Minnesota dad who abandoned son guilty of neglect
Jan 25, 2012, 7:02 PM
HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota father accused of abandoning his 11-year-old son for a new life in California has been found guilty of child neglect.
A jury in Dakota County, Minn., deliberated just 30 minutes Wednesday before returning the guilty verdict on the gross misdemeanor charge against Steven Cross.
Cross disappeared July 18 after leaving a letter for his son, Sebastian, and the parents of his son’s best friend.
In the letter, Cross told Sebastian that he should ride his bike to his best friend’s home and stay with that family. He also instructed the friend’s parents to take care of his son.
The 60-year-old Cross was arrested in Cambria, Calif., Aug. 29 where he was working in a deli.
The Star Tribune (
http://bit.ly/y1DJ6u) says Cross will be sentenced March 20.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
