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    New Canaan Child Endangerment Lawyer

    Achieving a favorable resolution a New Canaan Risk of Injury to a Minor case takes concentrated negotiation and strategy both in and out of court, both of which a New Canaan child endangerment lawyer could help you with. Without a top domestic violence criminal defense attorney by your side, you may have a difficult time contesting any criminal charge, especially those for actions that allegedly put children at risk.

    When Can I Be Charged with Child Endangerment?

    Whether done intentionally or through negligence, failing to meet a child’s basic needs can be charged as a criminal offense under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53-20. Under this section of state law, a person who deprives a minor child over whom they have legal custody of food, clothing, or shelter by virtue of their own negligence may face a fine of up to $500 and be imprisoned for up to a year. Any one does this with intentional malice—or who cruelly mistreats, punishes, or overworks their child—may face penalties commensurate with a class D felony.

    Furthermore, C.G.S. §53-21 criminalizes certain actions if they put any child under the age of 16 at risk of injury. Contacting a New Canaan child endangerment attorney should be a priority for anyone facing criminal sanctions related to the following actions:

    • Intentionally or carelessly putting a child in a situation that threatens their physical safety, health, or morals
    • Giving a child’s custody rights to someone else in exchange for money or something else of value
    • Engaging in sexual contact with a child’s intimate areas, or forcing them to have sexual contact with an adult’s intimate areas

    The first two actions are punishable as class C felonies, while the third action is elevated to a class B felony. If someone is convicted of having sexual contact with a minor under 13 years of age, any prison sentence they receive must include at least five years of incarceration that a court cannot reduce or suspend. This is called a mandatory minimum sentence.

    Can I be Charged for Failing to Supervise a Child?

    Depending on the circumstances, a person with custody over a child under the age of 12 can face misdemeanor or felony charges for leaving that child unaccompanied in a public place. Under C.G.S. §53-21a, leaving a child in a motor vehicle or place of public accommodation unsupervised is a class A misdemeanor, if the child is left alone long enough to put them at substantial risk of harm.

    This offense is upgraded to a class D felony if the place of public accommodation has a liquor license, and to a class C felony if the child is left unsupervised between eight o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning.

    What if I Don’t Report a Child as Missing?

    Knowing a kid has been missing for over 24 hours but failing to report their disappearance to law enforcement in a timely fashion may result in class A misdemeanor charges. A child endangerment attorney in New Canaan can help anyone accused of an offense under this statute enforce their legal rights in court.

    Learn More from a New Canaan Child Endangerment Attorney

    A New Canaan child endangerment lawyer could stand by your side throughout every stage of your case, helping you contest your charges while also preserving your rights and best interests. To schedule an initial consultation about your case, call Mark Sherman Law today. You can follow this link to read our hundreds of certified Avvo.com reviews.