  But this is no ordinary fishing show.  Jeremy Wade, the star, is an “extreme angler”.  I have no idea what that means.  He is an educated biologist and travel writer.  He grew up in the United Kingdom and started fishing young…from about two years old from what I can figure.

Ladies, he is also a rather nice, mature looking man with a deep, throaty British accent…just in case you are interested.

In 1982, inspired by a magazine article about fishing for mahseer, he went to India.  Fishing for these huge water dwellers is quite the tourist industry in India.  Who knew?  The record thus far is a 76 pound mahseer fish caught in 1975.  So, what do you do with such a big fish?  Treat it with respect…do do do do…ba bump…giggle.

Jeremy also fishes in the Congo and on the Amazon River.  In 1992 he published ‘Somewhere Down the Crazy River’.  He searched for a rare animal and it was the subject of a British television show, “Jungle Hooks”.  The series gained popularity.

Jeremy points out that although fresh water resources like lakes and rivers cover only 1% of the Earth’s waters, we know little about the creatures living in them.  Many of these waterways are hard to access.

Last week, he veered from his usual haunts overseas to go “noodling” in Oklahoma.  You have not seen anything till you see this sport.  I’m just saying.  Jeremy joined a crew angling for the grand prize of capturing the heaviest load.

They find water holes and pipes in tributaries, streams and rivers where gigantic cat fish lay their eggs.  One of the team goes legs first into the hole, as bait, to draw out the catfish.  They attack (the fish that is).

The noodler’s partner tries to grab the jaw, once the big fish chomps down. Or maybe the noodler does, but then he would surely drown.  It was intense to watch and I was traumatized.

All hope not to die while fighting to haul the catch to the surface.  These monsters spin and pull at the noodler’s limbs and are so strong, they can take off a leg in fighting mode.  The other guy(s) on the team is there to keep the “noodler” from drowning and losing a body part, as the trophy tries to drag him underwater.  Sounds like fun, huh?  This guy actually volunteered to try this activity.   Jeremy’s team landed up winning, having caught three catfish weighing in collectively at a total of 153 pounds.

Jeremy travels world-wide, searching for local lore about River Monsters, and sets out to find the odd fish, gator or monster.  There are some huge ugly water dwellers around and they put up a fight.  This guy can’t be married.

Even the website is neat.  Just for fun, you can go to http://animal.discovery.com/tv/river-monsters/game/ and play a fishing game.  Seriously.  It’s kind of like Pac Man, with a bait bucket.

I can’t imagine Jeremy’s kids, if he has any, going out with their dad fishing.  The things he reels in are big enough to eat small children in one neat bite.  You just have to check out this show once, for yuks…or if it turns you on, I mean, it’s on Sunday nights.  I checked last night just for research purposes.

There are stranger things in the water and earth than you and I could imagine.