Trial for Lakeville Dad Accused of Abandoning Son Set for Jan. 23

Steven Alexander Cross, the , will have his jury trial to face charges of child neglect at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 23.

The date for the trial was set during a hearing in Dakota County District Court. Appearing before Judge Shawn Moynihan, a settlement conference before the trial date yielded few results.

Cross posted a $6,000 bond and was allowed to leave the facility.  

Meanwhile, on Dec. 21, , and 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.

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.

If convicted of child neglect, he could spend up to a year in jail.