While many people understand the seriousness of a child endangerment charge, few are aware that this type of accusation can involve more than physical abuse. Mental abuse, child neglect, and driving under the influence of alcohol are all examples of potential acts of child endangerment.
What Does It Mean to Engage In Child Endangerment in Ohio?
There are two ways for a person to have engaged in an act of child endangerment in Ohio.
- It is illegal for a parent or guardian to create a substantial risk to a child’s health or safety by failing to fulfill a duty of care, protection, or support.
- Taking specific actions towards a child, such as physically or mentally abusing them, is also unlawful.
To qualify as a violation of most of Ohio’s criminal laws, an intentional act must be committed. Child endangerment is an exception to this rule. A parent can be found to have violated this law after recklessly disregarding a substantial risk of harm to their child.
Examples of Potential Acts of Child Endangerment
Parents, guardians, and other persons who have custody of minor children in Ohio have a legal responsibility to provide their children with high-quality care. When a parent or other adult acts in a way that presents a significant risk of harm to a child, then a child endangerment charge may result.
Acts such as hitting a child, locking them in their bedroom, or refusing to feed a child are all examples of actions that could be found to be child endangerment. Keep in mind that neglectful acts may also count as child endangerment. Leaving a child home alone while a parent goes to work or to the grocery store could be determined to be an act of parental neglect as well as endangerment.
What Are the Penalties for Child Endangerment?
Child endangerment charges imply that a parent, guardian,n or other adult with the responsibility to care for a child has put that child at risk of death. As a result, Ohio has significant penalties against engaging in this type of behavior.
A single offense of child endangerment is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. This means that a person convicted of this crime could face up to 6 months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Prior child endangerment convictions that involve a child suffering injuries can create a scenario where a second child endangerment conviction could result in the crime being charged as a second-degree felony. The penalties skyrocket when moving from a first-degree misdemeanor to a second-degree felony. Eight years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000 may result from a felony conviction of child endangerment.
The serious nature of these penalties underscores just how important it is to have experienced, results-oriented representation in a child endangerment case.
Contact The Robert Jones Defense Firm For a Free Case Review
When facing a child endangerment charge, there is no substitute for aggressive, diligent representation. Contact the Robert Jones Defense Firm today for a case review.