
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995                   TAG: 9502160108
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: DANVILLE                                LENGTH: Short

ABANDONMENT CHARGE DROPPED

A judge Wednesday dismissed an abandonment charge against a teen-ager who left her 3-day-old daughter outside a Danville medical clinic in December.

The tearful 16-year-old, who gave birth to Baby Noel alone in the bedroom of her South Boston-area home, testified that she hid her pregnancy to keep her and her baby from becoming weapons in her parents' divorce.

Judge Calvin Fowler ruled that the girl lacked the reckless disregard for the baby's life that would have been required to convict her.

Baby Noel is in foster care.

- Associated Press

by CNB