Crime & Safety

Lakeville Dad Meets Requirements to See Son

Steven Alexander Cross is accused of abandoning his son over the summer, but now, he's met the court-ordered requirements needed for him to see the boy.

A , essentially leaving him with neighbors, has recently met court-ordered mandates required for him to see the boy.

While Cross has met the requirements, the Pioneer Press is reporting that Dakota County Social Services hasn't yet to approved a meeting.

In the report, Cross is said to have fulfilled requirements the court issued for him to see his son again, such as undergoing a psychological evaluation. The news came from a child protection review hearing today in Dakota County District Court.

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According to the Pioneer Press, Jeffrey Priest, Cross' attorney, told District Judge Richard Spicer he had "some concerns about the amount of time it's taken for Mr. Cross to have contact with the child." Lakeville Patch has declined to name the boy.

And while Cross wants to see his son, doctors told the court that there could be a "major risk" in rushing a reunification, the report said.

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Ultimately, Dakota County Social Services will decide if and when Cross can see the boy. Meanwhile, Spicer set a Feb. 22 hearing Feb. 22 to review the case, though the two could see each other well before then, the report said.

As first reported by Lakeville Patch, say Cross abandoned his son on July 18, leaving the boy with nothing but a note. In the note, Cross said he couldn’t find work as an architect and the sheriff would be taking their foreclosed home, and that he should take his PlayStation and go to a neighbor’s home with a second note addressed to them.

The other note asked neighbor Joanne Pahl to assume guardianship for the boy.

Cross was arrested in August in California and was extradited back to Minnesota. Upon returning home, Cross expressed remorse and said he wanted to reunite with the boy.

Cross' next hearing in the criminal case is Jan. 4. If convicted of child neglect, he could spend up to a year in jail.


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