No Seatbelts on the Hood | Child Abuse in Fort Collins

Teenagers do not always agree with their parents. Sometimes, parents have to take drastic steps to punish their kids and ground them or take away their video games or cell phone in order to prove a point. Emotionally charged teens tend to feel like these punishments are the end of the world. That seems to be exactly how one 13-year-old boy felt when he jumped on the hood of his mom’s car as she drove away. His mother had taken his phone away and was taking his siblings somewhere in the car, leaving the teen home alone. However, as she backed out of the driveway, the boy jumped on the hood of the car and held on. His mom continued to back up and then put the car in drive and drove another 200 feet with her son on the hood. The teen fell off when she stopped the car and incurred injuries to his hip, right knee, and foot. The mom is now facing Child Abuse charges.

What is Child Abuse in Fort Collins?

C.R.S. 18-6-401 – Child Abuse – is defined by Colorado law as:

The punishment for Child Abuse in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park is based on intent and injury sustained:

Because the actions of the mother caused bodily injury to her son, she will probably be facing misdemeanor Child Abuse. The District Attorney would probably argue she knowingly put her son in danger when she continued to drive with him on the car. The case would be charged as a class 1 extraordinary risk misdemeanor punishable with 6 to 24 months in the county jail and up to $5,000 in fines.

If you or someone you love has been charged with Child Abuse in Larimer, Boulder, or Grand County, 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 your free consultation. Together, we can protect your future.