Judge Returns Niece to Home of Alatorre

A Superior Court judge, amending an earlier ruling in a bitter guardianship case, has found that it is in the best interests of Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alatorre’s niece to return her to the lawmaker’s home.

Judge Henry W. Shatford said in a temporary order released Tuesday that he concurred with recommendations of specialists counseling the 10-year-old girl and overseeing the councilman’s drug rehabilitation and random testing program.

Alatorre was stripped of his guardianship of the girl in September after he tested positive for cocaine in a surprise drug screening ordered by the judge. The girl had lived with Alatorre and his wife, Angie, after the death of the lawmaker’s sister-in-law in 1996.

The judge ordered the girl to live with Angie Alatorre’s mother after the screening.

But Shatford’s new order modified his previous decision, stating: “The court finds Richard Alatorre does not now present a threat to the minor child’s health and well-being.”

The order said the girl has enjoyed “love, caring, affection and security” with the Alatorres--sentiments echoed Tuesday by the councilman’s attorney.

“I’m very pleased that the court has seen fit to send her back to the Alatorres, where she has loving, wonderful relationships,” said Neil Papiano. “I’m certainly proud of what [Alatorre] has undergone for her benefit, the benefit of the child.”

Papiano said the lawmaker remains in a court-monitored drug rehabilitation program. “He has had several spot tests, and all of the doctors say he’s completely clean.”

Alatorre had testified that although he is a recovering cocaine addict, he had not used the drug in about nine years.

The contentious case, which turned into an assault on Alatorre’s character, was brought by the girl’s father, Henry Lozano, a longtime political rival of Alatorre.

Lozano, a veteran Eastside politico and chief of staff to Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), had alleged that Alatorre was unfit as a guardian because of drug use and alleged financial improprieties.

The councilman is currently the focus of a federal corruption probe examining his personal finances and public actions. Alatorre has said he has done nothing improper.

The Alatorres said Lozano showed no interest in the girl’s well-being and failed to provide financial support--accusations that Lozano disputed.

One of Lozano’s attorneys said Tuesday that he was considering appealing Shatford’s latest order. He said Lozano should ultimately be allowed to gain custody of his daughter because he has been found by the court to be a fit father.

Although Shatford allowed the girl to return to the Alatorres’ home, he did not restore the councilman’s guardianship and plans to revisit the issues next month.