Child endangerment

Defending Against Child Endangerment Charges

The law views child endangerment more broadly than people might think. It includes putting a child in a situation where he or she might be harmed. Even if nothing actually happens to a child, it is still possible to be charged with child endangerment.

An experienced attorney

At our Newport Beach, California, law firm, our criminal defense lawyer, Fred Thiagarajah, provides a vigorous defense to people facing charges of child endangerment. A former prosecutor in the domestic violence unit, he understands how these cases are handled by law enforcement. This allows him to build a strong case on your behalf. Contact our Orange County law firm at 1-866-511-2757.

Penalties for a child endangerment conviction

Child endangerment charges can be brought at the felony or misdemeanor level under California Penal Code Section 273(a) or (b). If you are convicted of child endangerment, you will receive at a minimum, four years of probation, a restraining order protecting the child, and a 52-week child abuser's counseling program. More severe penalties can be imposed, including jail time and large fines.

Behaviors that may lead to child endangerment charges:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol with a child in the car
• Speeding or driving recklessly with children in the car
• Leaving a child alone at too young an age
• Leaving a child in a parked car
• Neglecting the health and physical safety of a child
• Exposing a child to criminal activity
• Allowing the child to witness an assault by one parent upon the other
• Allowing another to physically or emotionally abuse a child

Child endangerment charges can sometimes be used by one spouse against the other

Child endangerment charges are sometimes brought during or after divorce proceedings. Typically, one parent is seeking revenge or trying to exert power over the other. Because our lawyer handled so many child endangerment cases during his assignment to the domestic violence unit, he is able to determine the facts of the matter quickly and find out whether his client is being accused fairly.

Contact a knowledgeable lawyer

If you are facing a charge of child endangerment, contact an Orange County lawyer who knows how the domestic violence unit (DV unit) works. We will gather the facts, interview witnesses, and develop the best case possible. Call our Newport Beach, California, law firm at 1-866-511-2757.

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