According to California Penal Code 273a, child endangerment is crime that involves putting a child into a dangerous situation or allowing another person to do so, without taking reasonable steps to protect him from injury and harm.
Prosecutor must establish the following elements to prove that defendant committed child endangerment.
Willfully means on purpose or willingly. It does not necessarily mean that defendant specifically had intention to cause harm or violate the law
Unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering is pain or suffering which is not reasonably necessary or excessive under the circumstances.
Criminal negligence is more than just inattention or carelessness. Defendant can be found to be criminally negligent if:
Great bodily injury is a significant or substantial injury. Jury determines on an individual case-by-case basis the existence of great bodily injury. It is important to mention that unlike child abuse crime child endangerment crime doesn’t require that a child to actually suffer an injury. Any unjustifiable mental or physical harm to a child can result in a child endangerment charge.
Some examples of conduct including in the child endangerment
The punishment for violation of PC 273 mainly depends on whether or not the defendant’s acts created a risk of great bodily harm or death to the child.
Misdemeanor penalties for California Child Endangerment may include:
Felony penalties for child endangerment can include:
Sentencing Enhancements for causing great bodily injury in California child endangerment cases
If you are a loved one has been charged with violating California Penal Code 273a, child endangerment contact our Glendale criminal defense lawyer today at (310) 943-1171 for a free consultation.
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