Parenting is hard and mistakes can get made by any mom or dad. In Greeley, a person can be charged with Child Abuse if they place a minor in harms way or harm a minor. A Utah dad who was at a McDonald’s has recently found himself facing a Child Abuse charge. Apparently, the man received a wrong order and then showed a staff member a gun. He was told to pull forward and the police were called. When given directions to exit the car by police, the man did not comply and then witnesses heard him tell a 4-year-old in the car to “shoot the police.” He was arrested after a gun went off. Along with other charges, he was charged with Child Abuse. The experienced lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office have many years of expertly defending a Child Abuse Charge in Greeley. Below, our lawyers discuss Child Abuse charges to help if you are facing criminal charges.
Definition of Child Abuse in Weld County, C.R.S. 18-6-401
The definition of Child Abuse, C.R.S. 18-6-401, in Weld County is:
What Actions Constitute Child Abuse in Greeley, Colorado?
In Greeley, there are many things that can constitute Child Abuse. Here are some examples:
- Not giving a child proper food, nutrition, or medical care which is a continued pattern of care
- Driving While Intoxicated or DUI with a child in the car
- Causing an injury to the child’s life or the health of the child
- Having a child near the manufacture of controlled substances or near certain drugs
- Failing to protect your child from obvious risks
In the incident above, the father could have acted recklessly. He was aware of and consciously chose to disregard a substantial and unjustifiable risk to his child’s life or health. It could also be charged as Criminal Negligence, because it could be argued as being a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise, and he failed to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk.
What are the Penalties, Sentence and Punishment Range for Child Abuse in Weld County?
The sentence, penalties and punishment range in Weld County for a Child Abuse conviction differ greatly dependent on the injury, age of child, and if you acted knowingly. If there was no injury or minor injury, a class 3 Misdemeanor is the likely charge and sentence. This involves up to 6 months in the Weld County Jail, and a fine of $50 – $750. The most serious sentence, when there is a death of a child, is a class 2 felony Child Abuse. The consequences of a class 2 felony can include 8-24 years in the Colorado State Prison and a fine of $5,000-$1,000,000. A Child Abuse conviction is an Extraordinary Risk Crime that carries heavier penalties. Other levels of Child Abuse result in sentences between these two extremes.
If you or a loved one have been accused of a Child Abuse Charge in Greeley, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and call Greeley’s leading defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office. Never answer police officer questions, which are designed to build a case against you. Call 970-616-6009 to meet with a Child Abuse criminal defense lawyer in Weld County / Greeley area for a free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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