"Criminal negligence refers to a mental state of disregarding known or obvious risks to human life and safety. An example would be leaving a loaded firearm within reach of a small child. "To be guilty of any crime, a person must act with a 'mens rea' or 'criminal intent.' Normally this means intentionally or deliberately pursuing a criminal result. "But criminal negligence may substitute for criminal intent under very specific circumstances. When it does, it can subject someone to serious charges such as child endangerment or manslaughter even when the actions are unintentional."