January Trial Set for Lakeville Dad Accused of Neglect

Steven Alexander Cross, the in July, appeared in Dakota County Court today for an omnibus hearing on charges of child neglect, a gross misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

Cross, who had after being arrested in San Luis Obispo County in California, was on a $6,000 bond so he could pursue meeting conditions of re-establishing visitation with his 11-year old son whom he told to go live with a neighbor in a note prior to his July disappearance.

Cross was in September and had been in custody in the Dakota County Jail since Sept. 9.

Cross arrived in seemingly good spirits for the brief hearing with supporter Hillary DeVary, a Lakeville private investigator who has been working with Cross to help him through the ordeal of recovering from a home foreclosure and the subsequent criminal and civil cases surrounding Cross’s decision to  leave his son behind while he traveled to California.

Cross was living in his car and working at a deli in California at the time of his August arrest.

Cross, along with attorney John Price, appeared briefly before Chief Judge Edward Lynch to set a settlement conference date of Jan. 4 with a tentative jury trial date to begin later in January if necessary.

Neither Cross or Price commented on the appearance.

Cross’s next court appearance in the child protection case is scheduled for Oct. 19. He is attempting to regain visitation rights with the boy and must meet a list of requirements that include completing a psychological and parenting assessment, remaining drug free and maintaining a safe a stable environment for the boy.

The boy’s mother, who had not seen the boy since 2002 but whom Cross revealed was still alive in his goodbye note, was granted visitation on Saturdays and Wednesdays at the . The boy is currently living with an aunt on his mother’s side.