When a child is injured in the care of a parent or other caregiver, that person and others may face criminal charges in Wagoner, Oklahoma.
Even if you don’t directly harm a child, you could still be charged with enabling child abuse by injury in Wagoner.
What is Enabling Child Abuse by Injury in Wagoner?
Child abuse can happen actively or passively on the part of a parent or caregiver. Both are against the law in Oklahoma.
You can be convicted of actively abusing a child if you willfully and maliciously abuse, injure, torture, or maim a child. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 843.5
However, you can also be convicted of child abuse in Oklahoma if you, as a parent or caretaker, permit a child to be abused by another. This is true regardless of whether that abuse is physical, sexual, or any other type. Oklahoma law treats the enabler the same as the person who is actively abusing a child — both perpetrator and enabler are equally culpable.
Permitting or enabling child abuse by injury in Wagoner can happen in a number of different ways.
- For example, if you actively permit the procurement of a child for another whom you know or have reason to know will cause harm to the child, you may be convicted of child abuse.
- But you can also be convicted if you leave your child in the care of someone whom you know or have reason to know will hurt the child or put the child’s health or safety at risk.
- Leaving your child with another adult who is reckless or under the influence of any type of intoxicant can lead to a criminal charge against you if something happens to your child. For example, allowing your child to get into a car with a driver who has been drinking may be enough for you to land in legal trouble.
- Leaving your child with an intoxicated daycare provider could also constitute criminal charges.
Penalties
The penalties for enabling child abuse by injury in Wagoner are severe. It is a felony conviction punishable by up to life in prison.
A felony conviction will change your life. You could lose your job, your home, and your close relationships.
Initial Strategy Session: Wagoner Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing any type of child abuse charge in Oklahoma, talk to an experienced Wagoner criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Do not wait and do not speak to the police. Remember that everything that you say to them can and will be used against you.
For a low-cost consultation, call Wirth Law Office – Wagoner at 918-485-0335.
As always, you have the option to enter a legal question in the form at the top right of this page.
