Results-Driven Criminal Defense Attorney Helps Clients Fight Charges Of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child In Camden And Burlington Counties, New Jersey
Charges of endangering the welfare of a child in New Jersey carry harsh penalties due to the vulnerable nature of the victims. Child endangerment cases can involve outright physical abuse, but they often involve charges of negligent care of a minor, using a minor to commit a crime or isolation that leads to emotional or social deprivation. While all child endangerment charges are serious, a claim that you or a loved one has endangered the welfare of a child by committing a sex crime such as sexual assault or inappropriate sexual contact can lead to even harsher penalties, including permanent future registration as a sex offender. As a result, child endangerment charges in New Jersey must be taken extremely seriously.
If you have been accused of endangering the welfare of a child in Camden County, Burlington County or anywhere else in New Jersey, it is critical that you retain an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney before providing any information to law enforcement in the investigation. Turn to me, attorney Stephen R. Piper, during this challenging time. I am a Camden lawyer who practices as both a criminal defense attorney and a family lawyer. This experience gives me a unique perspective into child endangerment cases that require an in-depth understanding of the criminal justice system as well as knowledge of the potential damage a conviction can cause in the family context. Do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Stephen R. Piper, LLC, today to discuss your New Jersey child endangerment charges.
Child Endangerment Crimes Carry Severe Penalties In Gloucester Township, New Jersey
New Jersey law identifies multiple acts that constitute child endangerment. The potential punishment for a child endangerment charge varies, based on both the particular act that is alleged and whether the accused individual had a legal duty to care for the child. Depending on the circumstances, child endangerment is punishable as a first-, second-, third- or fourth-degree crime in New Jersey, with a first-degree crime being the most serious offense.
Endangering the welfare of a child charges in New Jersey can involve:
- Child molestation
- Sexual assault of a minor
- Driving under the influence of alcohol with a child under age 16 in the vehicle
- Child pornography
- Neglect
- Child abuse
- Statutory rape
Under N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4, any person who has a legal duty for the care of a child or has assumed responsibility for such care and who engages in sexual conduct that would impair or debauch the morals of a child is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child as a second-degree offense. If the same statute is violated by an individual who does not have a legal duty to care for the child, the crime is a third-degree offense when the child is under the age of 16.
In New Jersey, the penalties for felony-level child endangerment offenses include:
- First-degree offenses are punishable by 10 or more years in state prison.
- Second-degree offenses are punishable by five to 10 years in state prison.
- Third-degree offenses are generally punishable by three to five years in state prison.
Under New Jersey law, child pornography is also a form of endangering the welfare of a child. The severity of the crime rises to a first-degree offense if the individual is accused of causing or permitting the child to engage in certain prohibited sexual acts, or simulation of prohibited sexual acts, and knows or should reasonably know that the act will be filmed or photographed. This type of child pornography charge may be reduced to a second-degree offense for an individual accused of filming or photographing the act but not causing the child to engage in the prohibited act itself. Even viewing child pornography rises to the level of a third-degree crime in New Jersey.
Aggressive Evesham Township Criminal Defense Attorney Helps Clients Fight Child Endangerment Charges In New Jersey
Many charges of endangering the welfare of a child in New Jersey involve allegations of neglect or even accusations of using a minor in the commission of a crime because the parent has been arrested on a DUI charge with the child in the vehicle. In some cases, a parent may falsely accuse a former spouse of endangering the welfare of a child in order to win a custody battle.
The circumstances surrounding a child endangerment case can vary widely, but I, attorney Stephen R. Piper, have years of experience defending these types of cases. As an aggressive and seasoned New Jersey criminal defense attorney, I understand what is at stake in every child endangerment case, from both the criminal and family angle. I will fight tirelessly to protect both the child’s interests and the parent’s rights.
Contact A South Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney Today For A Free Consultation About Your Child Endangerment Charges In Cherry Hill, New Jersey
At The Law Offices of Stephen R. Piper, LLC, in Moorestown, New Jersey, I understand that the stakes are high if you have been accused of endangering the welfare of a child. Complete my online contact form or call 856-333-3586 to connect with me today so that I can put my experience to work protecting your reputation and your parental rights.