Under A.R.S. §13-3623, a “child” is any individual under 18 years of age, and a “vulnerable adult” is any individual who is 18 years of age or older and who is unable to protect himself from abuse, neglect or exploitation by others because of a mental or physical impairment. Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adult Abuse crimes falls in two major categories.

“Category 1″ Abuse cases involve situations in which a person abuses a child or vulnerable adult, has custody or care of the child and allows the abuse to occur, or causes a child or vulnerable adult to be placed in a situation where their life and health is endangered. A defendant charged with Catogory 1 Abuse can be charged with three (3) different offenses as follows:

  1. If the abuse is done “intentionally” or “knowingly,” it is charged as a class two (2) felony. If the victim is under fifteen (15) years of age, then the offense qualifies for punishment under the Dangerous Crimes Against Children Statute.
  2. If the abuse is done “recklessly”, then the offense can be charged as a class three (3) felony.
  3. If the abuse is done with “criminal negligence”, then the offense can be charged as a class four (4) felony.

To “recklessly” cause the abuse, the defendant must have been aware of, and consciously disregarded, a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the abuse would occur or that the circumstances existed where the abuse could occur. The risks must be of such a nature and degree that disregard of such risks constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation. For an act to be done with “criminal negligence”, then with respect to the abuse, the defendant failed to perceive a substantial and justifiable risk that the abuse will occur, and the failure to perceive the risk constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation.

“Category 2″ Child Abuse cases involve situations in which the circumstances were not likely to produce death or serious physical injury, however the child or vulnerable adult did suffer (or could have suffered) physical injury or abuse. The person who committed the abuse, or who allowed the abuse to occur, can be charged with the following offenses:

  1. If it is done “intentionally” or “knowingly”, then the offense can be charged as a class four (4) felony.
  2. If it is done “recklessly”, then the offense can be charged as a class five (5) felony.
  3. If it is done with “criminal negligence”, then the offense can be charged as a class six (6) felony.

Need an Arizona Abuse Lawyer? Contact the Law Offices of David Michael Cantor if you have been charged with Child Abuse/Vulnerable Adult Abuse. Call 24/7 602-307-0808 or click here for our confidential contact form for a Free Consultation.

Possible Punishment for Child Abuse

Ordinarily, Child Abuse is only one of the charges filed against a criminal defendant in a case involving crimes against a child.

“Click Here” If Your Child Abuse Case Involves Allegations of Sexual Conduct with a Minor.

“Click Here” If Your Child Abuse Case Involves Allegations of Child Molestation.

“Click Here” If Your Child Abuse Case Involves Allegations of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor / Child Pornography.

“Click Here” If Your Child Abuse Case Involves Allegations of Kidnapping.

Otherwise, the punishments vary for Child and Elderly Abuse depending on which category the offense is, and which mental state the prosecution alleges that the crime was committed in.

For “Category 1″ Child Abuse cases:

  1. If the Abuse is against a child under the age of 15, and was committed “Intentionally” or “Knowingly”, it is a class two (2) felony and punishable under the Dangerous Crime Against Children statute. For a first offense, an individual can be sentenced to ten (10) years minimum in prison, seventeen (17) years presumptive, and twenty-four (24) years maximum of incarceration. If the person has one (1) allegeable historical prior Dangerous Crime Against a Child conviction, then the “prison only” range is twenty-one (21) years minimum, twenty-eight (28) years presumptive, and thirty-five (35) years maximum of incarceration. If the person has two 2 prior Dangerous Crime Against a Child convictions, then the punishment is “life” in prison.
  2. If the Abuse was done “Intentionally” or “Knowingly” to an Elderly, or to a Child age fifteen or older, then it is a class two felony (2). Punishment can be probation with zero (0) days in jail up to one (1) year in jail, or prison of three (3) years to twelve and one half (12.5) years of incarceration. If the person has one (1) allegeable historical prior conviction, then the “prison only” range is four and one half (4.5) years to twenty-three and one quarter (23.25) years in prison. If the person has two (2) allegeable historical prior convictions, then the “prison only” range is ten and one half (10.5) to thirty-five (35) years of incarceration.
  3. If the Elderly/Child Abuse case involves an allegation of “recklessness” then it will be classified as a class three (3) felony and carries a range of punishment on a first offense of probation with zero (0) days in jail up to one (1) year in jail, or prison involving two (2) years minimum to eight and three quarters (8.75) years maximum of incarceration. If the person has one (1) allegeable historical prior conviction then the “prison only” range is three and one half (3.5) years to sixteen and one quarter (16.25) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) allegeable historical prior convictions, then the “prison only” range is seven and one half (7.5) years to twenty-five (25) years of incarceration.
  4. If the Elderly/Child Abuse case involves an allegation of “criminal negligence”, then it will be classified as a class four (4) felony, which on a first offense involves probation with zero (0) days jail up to one (1) year in jail, or prison of one (1) year minimum to three and three quarters (3.75) years maximum of incarceration. If the person has one (1) historical allegeable prior conviction, then the “prison only” range is two and one quarter (2.25) years to seven and one half (7.5) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) historical allegeable prior convictions, then the “prison only” range is six (6) years to fifteen (15) years of incarceration.

