State v. Williquette

The issue in the case is whether a parent who allegedly knew her husband had repeatedly abused her two children both physically and sexually, but who took no action to stop the abuse and instead left the children in the father's sole physical custody for hours at a time, can be tried for the direct commission of the crime of child abuse under sec. 940.201, Stats.1 We conclude that a parent who knowingly permits another person to abuse the parent's own child subjects the child to abuse within the meaning *243of sec. 940.201. We therefore affirm the court of appeals' decision.2

In a criminal…