The trial court expressly found that he is a person of good character, a finding that the state does not challenge. The trial court properly found that this mitigating factor applied. Affirmed on appeal and cross-appeal. Treatment by prayer or other spiritual means continues not to be a defense to manslaughter or criminally negligent homicide. Return to previous location .
Defendant recognizes that other jurisdictions have taken a contrary view.
Return to previous location . Indeed, defendant's argument is available only because the legislature exempted treatment by spiritual means from the otherwise absolute requirement that a parent provide needed medical care to a child. The legislature's decision to exempt parents who do fail to provide medical care for religious reason from punishment for criminal mistreatment does not mean that it was also required to exempt those parents from punishment for criminally negligent homicide. Return to previous location . We simply hold that it is not a necessary component of finding that defendant cooperated with the police.