Salt Lake City Criminal Defense Lawyer - Child Abuse

A charge of criminal child abuse carries enormous social stigma in addition to possible jail or prison time and thousands of dollars in fines.  As an experienced criminal defense attorney in Salt Lake City, Utah, Stephen Howard has successfully defended child abuse charges ranging from child abuse homicide to misdemeanor negligent abuse.  If you are facing child abuse charges in Salt Lake City or elsewhere in Utah, you deserve a criminal lawyer with a real record of successful results.

The two most important factors in determining the level of a Salt Lake City child abuse charge are the severity of the injuries and the mental state of the defendant.  Serious injuries inflicted intentionally can result in a felony conviction and up to 15 years in prison.  Minor injuries inflicted with only criminal negligence are punishable as a class B misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail.  

There is often significant dispute regarding the cause of an injury in a child abuse case.  Testimony from medical experts may be necessary to determine how the injuries were caused or even who may have caused them.  Having an attorney with experience medical reports and cross-examining medical experts can be critical to a successful outcome in your case.

False allegations of child abuse are sometimes made.  The source of a false allegation may be a child who is seeking attention, an ex-spouse trying to gain an advantage in a custody battle, mistaken medical examinations, or mistaken identities.

When you are charged with child abuse, under the protections guaranteed by our Constitution, you are presumed to be innocent.  But the emotional effect of a child abuse charge on a jury can sometimes be overpowering.  To give yourself the best chance of winning your case, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer on your side.

Contact us now to schedule a free consultation on your case and see what an experienced Utah criminal defense lawyer can do for you.