Moeser, presiding.[1] The children currently range in age from 17 to 6.
¶ 3. County human services agencies first became involved with the family in 1988, based on allegations of physical abuse of the children in Rock County. In 1990, Rock County took custody of the children and placed them in foster care. Visitation was suspended in October 1991, and P.P. did not have any contact with his children between October 1991 and October 1992. The children were later returned to their parents' home, against the recommendation of Rock County Human Services.
¶ 4. The family moved to Madison in February 1994. DCDHS became involved in April 1994. In March 2001, one of the children disclosed that P.P. had sexually assaulted her. DCDHS subsequently substantiated reports that P.P. had sexuallyprotection or need of services, and failure to assume parental responsibility. Dane County filed those petitions on August 12, 2002. After nearly five months of adjournments, on January 27, 2003, the County moved to continue the trial in order to take advantage of Wis. Stat. § 48.415(4), noting that there was "no affirmative defense" to this ground. The County was allowed to circumvent any hearing on the merits of unfitness that were alleged in the August 12, 2002, petitions. As the County conceded, it was much easier and much more convenient, indeed much more efficient, for the County to proceed in this fashion. The County had its ground without having to proceed with any evidence of unfitness that was alleged in the original petition. It no longer had