US Attorney Files Felony Child Neglect Complaint Against Okla. Man After Children Die In Truck

A man who originally had his child neglect charges dismissed due to the Supreme Court decision on Native American land will be expected back in court July 17.

U.S. Attorney Trent Shores said his team reviewed the facts, evidence and decided to file a complaint of felony child neglect against Dustin Dennis.

Investigators said surveillance video shows Dennis leaving for the convenience store on June 13, then coming back home and falling asleep.

More than an hour later, the video shows his two children getting into his truck and the vehicle’s alarm went off in the process of them trying to get in.

Four hours later, they said Dennis found the kids dead inside his truck.

After last week’s Supreme Court ruling that the state does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute a tribal citizen for a crime that happened on tribal land, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler dismissed state charges against Dennis because the incident happened within Creek boundaries and both children were Cherokee. However, Shores’ office picked up the case.

Court records show Dennis’ hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m.