Custody case ends involving Lakeville dad who abandoned son
Steven Cross, who was sentenced to probation in May 2012 for abandoning his son in July 2011, has a chance at reconciling with his son after a Dakota County Juvenile Court decision this week to end its child protection proceedings.
Steven A. Cross at the Dakota County Courthouse in May 2012. Photo by Laura Adelmann.
Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced the move, which was based on the recommendations of the Dakota County Social Worker and the court-appointed guardian.
This brings the child protection matter to a close, according to a statement from Backstrom’s office. Cross was convicted of neglect of a child (a gross misdemeanor) and sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay restitution earlier this year.
Cross’s son is living full-time with his mother and continues to work on his relationship with Cross, the statement said.
Monica Jensen, a spokesperson for the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, said that under the family court order, the parents share joint legal and physical custody.
“Eventually, the plan is that the boy will be co-parented,” she said. “A family therapist remains involved in this process.”
