What If I’m Facing Child Endangerment Charges in Minnesota?
Child abuse. Child neglect. Child endangerment, Domestic Violence against a child. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably. Regardless, if you are facing criminal child endangerment charges in Minnesota, depending upon the allegation, you could easily face jail or prison, loss of certain professional licenses and and a mark on your record that can be very difficult to dismiss by employers, schools, license boards, rental companies and more. If you are facing charges, make sure that you sit down with an experienced Minnesota domestic violence attorney.
“You could face criminal prosecution for what you do or what you fail to do. Both are equally serious.”
What is Child Endangerment in Minnesota?
In Minnesota, according to the Statute, a person can be charged with child endangerment if:
they knowingly cause or permit a child to be placed in a situation that endangers the child's physical or mental health or welfare. This can include situations where the child is left alone in a dangerous environment or when a caregiver fails to provide adequate food, shelter, or medical care. In other words, you could face criminal prosecution for what you do or what you fail to do. Both are equally serious.
For a free confidential consultation, contact Jack Rice Defense or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339.
Could I go to Jail or Prison for Child Endangerment in Minnesota?
The severity of the charge is based upon the degree of harm caused to the child. According to the Statute:
Misdemeanor Child Endangerment: You may face charges if the child is placed in a situation that poses a risk of harm but no harm actually results. With a misdemeanor, you could face up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Gross Misdemeanor Child Endangerment: You may face charges if the child suffers bodily harm because of the endangerment. With a gross misdemeanor, you could face up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $3,000.
Felony Child Endangerment: You may face charges if the child suffers substantial bodily harm. With felony child endangerment, you could face up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Murder/Manslaughter: In the even that the child dies as a result of the endangerment, there may be far more serious charges including murder and manslaughter.
“One of the challenges of defending this kind of a charge is that the word monster gets thrown around easily. Imagine what this can do to a sentence.”
If you are facing child endangerment charges in St. Paul, Stillwater, Hastings, Minneapolis, Bloomington or anywhere else in the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota, you need to understand what you are facing and your rights. An experienced child endangerment and domestic violence defense attorney can help.
Jack Rice is a nationally known and respected criminal defense attorney. He is also a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, a former prosecutor and a former CIA Officer. Finally, he is the Founder of Jack Rice Defense, a boutique criminal defense firm based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Contact Jack Rice Defense for a free confidential consultation or call 651-447-7650 or 612-227-1339. Jack’s got your back.