Child Abuse Defense in Oklahoma
Child Abuse is defined as harming a minor’s health, safety, or welfare by acts of violence (such as torture or maiming), sexual abuse (such as rape, incest, or indecent acts), child exploitation, neglect, the enabling of child abuse, trafficking, or the permitting of child abuse.
Free Resources from OKC Criminal Defense Attorneys:
Have you or a loved one been arrested in Oklahoma City? Are you concerned about your future following arrest in Oklahoma? Our team of Your Fierce Advocates® at Cannon & Associates is led by Army Veteran, John Cannon and we’re privileged to fight for client’s rights and freedom in Oklahoma criminal defense cases. Please review our other FREE RESOURCES until we can answer your specific Oklahoma criminal defense questions:
Have you been charged with a serious crime? Have you been arrested? Got warrants?! Worried about defending those charges or worried about how you can make them go away? Well it doesn’t have to be that way. Serious steps need to be taken to avoid charges from becoming convictions. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a defense lawyer right away. A lawyer can stop the police from contacting you directly. If you want to get this resolved so you can go back to living your life, CALL NOW at (405) 972-8604. We’re available 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week to schedule a Free Case Planning Session to understand your options and rights in an Oklahoma criminal case!
Oklahoma Statute
The statute for Child Abuse is OKLA. STAT. tit. 21 § 843.5, which states that “child abuse” means the willful or malicious harm or threatened harm or failure to protect from harm or threatened harm to the health, safety, or welfare of a child under eighteen years old by another, or the act of willfully or maliciously injuring, torturing or maiming a child under eighteen years old by another. “Enabling child abuse” means the causing, procuring or permitting of a willful or malicious act of harm or threatened harm or failure to protect from harm or threatened harm to the health, safety, or welfare of a child under eighteen years old by another. To “permit” child abuse means to authorize or allow for the care of a child by an individual when the person authorizing or allowing such care knows or reasonably should know that the child will be placed at risk of abuse.
“Child neglect” means willful or malicious neglect, and permitting child neglect means to authorize or allow for the care of a child by an individual when the person authorizing or allowing such care knows or reasonably should know that the child will be placed at risk of neglect as proscribed by this subsection.
“Child sexual abuse” means the willful or malicious sexual abuse, which includes but is not limited to rape, incest, and lewd or indecent acts or proposals, of a child under eighteen years old by another. “Permit” means to authorize or allow for the care of a child by an individual when the person authorizing or allowing such care knows or reasonably should know that the child will be placed at risk of sexual abuse.
“Child sexual exploitation” means the willful or malicious sexual exploitation, which includes but is not limited to allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child under eighteen years old to engage in prostitution or allowing, permitting, encouraging or engaging in the lewd, obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depicting of a child under eighteen years old by another. “Enabling child sexual exploitation” means the causing, procuring or permitting of a willful or malicious act of child sexual exploitation, which includes but is not limited to allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child under eighteen years old to engage in prostitution or allowing, permitting, encouraging or engaging in the lewd, obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depicting of a child under eighteen years old by another. “Permitting child exploitation” means to authorize or allow for the care of a child by an individual when the person authorizing or allowing such care knows or reasonably should know that the child will be placed at risk of sexual exploitation as proscribed by this subsection.
Elements of the Crime
In order to be convicted of Child Abuse in Oklahoma, the prosecution must prove each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt. The criminal defense attorneys at Cannon & Associates are FIERCE ADVOCATES for every client and will hold the government to their burden in your case. In order to be convicted of this crime; the government must prove either:
1) a person willfully or maliciously
2) harmed or threatened harm to the health, safety, or welfare,
3) of a child under the age of eighteen
OR
1) a person responsible for a child’s health, safety, or welfare;
2) willfully or maliciously;
3) failed to protect from harm or threatened harm to the health, safety, or welfare
4) of a child under the age of eighteen.
Oklahoma Jury Instruction #4-35.
What the Skilled Lawyers at Cannon & Associates Can Do For You
Being charged with Child Abuse in Oklahoma is a serious matter. The Oklahoma criminal defense attorneys at Cannon & Associates are Fierce Advocates for Families and Freedom and will fight for you! At Cannon & Associates, we have extensive criminal defense experience, and will be with you every step of the way. We will take care to explain the issues and options to get you to your desired result and support you in this difficult time.
Free Resources from OKC Criminal Defense Attorneys:
Have you or a loved one been arrested in Oklahoma City? Are you concerned about your future following arrest in Oklahoma? Our team of Your Fierce Advocates® at Cannon & Associates is led by Army Veteran, John Cannon and we’re privileged to fight for client’s rights and freedom in Oklahoma criminal defense cases. Please review our other FREE RESOURCES until we can answer your specific Oklahoma criminal defense questions:
Have you been charged with a serious crime? Have you been arrested? Got warrants?! Worried about defending those charges or worried about how you can make them go away? Well it doesn’t have to be that way. Serious steps need to be taken to avoid charges from becoming convictions. If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need a defense lawyer right away. A lawyer can stop the police from contacting you directly. If you want to get this resolved so you can go back to living your life, CALL NOW at (405) 972-8604. We’re available 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week to schedule a Free Case Planning Session to understand your options and rights in an Oklahoma criminal case!
Contact – Cannon & Associates: Oklahoma Criminal Defense
Cannon & Associates is dedicated to Fierce Advocacy for Oklahoma criminal defendants and will fight for you. Founder John Cannon has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and Top 40 under 40. Contact Cannon & Associates to protect your rights and fight your criminal case in Oklahoma. Complete the CONTACT FORM ON THIS PAGE NOW or CALL at 405-657-2323 for a free confidential case evaluation.