WOMAN CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE
March 14, 2001

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025

The mother of a baby found abandoned behind a Denver restaurant last week is now facing a charge of child abuse.

Lisa Levatino (DOB:8-12-77) has been served with a Criminal Summons and Complaint today, charging her with one count of misdemeanor child abuse (M2). She is being charged under the following state statute:

18-6-401. Child abuse. (1) (a) A person commits child abuse if such person causes an injury to a child's life or health, or permits a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to the child's life or health, or engages in a continued pattern of conduct that results in malnourishment, lack of proper medical care, cruel punishment, mistreatment, or an accumulation of injuries that ultimately results in the death of a child or serious bodily injury to a child.

(b) Where no death or injury results, the following shall apply:

(I) An act of child abuse when a person acts knowingly and recklessly is a class 2 misdemeanor.

The presumptive range for sentencing for a class 2 misdemeanor is 3 to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $1000.

*The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual(s) committed a crime(s) under Colorado laws. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6