Columbia Child Endangerment Lawyer

Prosecutors are known for aggressively pursuing a conviction in criminal cases involving child victims. This is especially true when the accused is an adult who was responsible for keeping the child safe. When these allegations are made, it is crucial to seek guidance from a compassionate criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

The penalties associated with endangering the welfare of a child are serious, and the stigma of a conviction can impact your life for years to come. You deserve an advocate who could thoroughly investigate what happened and help you build the strongest defense strategy possible. Let a Columbia child endangerment lawyer serve as your advocate.

What is Child Endangerment?

The offense of child endangerment applies to any action or inaction that places a child at risk of physical or emotional harm. Child endangerment is a crime of intent, meaning the accused must have had a specific mindset when they put a juvenile in danger, but there is no requirement of an intentional act. This means the accused could be convicted by the state even when they did intend for the juvenile to come to any harm.

A conviction could result from an adult knowingly, recklessly, or negligently endangering children.

It is also worth noting that child endangerment charges do not require an injury because the crime involves putting someone at risk, whether or not those circumstances ever led to the worst possible outcome.

One of the situations that is most likely to lead to these charges is driving drunk with a child in the vehicle. Not only would the accused face a DWI arrest, but they could also need the support of a lawyer in Columbia for a child endangerment charge.

Consequences of a Conviction

While the extent of the penalties associated with this offense can vary, a conviction is always severe. Endangerment of the welfare of a child can be a felony, but the class of the offense depends on the circumstances.

The most serious offense is endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree, and a person with a prior conviction could face Class B felony charges, which could lead to a prison term of between five and 15 years.

In addition to the social stigma of a criminal conviction and the possibility of steep monetary fines, a person found guilty of this charge could have their life impacted in numerous ways. A criminal record could affect employment and job hunting, the ability to find an appropriate place to live, child custody cases, immigration status, and more.

Only a conviction in criminal court will lead to these consequences, and that outcome is never certain. The accused has the right to defend themselves, and the support of a Columbia child endangerment lawyer could be enough to secure a favorable outcome.

Call a Child Endangerment Attorney in Columbia Today

These criminal charges are serious, and it is vital to have the strongest defense possible. Having an attorney on your side could provide you with the resources you need to avoid a conviction. Contact a Columbia child endangerment lawyer at the Law Office of Chris Miller today and schedule a confidential consultation.