Parents Charged with Criminal Child Abuse in Illinois

 Posted on May 03, 2024 in Criminal Defense

Parents can be charged with physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, depending on various circumstances. If your child is injured, allowed to suffer harm, or in a situation with significant risk of injury - whether physical, sexual, or emotional - you can be charged with child abuse in Illinois. Sometimes, these charges can be a matter of life and death for the child, but sometimes, false accusations can force an innocent parent to suffer unnecessarily. If you have reason to believe you might face child abuse charges, speak with an experienced Naperville, IL defense attorney who can review your case and help build a defense to protect your rights.

Child Abuse Charges

While parents might be accused of child abuse under a variety of circumstances, the charges they face will depend in large part on the severity and nature of the specific situation in question Common child abuse charges in Illinois include:

• Aggravated battery of a child. This means the parent is charged with intentionally causing bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement to a child under the age of 13. Aggravated assault and battery of a child can be charged as a Class X felony.
• Child endangerment: If there are accusations that the parent knowingly let their child under the age of 18 face serious risk to their health or their life. If it is a first offense, this can be a Class A misdemeanor. For a second offense, or if the child endangerment led to the child’s death, it can be charged as a Class 3 felony. 
• Child abandonment: If a parent purposely deserts their child who is under the age of 13, leaving them without proper supervision for at least 24 hours, they can be accused of child abandonment, For a first offense, it can be charged as a Class 4 felony, and for a second offense it can be a Class 3 felony.
• Child abuse: Abuse that does not fall under the above categories might be considered domestic violence, generally charged as a Class A misdemeanor for domestic battery. 

Defense in Child Abuse Cases

Parents facing child abuse charges should obtain trustworthy legal representation to help navigate this complicated process. You may not be aware of how various mitigating factors can influence the outcomes of the case. For example, a skilled defense attorney might be able to demonstrate that you were falsely accused or lacked intent, that the evidence provided against you is insufficient, or that mental or drug issues might have played a role.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Illinois Child Abuse Defense Lawyer

If you are charged with child abuse, make sure to speak with a skilled Naperville, IL defense attorney to understand all the implications and whatever options are available. At the Law Office of Philip R. Nathe, we fight vigorously for our clients. Call us at 630-416-7600 so we can build a case to fight for you.