Plano, Texas Injury to a Child Defense Lawyer

Criminal Attorney in Collin County for Those Charged With Causing a Child Harm

When you have been accused of causing injury to a child, it is important to seek help from a qualified attorney right away. A conviction could lead to a long prison sentence, expensive fines, and severe damage to your personal and professional reputation. In fact, if you are convicted, the effects will likely last for the rest of your life.

At The Crowder Law Firm, P.C., we realize that criminal charges for injuring a child are often the result of misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and overzealous social workers and prosecutors. Our team understands what is at stake, and we know how to handle such cases. For over 20 years, our firm has been protecting the rights of defendants in North Texas, and we have obtained more than 300 acquittals and not-guilty verdicts for our clients. If you are facing charges related to an injury to a child, contact us to put our knowledge and experience in your corner.

Understanding Injury to a Child Charges in Texas

The phrase "injury to a child" is often associated with child abuse and domestic violence. Under Texas law, however, the charge of injury to a child could be filed under many other circumstances as well. Section 22.04 of the Texas Penal Code provides that a person commits the offense of injury to a child if he or she knowingly, intentionally, recklessly, or with criminal negligence acts or fails to act and as a result causes a child to suffer a bodily injury or mental impairment. The offense includes acts and omissions by the owner, operator, or employee of a group home, nursing facility, and other institutional care facilities if those acts or omissions cause injury to a child.

According to the law, the offense applies to children who are 14 years old or younger. If the offense is committed knowingly or intentionally and the child suffers a serious injury, it is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in state prison. If the child was seriously injured as the result of reckless conduct, the offense is a second-degree felony. The charges are lesser in cases where the child suffered only minor injuries or when the conduct was reckless or negligent as opposed to intentional.

Important Elements in an Injury to a Child Case

Attorney Darlina Crowder understands the complexities involved with charges of injury to a child. In order to secure a conviction, prosecutors will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you acted or failed act in such a manner that directly caused a child to suffer an injury. They must also definitively prove that your conduct was knowing, intentional, reckless, or criminally negligent.

If you have been charged with injury to a child, the first thing you should do is contact our firm. We will immediately begin an investigation into your arrest and the alleged details of the case. Our team will find any and all evidence that could help show that you were acting in a manner that was reasonable or that your actions did not directly cause the child's injuries. Along the way, we will ensure that you are treated with the dignity and respect guaranteed to you by the United States Constitution.

Call 214-544-0061 for Help

For more information about our law firm and how we can help you defend against injury to a child charges, contact our office. Call 214-544-0061 for a free, no-obligation consultation today. The Crowder Law Firm, P.C. represents clients in Plano, Dallas, Fort Worth, McKinney, Garland, Denton, Frisco, Collin County, Dallas County, Tarrant County, Denton County, Grayson County, and the surrounding areas. Se habla Espanol.