I just wanted to say thank you for your help. The advice has been useful.:)

If he is still is the military go to his C.O.

Sounds like you suspect he has molested her.

Go to the Children and Family Services Division in California, as that is where you currentlly live.

There website is http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/

They will be best able to help you in this matter.

You need to get some criminal ( not civil custody) charges against him.
First how about the previous abuse where you said you had "tapes" have criminal charges been filed. Did you have your daughter checked by a doctor for possible sexual abuse?

But in general he can keep you going back and back and back to court.
My ex had custody of our kids, but after a few years, left them at her parents and left for about 3 years. ( just disappeared) I got custody of them during that time. For the next 10 years we were back in court about every 3 months for the entire 10 years for some hearing or another.
Lucky I had enough money to keep fighting, she was on welfare but keep getting free legal help from various groups or would merely copy prevoius filings and refile.

So sadly you can expect him to continue to go back and back and back if he can afford to do so.

Don't bother going to the "courts"

Go to the Children and Family Services Division in California

They can and will help you... that is their job.. to help the child.

There website is http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/