Monmouth County Child Endangerment Lawyer

Child endangerment charges could be related to a number of different situations. Regardless, you may face severe penalties if you are convicted of such charges, including potential prison sentences. It may also impact your job, future career, and personal and family relationships.

If you are facing child endangerment charges, you should seek out a domestic violence defense attorney who could work with your best interests in mind. A dedicated Monmouth County child endangerment lawyer could work to understand the situation and determine how to build the most favorable defense for your case.

New Jersey Revised Statutes §2C:24 separates child endangerment into different degrees. These different degrees carry different penalties and sentencing. Any individual who is facing child endangerment charges may wish to speak with a seasoned Monmouth County child endangerment attorney to understand what influences different classifications.

Those who are not legally responsible for the care of a child but allegedly engage in harmful sexual conduct with a child or cause a child to be neglected or abused may face a third-degree felony charge.

Individuals who intentionally possess, view, or exert control over an image depicting sexual abuse or exploitation of children may be also charged with a third-degree felony. A third-degree felony child endangerment conviction generally carries a potential prison sentence of three to five years.

Individuals who are legally responsible for the care of a child could face second-degree felony child endangerment charges for a variety of actions. These actions generally boil down to either engaging in harmful sexual conduct with a child, or actions that could cause a child to be abused or neglected. Individuals who photograph or film a child in a prohibited sexual act, or who reproduce or reconstruct such an image, could be charged with second-degree felony charges. Individuals could also be charged with second-degree child endangerment if they:

• Knowingly distribute depictions of child sexual exploitation or abuse
• Knowingly possess depictions of child sexual exploitation or abuse with the intent to distribute it
• Knowingly hold depictions of child sexual exploitation or abuse via a file-sharing program

Second-degree child endangerment convictions generally result in a prison sentence of five to ten years. However, certain aggravating factors, such as the number of images possessed, could potentially increase the penalties a defendant faces. Anyone facing such charges should speak with a child endangerment lawyer in Monmouth County to discuss potential aggravating factors that could lead to harsher sentences.

Individuals who cause or allow a child to participate in a prohibited sexual act while reasonably suspecting or intending to have the act photographed, recorded, or reproduced in any manner, including on the Internet, could face first-degree child endangerment charges. This action is a felony in the first degree. Therefore, it is essential for defendants to seek the services of an accomplished criminal defense lawyer. 

The criminal penalties associated with child endangerment can be devastating. However, any endangerment charge could potentially impact your future. It may alter relationship with friends and family, hurt your career prospects, or leave you subject to sex offender registration requirements.

Anyone facing charges of any variant of this crime could benefit from speaking with an experienced Monmouth County child endangerment lawyer. Call today to schedule a consultation and discuss your situation.