Were you recently arrested for endangering a child in Phoenix, AZ? This isn’t a charge to trifle with; it can result in serious penalties, including jail or prison time. A Phoenix child endangerment attorney at Orent Law Offices, PLC can help you fight the charges and protect your legal rights.
Our attorneys have over 34 years of experience fighting for residents of Phoenix and Maricopa County. Our founding attorney is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist—one of only a handful of such specialists in Arizona. We’ve seen it all in our three decades, and we’ll do everything possible to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced.
To find out more about how we can help with your case, call our law offices in Phoenix, Arizona, to schedule a free consultation today.
At Orent Law Offices, PLC, our criminal defense attorneys in Phoenix believe that every client is innocent until proven guilty. We also believe in making the prosecutor prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. With these principles in mind, our attorneys will build the strongest defense possible to your child endangerment charges.
Our lawyers have more than 34 years of experience handling cases like yours. We’ve helped countless clients beat their charges and protect their freedom. Let us fight for your rights and preserve your reputation and good name.
When you trust our attorneys to protect your future, you can rest assured that you’ll have a lawyer in your corner to:
Prosecutors often prefer to resolve cases using a plea bargain instead of going to court. Our Phoenix criminal defense attorneys can help you evaluate the terms of any plea offer and negotiate to get the best deal possible. If the prosecutor won’t offer a favorable plea deal, we’ll see them in court.
If you’re interested in having our team evaluate your case, call today for a free consultation.
Most states in the U.S. have specific child endangerment statutes on their books. In Arizona, the offense is defined much more broadly. Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-1201, it’s a crime to recklessly endanger another person with a substantial risk of imminent death or physical injury.
It’s always a crime to put another person at risk of serious injury or death–regardless of the person’s age. However, endangering a child in this manner can result in more severe consequences.
To convict, state prosecutors must establish that your actions were “reckless”.
Under Arizona Revised Statutes Section 13-105(c), the following must generally be true for a person’s actions to be reckless:
Anyone responsible for caring for a child can face endangerment charges. That means parents, grandparents, legal guardians, teachers, and even babysitters can find themselves facing criminal charges for jeopardizing the safety of a child.
Some examples of situations where child endangerment charges might apply include:
Child endangerment cases can be based on actions or omissions. Arizona state law enforcement officers have broad discretion to determine whether a situation constitutes child endangerment.
The severity of the crime will depend on the type of risk the child was exposed to. Child endangerment is a Class 6 felony if the child was exposed to a substantial risk of imminent death. In all other cases, you’ll face Class 1 misdemeanor charges for child endangerment.
At Orent Law Offices, PLC, our Phoenix child endangerment lawyers have decades of experience protecting the rights of clients accused of a crime. If you’re facing false allegations or there was a simple misunderstanding, our legal team will get to the bottom of it. Just call our law firm today to learn more about how we can help fight the charges.
The penalties for child endangerment depend upon the nature of the risk the child faced. If the child was put at risk of imminent bodily injury, the following penalties may apply for a Class 1 misdemeanor:
If the prosecutors allege that the child was at risk of imminent death, you’ll face Class 6 felony charges. That means you can be sentenced to:
You can also face significant collateral consequences if convicted of child endangerment in Arizona. Your arrest and conviction will show up on a routine criminal background check. You may be required to disclose your conviction in certain situations.
Potential negative consequences of a criminal record can include:
Some of these consequences may be temporary. In other cases, the result can be permanent. It’s critical to have an experienced domestic violence attorney in your corner.
That’s true even if you believe the allegations are entirely unfounded. One simple misunderstanding can turn your life upside down. Our attorneys at Orent Law Offices, PLC are here to fight to prevent that from happening. We’ll use our substantial resources and experience to fight to beat the charges you’re facing.
If you were accused of a crime in Maricopa County or East Valley, call our law firm to schedule a free case review with a lawyer who can help.
Police and prosecutors take offenses that endanger the wellbeing of children extremely seriously in Arizona. The best way to avoid a conviction is to build a strong defense. It’s completely possible that you were accused of endangering a child when your actions were innocent.
Any defense will attempt to poke holes in the prosecution’s case or explain and excuse your behavior. Our goal is to cast doubt on the prosecution’s case and make it as difficult as possible to convict.
Our lawyers will evaluate the big picture to develop the strongest defense strategy possible in your case. Some possible defense strategies that might play a role in your case include:
Maybe you were going through a divorce or custody battle. People often exaggerate situations and make false accusations about child abuse or endangerment to get the upper hand. Our lawyers will do everything we can to find evidence to prove that the accusations you’re facing were false.
Even if the child was in danger, prosecutors have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the person responsible. Police are often quick to make an arrest without a full understanding of the situation. If a third party was actually responsible for risking the child’s safety, we’ll find the evidence to support that defense.
The state of Arizona has to prove every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If they lack evidence to show that your actions were reckless or criminally negligent, the prosecution cannot convict.
There are many situations that can give rise to child endangerment charges. It’s important to look at the whole picture in determining whether you acted recklessly or reasonably.
If you acted the way that a reasonable person would have under the circumstances, we can fight to have the charges thrown out.
Are you interested in learning more about how a skilled attorney can fight to protect your freedom? Our lawyers will gather all of the evidence you need to support your defense. We’re ready to get started, so please call our offices anytime to schedule your free case evaluation.
When you hire Orent Law Offices, PLC, you’ll have a strong and passionate advocate in your corner every step of the way. We know the stakes are high. Our experienced Phoenix child endangerment attorney will fight aggressively to secure the best possible outcome for you. To get started, call our law offices or contact us online to schedule a free consultation today.
