Child Abuse and Neglect

Experienced Hillsborough County Criminal Defense Attorneys Dedicated to Defending the Rights of Clients Facing Serious and Violent Crimes

No one can argue with the fact that children are deserving of our protection. However, while legitimate child abuse and neglect must be dealt with, the fact remains that it is quite common for an innocent person to be accused of this crime. What’s more, after allegations like these are made, those facing these charges are often left to their own devices to defend against the allegation. When an allegation is made that a child has been abused or neglected, not only will the Department of Children and Family Services get involved, but so will the police and State Attorney’s Office. Thus, it is important to prepare for what lies ahead by retaining the services of an experienced Tampa child abuse and neglect attorney.

As with any other violent crime, pointing a finger and claiming that this crime has occurred does not mean that the allegation is true. For example, today, bruises on a child can prompt an overbearing person to make a police report. At the Mayberry Law Firm, our attorneys conduct diligent investigations and create compelling defenses designed to uncover unfounded allegations. We won’t let you become a victim of false allegations.

How Does Florida Define Child Abuse?

In Florida, there are several classifications of child abuse and neglect: aggravated child abuse, simple child abuse, and child abuse through neglect. The possible punishment for a conviction depends on the type of offense and the extent of any injuries experienced by the child.

Aggravated Child Abuse

The crime of aggravated child abuse involves one of the following:

• An aggravated battery against a child;
• Use of malicious punishment, willful torture, or unlawfully keeping a child in a cage; or
• Knowingly or willfully abusing a child resulting in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.

Simple Child Abuse:

The crime of simple child abuse involves one of the following:

• The intentional infliction of mental or physical injury upon a child;
• An intentional act that was reasonably likely to result in physical or mental injury to a child; or
• Actively encouraging another person to commit to commit an act that was reasonably likely to result in physical or mental injury to a child.

Neglect of a Child:

The crime of neglect of a child involves one of the following:

• A caregiver’s failure to provide a child with the necessary care or supervision necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health; or
• A caregiver’s failure to make a reasonable effort to protect a child from abuse, neglect, or exploitation by another person.

Reasons for False Allegations of Abuse

It’s no secret – allegations of child abuse are often fabricated by a person with an ulterior motive. For example, maybe it’s an angry spouse who raises the allegations during a divorce proceeding or disapproving Grandparents hoping to win custody of the children. Regardless, at the Mayberry Law Firm, we know where to look to uncover a motive for fabricating these heinous allegations. Once we identify the source of the untrue allegations, our Tampa criminal defense lawyers know what to do from there. Our policy of maintaining the utmost diligence early on in our cases often leads to charges not being filed against our clients or the discovery of evidence that can convince the prosecution to drop the charges.

Have You Been Charged with Child Abuse and Neglect in Tampa?

If you were recently arrested for child abuse or child neglect, don’t put your future in the hands of an attorney you don’t wholeheartedly trust to secure the best outcome. At the Mayberry Law Firm, we take immense pride in protecting the rights of good people who find themselves in awful positions. We recognize what’s on the line in these tough cases and will do everything possible to ensure that your case ends in the most favorable result possible. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, give us a call at 813-444-7435. You can also get in touch with us through our secure online contact form.