In Muskogee, child endangerment charges Oklahoma can encompass anything that endangers the health or safety of a child. As a society we are obligated to protect the segment of society least able to protect themselves.
Like it or not, parenting can be difficult at times. We can all suffer financial difficulties, emotional trauma, and substance issues.
But when these difficulties impact negatively on the children involved, sometimes law enforcement officials intervene; this can lead to child endangerment charges Oklahoma.
How Serious are Child Endangerment Charges Oklahoma?
Any parent or caregiver may be found guilty of child endangerment charges Oklahoma in the following circumstances.
- Knowingly allowing the physical or sexual abuse of a child is chargeable as child endangerment.
- If the caregiver knowingly allows a child to be present in a place where drugs are manufactured, the child is in real danger of physical harm and the adult can also be found guilty of child endangerment.
- Likewise, any caregiver that is intoxicated while driving a child in a vehicle or that allows a child to be a passenger in a vehicle while another intoxicated adult is driving, puts that child in direct risk of bodily harm.
The statute does provide some defenses against child endangerment charges Oklahoma.
- If the caregiver reasonably believes that any action to stop any physical or sexual abuse or deny permission for the child to be in the vehicle with an intoxicated person reasonably would result in substantial bodily harm to the child, this can provide a legally cognizable defense to child endangerment charges Oklahoma.
- A child taken hostage by an enraged and intoxicated parent may be in a sufficiently volatile situation that a caregiver may allow the child to be taken prior to calling police to intervene.
- Additionally, a caregiver may refuse medical treatment on the basis of depending upon spiritual means or prayer as long as the refusal is made in good faith.
Penalties for Child Endangerment
Child endangerment in Oklahoma is a felony offense. If convicted, you could spend four years behind bars, or pay a $5,000 fine, or both.
Low-cost Consultation: Muskogee Felony Defense Lawyer
It is critical that you hire an experienced Muskogee criminal defense attorney if you are facing child endangerment charges Oklahoma.
Let a Muskogee felony defense attorney speak for you and protect your rights.
For a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney in the Wirth Law Office – Muskogee, call 918-913-0725, or toll-free at 1-888-447-7262 (Wirth Law).
