Per the Texas Family Code, child abuse can be anything from failing to prevent another person from abusing a child or failing to prevent harm to a child to causing physical harm. Child abuse is broadly defined but heavily prosecuted by the state – innocent people can be caught up in the system with no seeming recourse. You have options! However, you need the best child abuse lawyers in Dallas to represent you.
The penalties for child abuse in Texas can range from a fine and up to 99 years in prison, on top of severe damage to your reputation. Potentially, even worse, if you are accused of abusing your own child, you may lose custody. This is not something you can risk to face on your own. At M|C Criminal Law, we have experience from both sides of the aisle, as both prosecutors and defense attorneys. We know what the best defense is in your situation.
| Common Child Abuse Accusations | Corresponding Texas Penal Code |
| Assault | 22.01 |
| Sexual Assault | 22.011 |
| Injury to a Child | 22.04 |
| Abandoning or Endangering a Child | 22.041 |
The possession, production, or distribution of child pornography are all extremely serious charges in Texas. The penalties can range from state jail felonies to first-degree felonies. You may think you have done nothing wrong – you may have recorded a child with innocent intentions or were sent materials that you did not know depicted minors. These are valid defenses, but only when applied properly. You are not helping yourself by talking to the police on your own. You need experienced child abuse lawyers to make the case for you
is considered aggravated assault and is usually a second-degree felony with a prison sentence of two to 20 years. Child assault accusations can stem from a lot of situations, from simple misunderstandings to intentionally false accusations in a marital dispute. A proper defense requires dedication and expertise, from forensic interviewing to a deep understanding of child psychology. Our attorneys can defend you against child abuse accusations.
A person who is charged with sexual assault of a minor faces a fine, prison time, and mandatory registration in the sex offender registry, even if a plea bargain was negotiated. In Texas, a minor is classified as someone under the age of 17 in most cases. Innocent people can be falsely accused, and sometimes it can be a case of mistaken identity. Regardless of the circumstances, these charges are devastating, even when there is no conviction. Our child sexual abuse lawyers have the experience to delicately navigate these accusations to minimize the harm to your future.
Continuous sexual assault is defined as two or more acts of sexual abuse or violence committed against a minor over a period of 30 days or more. This is a first-degree felony with a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison to the rest of a person’s life. Additionally, like with regular sexual assault of a minor, the consequences to a person’s reputation and way of life may be even more severe. If you believe in your innocence, contact our child abuse lawyers in Dallas to represent you.
Child trafficking is classified as recruiting or transporting a minor to perform labor or provide services, not necessarily of a sexual nature. A person can also be charged with child trafficking if they engage in sexual conduct with a trafficked child, regardless of whether they knew the child was a minor at the time that the alleged offense happened. When the victim is a minor, the prosecution does not need to prove that force was threatened or used or that the minor was coerced. However, they do need to prove all elements of the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Our child abuse lawyers will work hard to prove your innocence or raise reasonable doubt with a jury.
At M|C Criminal Law, we understand the toll that being accused of causing harm to a child can take. You may lose the will to fight even before the investigation is concluded.
We know how to navigate these charges and will fight on your behalf. Contact our child abuse defense lawyers and let us discuss how to defend you against these charges.
Kendall is an extraordinary attorney with great legal knowledge, experience, common sense and judgement. The quality of Kendall’s character is equally outstanding. He deeply cares about his clients and doing the very best for them. Kendall was an invaluable counsel and resource in in our difficult domestic child abuse case. I am honored to know
Messina Madson is the greatest!! She not only knows the law in and out, but truly cares for her clients. Messina was up front and honest about everything happening throughout my case. I spoke to Messina for the first time while I was in jail and thought I had zero chance of getting out on
My loved one had a very serious charge, and I wanted to do everything I could to make sure he got the best outcome possible. After almost a year, the plea deal stayed the same, and I was frustrated. Also getting his bond reduced was denied over and over. Someone I work with told me
When I first learned I needed a defense lawyer for some very serious charges I was lost and scared, and feared the worst. I saw my life spinning out of control with the possibility of losing everything and even jail. I had never needed a lawyer and didn’t know who to turn to. Kendall Castello
The penalties for child abuse in Texas will depend on the specific charges that the Prosecutor’s Office brings forth. They can range from 180 to 2 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for state jail felonies to life imprisonment for first-degree felonies.
Texas law considers persons 14 or under children, which is important for classifying many offenses, however, certain crimes may be committed against minors over the age of 14.
For certain offenses, the age of the alleged perpetrator at the time that an offense was committed can be a factor and the basis of a legal defense.
