What is child endangerment?
Simply defined, child endangerment in violation of Penal Code section 273a(b) is:
- the willful act of inflicting unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on a child, or
- having the care or custody of any child, willfully causing or permiting the person or health of that child to be injured, or
- willfully causing or permiting that child to be placed in a situation where his or her person or health may be endangered
There are many examples of how the police can arrest someone under this section: for instance, a parent inflicts unjustifiable pain to a child during a spanking, a parent drives under the influence of alcohol while transporting a child, or the child witnesses domestic violence between the parents.
No hand in the injury
One of the most frightening things for someone facing a child endangerment charge is when they had no hand in the child's injury. There are instances when a parent is falsely charged with child endangerment because the other parent wants to get the upper hand during a contentious divorce. One parent may claim the other is deliberately putting a child in jeopardy, even when the parent is doing what they believe is right for their child. Additionally, charges may be the result a child making up a story because he or she wants to live with the other parent or the child believes that a parent's rules at home are too harsh and it would be better to live somewhere else.
Defense of child endangerment
Fortunately, a qualified criminal defense attorney can help you minimize or altogether avoid charges of child endangerment. If you are facing child endangerment charges in Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar, Perris, Hemet, Lake Elsinore, Banning, Corona, Winchester or Riverside, please contact the Law Office of Nic Cocis. We will review your case and help you mount a defense against these serious charges.