Child Abuse is charged in Fort Collins and Larimer County when a person is accused of hurting a child or allowing a child to be hurt. We all know accidents happen, but the law often doesn’t allow for an accident. Recently, a parent was shooting a bow and arrow in the backyard and he ended up arrested. Not much information was released, but the article states that the parent was shooting the bow and arrow in his yard and somehow a child was injured. The extent of the injuries was not disclosed, but the child is expected to survive. I can’t imagine accidentally harming a child (with no malicious intent whatsoever) and instead of getting to stay with your child and make sure they are okay, you end up in jail.
Attorney for Child Abuse Charges in Larimer County: Definition of Child Abuse in Colorado
The Larimer County, Colorado law definition of Child Abuse – C.R.S. 18-6-401 – is:
It would likely be argued that allowing the child to be in the yard while someone was shooting a bow and arrow was allowing them to be in a situation that poses a risk of injury. It’s not like the parent told the kids to be a running target. What if the kiddo came outside without him even knowing? Kids are slippery little things. Maybe the little girl wanted to go outside and see what daddy was doing and he thought she was safely inside while he was shooting. I mean, we don’t know the exact facts, but it was made clear that the shooting was an accident, yet the parent ended up in handcuffs.
Sentence for Child Abuse (Even an Accident) in Loveland and Estes Park
In Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, Child Abuse can be a misdemeanor or felony charge depending on two things:
- The extent of the injury the child sustained; and
- The intent of the actions of the person who caused the injury.
The article stated that the child was taken to one hospital and then airlifted to another due to the injuries. To me, this seems like possible serious bodily injury was sustained. Because this was an accident, likely the parent’s actions would be seen as criminal negligence. So, if they were claiming that the father acted with criminal negligence and caused serious bodily injury, then it would be a class 4 felony Child Abuse charge. This level felony is punishable by 2 to 6 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections and up to $500,000 in fines.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Child Abuse, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 to schedule a free initial consultation. Together, we can protect your future.
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