Five Springfield parents charged over truancies

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Prosecutors are charging five parents for allowing four children to miss as many as 30 straight days of school in Springfield.

The parents could face 15 days in jail or a $300 fine or both if found guilty of violating the state's compulsory attendance law, a Class C misdemeanor.

Probable cause statements list those charged as Debbie and John Strahl of Springfield, Rod Casteel of Buffalo and Kathleen Casteel of Walnut Grove and Miccie Szilveszter of Springfield.

The parents could not be reached for comment.

Prosecutors said the children involved ranged in age from 9 to 13 and were all enrolled in Springfield public schools at the time of the alleged absences last year and this year.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader http://www.news-leader.com