Topic > Loco Parentis Case Study - 1051

Colson will be able to use parental privileges as a defense. Unlike Hunt and McReynolds where the accused were briefly like children, in this case Ms Colson has been living with her significant other, Ms McCoy and her children, Brandy and Michael, for six years. Hunting, 973 NE2d. at 1; McReynolds, 973 NE 2d at 1154. Ms. Colson and Ms. McCoy treat their committed relationship as a marriage, this includes but is not limited to sharing household responsibilities and parenting duties. Therefore, because Ms. Colson is not the “occasional babysitter” but rather a parental figure, she is likely to have parental privileges. McReynolds, 973 NE 2d at 1154. However, as in Snow, where England, who was not JH's natural parent, was classified as in loco parentes due to his voluntary parental obligation to JH, here, also Ms. Colson, not the birth parent, has voluntarily agreed to share parental obligations to Ms. McCoy's children. Snow Marriage, 862 NE2D at 666. Therefore, because Mrs. Colson can be classified as in loco parentes, she can use parental privilege as a complete defense. In this case, Ms Colson grabbed Bradley's arm as he tried to walk away, leaving a handprint and bruises. Accordingly, Ms. Colson knowingly or intentionally, just like the defendant in Hunt and McReynolds, touched someone under fourteen in a rude, insulting, or angry manner. Hunting, 973 NE2d. at 3; McReynolds, 973 NE 2d at 1152. Therefore, Ms.