Denver DUI Attorney Blog
Being charged with a DUI can be an incredibly stressful experience. This stressful experience can be greatly magnified when one is charged with not only DUI, but also with Child Abuse (or multiple counts of Child Abuse), as a result of having a child or children in the vehicle. A Child Abuse charge in a DUI case typically results from a child being unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to the child’s life or health.
Child Abuse resulting from a DUI comes in a few different forms depending upon the facts of the case. One of the common forms is a Class 2 Misdemeanor charge whereby the driver is charged with acting “knowingly” or “recklessly” resulting in no death or injury to the child. If more than one child is present in the vehicle, then the police typically charge multiple counts in relation to the number of children in the vehicle.
A Class 3 Misdemeanor is another common form of child abuse charged in conjunction with a DUI. The Class 3 Misdemeanor is charged when a person acts with criminal negligence, resulting in no death or injury to the child.
Child Abuse may be charged regardless of whether or not the driver is the parent of the children in the vehicle. No parental/child relationship is required. The simple fact that the alleged DUI driver has children in the car is sufficient. A child is defined under the child abuse statute as someone under 16 years of age.
The penalties increase significantly if a child is injured or dies as a result of the alleged DUI driver’s conduct. If a person acts knowingly or recklessly and the child dies, an alleged DUI driver will be charged with a Class 2 Felony. If the person acts with criminal negligence and the child dies, the alleged DUI driver will be charged with a Class 3 Felony. Similarly, if a child sustains serious bodily injury (SBI) as a result of knowing or reckless behavior, an alleged DUI driver will be charged with a Class 3 Felony. If the alleged DUI driver’s behavior is a result of criminal negligence and a child received serious bodily injury, the driver will be charged with a Class 4 Felony.
Injuries that are not defined as serious bodily injury will cause a driver to be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor if the driver’s action was knowingly and recklessly. Alternatively, a Class 2 Misdemeanor will be charged if the driver’s action was criminally negligent and resulted in injury to the child (not SBI).
In addition to the penalties for DUI and Child Abuse, a driver will typically also face an investigation by the Colorado Department of Human Services Division of Child Welfare. A conviction for child abuse may also carry collateral consequences including loss of employment, professional licensing issues, and family law issues including visitation rights and custody.
Don’t make the mistake of going it alone. Get some help and get a game plan. The stakes are high in these cases and prosecutors and courts typically view these cases as extremely aggravating. If you’ve been charged with a DUI and Child Abuse contact Denver DUI and Child Abuse Attorney Robbins today for a free, no obligation case evaluation: 303-355-5148. Denver DUI and Child Abuse Lawyer Monte Robbins has experience in defending drivers charged with DUI and Child Abuse in multiple counties throughout Colorado.