Child Abuse is charged in Fort Collins and Loveland when a person is accused of harming a child or putting a child in a situation where they could be harmed. A substitute teacher was recently charged with this crime after it was reported her way of disciplining a student was to allow other students in the class to beat on him. According to the report, the student was not following directions, so the teacher asked the others, “Who in here can beat him up?” Four other students offered and each was called up to hit and kick the misbehaving student. After the four students had their turn, the teacher then pushed the student down and he hit his head on a desk. The teacher claimed that the student was involved in two fights and she had nothing to do with it, but the other students all reported a different story. She has been charged with Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.
Loveland Child Abuse Defense Attorney: How is Child Abuse Charged in Colorado?
The Loveland, Colorado law definition of Child Abuse – C.R.S. 18-6-401 – is:
The teacher was likely charged for both allowing other children to hurt the student and then pushing the student herself.
Penalty for Child Abuse in Larimer County, Colorado
Child Abuse is charged based on the intent of the adult and the level of injury the child sustains. It is charged as follows:
Where death or injury results, the following shall apply:
- When a person acts knowingly or recklessly and the child abuse results in death to the child, it is a class 2 felony.
- When a person acts with criminal negligence and the child abuse results in death to the child, it is a class 3 felony.
- When a person acts knowingly or recklessly and the child abuse results in serious bodily injury to the child, it is a class 3 felony.
- When a person acts with criminal negligence and the child abuse results in serious bodily injury to the child, it is a class 4 felony.
- When a person acts knowingly or recklessly and the child abuse results in any injury other than serious bodily injury, it is a class 1 misdemeanor.
- When a person acts with criminal negligence and the child abuse results in any injury other than serious bodily injury to the child, it is a class 2 misdemeanor.
Where no death or injury results, the following shall apply:
- An act of child abuse when a person acts knowingly or recklessly is a class 2 misdemeanor.
- An act of child abuse when a person acts with criminal negligence is a class 2 misdemeanor.
It’s likely a class 1 misdemeanor Child Abuse charge, as there was no mention of serious bodily injury in the reports.
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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