Father charged(Faces 18 months) for not using sunblock on 12-year-old

[Champ]

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, N.J. (AP) A man has been charged with child abuse for not applying enough sunblock to his 12-year-old son before a day at the beach.

The boy was severely burned as a result, authorities said.

Walter McKelvie Jr., 43, of Vineland, was indicted Tuesday and charged with one count of child abuse and neglect in the July 20 incident, in which he took his mentally disabled son to the beach in Wildwood.

The two were on the beach from about 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The son, identified only as R.M., suffered second-degree burns that left large, bleeding blisters on his back, chest and shoulder.

http://cbsnewyork.com/njnews/NJ--Sunburn-ChildAbus-jn/resources_news_html

[cheezus]

1. Child abuse? I'd buy neglect...

but there's enough real neglect going on that needs to be taken care of

[MsUnderstood]

5. After you read the article and do the math. .

Maybe you will agree it is abuse.

1) The child was mentally disabled--not able to care for himself.

2) With large, bleeding blisters, you can only image what the son must have looked like during different phases of the 8 hour day--did the dad not look at his child once?

3) Stupidity is not an excuse. If this is how he treats his son during a "special day" (trip to the beach) then what kind of neglect can be happening behind the scenes?

[cheezus]

6. ah. these are key points that should have been in the post

I'm a slashdot user... who reads the article?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. I disagree. The father USED sunblock but not enough.

Assuming the kid went into the water, I would still categorize this as neglect rather than abuse. I don't think accidents void of intent should be criminalized and I can't think of a reason he should serve a day in jail rather than be educated.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. RW title editor

Liberal title:

"Father charged for not using sunblock on MENTALLY DISABLED son"

[Zero Gravitas]

3. Right

The fact that the boy is mentally disabled changes things significantly.

[NewHampshireDem]

4. My thoughts exactly ...

the whole headline and lede are written to make these charges sound foolish, rather than what it actually is ... I mean, jesus, the kid was so sunburned he had bloody blisters!