In re J.P.

── In re J.P. ── Court: Appellate Court of Illinois Date: May 14, 2026 Category: General NOTICE 2026 IL App (4th) 251359-U FILED This Order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is May 14, 2026 NO. 4-25-1359 Carla Bender not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed 4th District Appellate under Rule 23(e)(1). IN THE APPELLATE COURT Court, IL OF ILLINOIS FOURTH DISTRICT In re J.P., a Minor ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of (The People of the State of Illinois, ) Winnebago County Petitioner-Appellee, ) No. 24JA172 v. ) Malcom W., ) Honorable Respondent-Appellant). ) Erin B. Buhl, ) Judge Presiding. JUSTICE DeARMOND delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Lannerd and Cavanagh concurred in the judgment. ORDER ¶1 Held: The appellate court granted appellate counsel’s motion to withdraw and affirmed, finding the trial court’s termination of respondent’s parental rights was not against the manifest weight of the evidence. ¶2 In September 2025, the State filed a petition for termination of parental rights against, inter alia, respondent, Malcom W., the father of J.P. (born in September 2023). In December 2025, the trial court granted the petition and terminated Malcom’s parental rights. ¶3 On appeal, appellate counsel filed a motion to withdraw pursuant to Anders v. California, 386 U.S. 738 (1967), and In re Alexa J., 345 Ill. App. 3d 985 (2003), arguing Malcom’s appeal presents no potentially meritorious issues for review. We grant the motion and affirm the trial court’s judgment. ¶4 I. BACKGROUND ¶5 On May 16, 2024, the State filed a petition alleging J.P. was neglected because (1) his environment was injurious to his welfare in that there was domestic violence in the home, (2) he was not receiving adequate food, clothing, or shelter in that he and his siblings “were observed to be malnourished,” and (3) he suffered a skull fracture. See 705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(a), (b) (West 2024). ¶6 On August 30, 2024, J.P.’s mother, Destiny P., stipulated to the petition’s first count, and the remaining counts were dismissed. Malcom did not object to the stipulation. The trial court informed Malcom that he had the right to a hearing and was permitted to object to the stipulation, and by not objecting to the stipulation, he was waiving his right to a hearing. Malcom stated he understood. The court accepted Destiny’s stipulation, found Malcom made a knowing and voluntary waiver, and adjudicated J.P. a neglected minor. During the same hearing, Malcom and Destiny stipulated they were unfit or unable but not unwilling to care for, protect, train, or discipline J.P. and his siblings. Per their agreement with the State, J.P.’s guardianship and custody would remain with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), both parents would be required to cooperate with DCFS, and DCFS maintained discretion over visitation and J.P.’s placement. The court entered a dispositional order making J.P. a ward of the court. ¶7 On September 15, 2025, the State filed a petition to terminate Malcom’s parental rights. The petition alleged Malcom was an