For “Category 2″ Child Abuse cases:

  1. If the Abuse case involves an allegation the abuse was done “intentionally”, or “knowingly,” then it will be classified as a class four (4) felony which on a first offense involves probation with zero (0) days jail up to one (1) year in jail, or prison of one (1) year minimum to three and three quarters (3.75) years maximum of incarceration. If the person has one (1) historical allegeable prior conviction, then the “prison only” range is two and one quarter (2.25) years to seven and one half (7.5) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) historical allegeable prior convictions, then the “prison only” range is six (6) years to fifteen (15) years of incarceration.
  2. If the Abuse case involves an allegation the abuse was done “recklessly”, then it will be classified as a class five (5) felony. Punishment can be probation with zero (0) days up to one (1) year in jail, or prison of six (6) months to two and one half (2.5) years in custody. If the person has one (1) historical allegeable prior felony conviction, then the “prison only” range is one (1) to three and three quarters (3.75) years of incarceration. If the person has two (2) historical allegeable prior felony convictions then the “prison only” range is three (3) years to seven and one half (7.5) years of incarceration.
  3. If the Abuse case involves an allegation the abuse was committed with “criminal negligence”, then it will be classified as a class six (6) felony. For a first offense class six (6) felony, punishment can be probation with zero (0) days up to one (1) year in jail, or prison of four (4) months to two (2) years of incarceration. If the person has one (1) historical allegeable prior felony conviction, then the “prison only” range is nine (9) months to two and three quarters (2.75) years in prison. If the person has two (2) historical allegeable prior felony convictions, then the “prison only” range is two and one quarter (2.25) to five and three quarters (5.75) years of incarceration

Possible Defenses for Child Abuse

The highest priority in defending against a charge of Child Abuse / Vulnerable Adult Abuse is to demonstrate first and foremost that any alleged abuse was not done “intentionally” or “knowingly.” By doing so, the defense has removed the most severe punishment range from the available sentencing options.

The vast majority of Abuse cases however, are charged under the lesser and easier to prove “recklessness” and “negligence” standards. The key for the defense is demonstrating that the defendant was not “reckless” and that his conduct was not a “gross deviation” from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in this situation. In regards to “negligence”, it must be shown that the defendant’s care was not a “gross deviation” from the standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in the situation. For example, if you are at the park and your child is playing on the jungle gym, and happens to fall off and break their arm, most people would agree that you have not engaged in a “gross deviation” from the standard of conduct or standard of care that a reasonable person would observe in that situation. The same applies to other household injuries. A mother or father cannot be expected to be next to their child 24 hours per day. Sometimes children are playing and they just accidentally injury themselves (this happens every day). Another example is when an elderly person falls in a nursing home or at their house, while under the supervision of a nurse. It is not possible for the nurse to supervise every second, and elderly people are frail and more susceptible to injury, and don’t follow instructions as well as younger people do. Just because a child or elderly person gets injured while in your care does not mean that you are guilty of child or elder abuse. Nobody is perfect and judges and juries are aware of that.

Many times false allegations of Child Abuse, combined with other serious allegations including Sexual Abuse or Misconduct, are brought forward by an ex, or soon-to-be-ex, spouse, while involved in a custody battle. At the Law Offices of David Michael Cantor, P.C., we handle a very high percentage of the “Sex Crimes” cases involving private counsel in Arizona. We have one of the largest libraries with research materials devoted to challenging accusations involving sex crimes. In addition, our Arizona Child Abuse Lawyers have attended numerous seminars sponsored by the National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center (the leading center in the United States which assists in the defense of the falsely accused). Our Arizona Child Abuse Lawyers have been highly trained in the clinical and forensic interviewing techniques of children and their families. This allows us to properly question detectives and other mental health professionals who may have initially interviewed the alleged victim. If the interviewing process was not done correctly, it can often be shown that the detective led the alleged victim into giving the necessary answers required to charge the defendant.

Additionally, because our law firm fights conviction from all angles, we would assert a wide range of defenses and challenges to constitutional violations that apply in all criminal cases. The possibilities are numerous and diverse. One of those we frequently assert is a “Miranda rights violation.” In Arizona, the standard of whether any incriminating statement (i.e., a statement which tends to admit guilt) is admissible into evidence is based upon a “voluntariness” standard. If we can demonstrate that the police coerced you (i.e., intimidated or tricked you) into making a confession or inculpatory statement, or that they did not properly read you your Miranda Rights, then we can suppress those statements and any evidence gathered as a direct result of those statements. In addition, the “denial of right to Counsel” is another common defense which is often raised. This occurs when a suspect is in custody and requests to speak to their attorney, but is denied and questioning continues. Other defenses may include challenging the validity of any search warrant, or whether there were any “forensic flaws” during the investigation of your case. Depending on what else you have been charged with, this could include exposing flawed procedures regarding blood, breath, and urine testing; fingerprints analysis; DNA testing; computer analysis/cloning hard drive procedures; etc.. Lastly, one of the most common defense tactics is exposing sloppy or misleading police reports which include everything from misstatements, false statements, flawed photo line-ups and inaccurate crime scene reconstruction. It is important to hire a skilled Child/Elderly Abuse lawyer to defend you who has knowledge of all the possible defenses to assert in your case.

Click here… if you have not been charged with Child Abuse yet, but the police are in the “pre-charge investigation stage” of your case.

It is important to hire an AV® rated law firm (the highest possible rating by Martindale Hubbell®). Also David Michael Cantor is an Arizona Child Abuse Lawyer and a Certified Criminal Law Specialist, per the Arizona Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, the Firm and all of its lawyers are listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers®. At the Law Offices of David Michael Cantor, P.C., the majority of our Attorneys are ex-Prosecutors, and all of our Arizona Child Abuse Lawyers know the system well. For a free initial consultation, call us at 602-307-0808, or click here to contact us now.

Contact The Law Offices of David Michael Cantor and speak to an Arizona Child Abuse Lawyer. We will assist you with your Child Abuse case.