Have you been charged with child abuse in Dallas, TX? Call Texas Defense Firm at (469) 772-9509 to speak with an experienced Dallas child abuse defense attorney. We will fight for your freedom and help you understand the legal process.
With more than 200 years of combined courtroom experience, we have defended clients facing some of the most complex and high-stakes criminal allegations. A child abuse charge can lead to severe penalties and affect your life in so many ways for years to come.
The sooner you involve a skilled defense team, the better chance you have of protecting your future. If you’re looking for help with a child abuse charge, you’ve come to the right place.
Why Choose Texas Defense Firm to Help Me With My Child Abuse Charges in Dallas, TX?
Being arrested for child abuse in Dallas, Texas, is devastating, and the last thing you need is to try to figure out the legal system on your own. At Texas Defense Firm, we understand how serious the situation is. Here’s why clients turn to our Dallas criminal defense attorneys:
- We have two centuries of combined legal experience.
- Members of our legal team have earned a perfect 10.0 Avvo rating, have been recognized by Super Lawyers, and are board-certified in criminal law.
- We are available to answer calls 24/7—we know sometimes some emergencies can’t wait until business hours.
We’ll help you in every way we can. Contact us today to schedule a confidential case evaluation with a Dallas child abuse defense attorney.
Overview of Child Abuse in Texas
Child abuse cases in Texas are taken very seriously, and it’s important that you understand what behaviors qualify and who can be charged with this crime.
The Texas Family Code defines child abuse as physical injury or emotional harm that affects a child’s growth, development, or mental well-being. It includes acts of sexual abuse as well as sex trafficking involving children. Abuse occurs when a caregiver causes harm directly or when they fail to take steps to protect the child from known risks.
Who Is Considered a “Child”?
For most types of abuse, Texas law applies when the victim is 14 years of age or younger. In cases of sexual abuse, the law expands the definition of child to include anyone under 17 years old.
Duty to Report Abuse in Texas
The state also puts a strong duty on adults to report. Professionals such as teachers, doctors, nurses, and childcare workers—basically anyone who routinely interacts with children in their profession—must report their suspicions of child abuse within 48 hours of hearing about it.
Reporting to a supervisor, principal, or manager is not enough. The law requires that the adult report the abuse to law enforcement. If they fail to do this, criminal charges can be filed.
What Are the Penalties for Child Abuse in Dallas, Texas?
When someone is accused of child abuse in Texas, the penalties they face depend heavily on the type of abuse, the harm caused, and the intent behind the actions. Both misdemeanor and felony charges can have life-changing consequences.
Penalties for Misdemeanor Child Abuse
Misdemeanor cases usually involve lesser forms of abuse, often without intent or major physical harm. For example, certain types of neglect or non-physical mistreatment may lead to a misdemeanor charge. Penalties can include substantial fines and up to one year in jail.
Penalties for Felony Child Abuse
When the abuse involves serious injury, intentional conduct, or sexual crimes, the offense can rise to the level of a felony. The consequences can include:
- First-degree felony: 5 to 99 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
- Second-degree felony: 2 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
- Third-degree felony: 2 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000
- State jail felony: 180 days to 2 years in state jail, plus fines up to $10,000
Facing such penalties can be overwhelming, but with dedicated legal representation, you can navigate the complexities of the Texas justice system and work towards the best possible outcome.
Penalties for Failure to Report Child Abuse
Texas law also punishes individuals who fail to notify authorities when they suspect child abuse. Failure to report may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor, carrying up to 180 days in jail and/or fines up to $2,000.
Collateral Consequences
In addition to jail time and fines, anyone charged with and convicted of child abuse faces other collateral consequences:
Loss or Restriction of Parental Rights
One of the most devastating consequences is having your parental rights restricted. You could be required to have supervised visits or prohibited from seeing your children altogether if the court believes you are a danger to their well-being. This can have an incredibly negative impact on you and your family.
Employment Limitations
A child abuse conviction can make it much harder to find work, especially in roles involving children. Even jobs in fields like healthcare, education, finance, or government may be off the table. That’s because most employers run background checks, and many are hesitant to hire someone with a serious conviction—particularly one involving harm to a child. These checks are routine now in nearly every industry, and even years later, a conviction can result in lost opportunities or withdrawn job offers. It’s one of the many long-term consequences that often come as a shock to people facing these charges.
Professional licensing boards in Texas may also deny or revoke licenses in fields such as nursing, medicine, law, or education, eliminating entire career paths.
Housing Challenges
Securing housing is another uphill battle. Many public housing programs restrict or deny eligibility to anyone convicted of certain felonies relating to children. Private landlords almost always run background checks and may refuse to rent to someone with such a serious conviction on their record.
Damage to Your Reputation and Relationships
Even after serving your sentence, a child abuse conviction can permanently damage a person’s name in their community. Friends, neighbors, and extended family may distance themselves. Rebuilding relationships, especially if children are involved, is complicated and often leads to forced isolation.
The potential consequences of these charges should not be taken lightly because they can affect every aspect of your life, sometimes forever.
What Defenses Can Be Raised if I’m Arrested for Child Abuse?
Being accused of child abuse is overwhelming, and the consequences can alter every part of your life. The fact that charges have been filed does not mean a conviction is certain—prosecutors must prove their case, and several defenses may be available to protect you.
False Allegations
Unfortunately, many child abuse cases start with false claims from a spouse, family member, or the child themselves. Motives for accusations may be linked to bitter custody disputes or just misunderstandings from people who aren’t seeing the full picture. A criminal defense attorney can point out inconsistencies in the accuser’s story and highlight ulterior motives.
Illegal Search and Seizure
Everyone has the right to be free from illegal searches and seizures by law enforcement. If some of the evidence being used against you is the result of an illegal search—without a warrant or probable cause—your lawyer can file a motion to suppress and try to have the evidence thrown out. If the evidence thrown out is important enough, it could force the prosecution to drop the charges or lead to a not guilty verdict at trial.
Insufficient Evidence
In every criminal case, prosecutors have to prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. This means it’s not enough to just prove that a child was injured. The case may fall apart if the evidence is weak or based mainly on assumptions.
An attorney can challenge unclear medical findings, demonstrate alternative explanations for injuries, and point to errors in the investigation. The goal with this defense isn’t necessarily to prove you didn’t commit the offense; it’s just to raise enough doubt to get a not guilty verdict.
Plea Negotiations
When the evidence against you is strong and the potential penalties are severe, it may be in your best interest to pursue a plea deal. Your lawyer will speak with the prosecutor and see if they can get reduced penalties or have certain charges dropped or reduced in exchange for your guilty plea.
Every child abuse case is different, and the defense that is most appropriate will depend on the specifics of your case. Working with a lawyer as soon as possible after you’re arrested is the best way to defend yourself.
If you’ve been arrested for child abuse, you need to act quickly. It doesn’t matter if you’re innocent—these charges are serious, and allegations alone can severely impact your reputation and future. You need a legal team that has experience handling these sensitive and contentious cases. Our Dallas child abuse attorneys have significant experience in this field and will do everything possible to help you fight back.
Contact Texas Defense Firm to schedule a confidential consultation.
Visit Our Criminal Defense Law Firm in Dallas, TX
Texas Defense Firm Dallas
4100 Alpha Rd suite 476, Dallas, TX 75244
(469) 772-9509