It is the responsibility of a parent to take care of and protect their child. While this is true, there are, unfortunately, many cases where parents make mistakes and endanger their children. This can lead the court to question their parental fitness. If a parent is deemed unfit, it can result in being charged with endangering the welfare of a child. When facing these situations, it is important to retain the services of a skilled New York criminal defense attorney.
What are the Consequences of Endangering the Welfare of a Child?
There are three main categories of child endangerment in the state of New York. This can include Class A Misdemeanors, Class B Misdemeanors, and Class E Felonies. If a person is charged with a Class A Misdemeanor, they may be charged with the following:
- Endangering the welfare of a child
- Non-support of a child in the second degree
- Unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree
- Misrepresentation by a child daycare provider
If an individual is charged with a Class B Misdemeanor, they may be facing charges of unlawfully dealing with a child in the second-degree. On the other hand, Class E Felonies may occur as a result of the abandonment of a child or the non-support of a child in the first-degree. These are serious accusations that have the potential to detrimentally impact the rest of a person’s life.
What Other Penalties Can I Face If I’m Charged With Endangering the Welfare of a Child?
When a person is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, it is important to understand the concept of compounded sentencing. Generally, when a parent receives this charge, there is a good chance that they may also be dealing with a separate charge. For example, this may be if the parent was already doing something that was illegal at the same time they were endangering their child. When this happens, it can result in compounded sentencing and the individual can be charged for both crimes they committed. This can result in an increase in the severity of the consequences the individual is facing.
Contact our Firm
If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for a criminal defense matter on Long Island or throughout New York State, please contact Grunwald & Seman, P.C. to schedule a consultation and we would be happy to assist you.
