When You Could Be Charged With Child Abuse as a Felony
A parent or person who provides supervision or care of a child under 16 years old can also face felony charges. There are a number of child abuse offenses that a person could be charged with committing:
- Physical injury. It is a Class D felony to intentionally inflict serious physical injury on a child or intentionally assault a child that results in him suffering serious physical injury. Any physical injury that causes great pain and suffering or serious mental abuse is considered a serious physical injury.
- Bodily, emotional, or mental injury. If a child suffered a serious bodily injury or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of a mental or emotional function as a result of a person’s intentional act, he can be charged with a Class B2 felony.
- Willful act or gross negligence. When an intentional act cannot be proven, a person can be charged with a Class G felony for committing a willful act or grossly negligent omission that establishes a reckless disregard for human life and a child suffers serious physical injury. It is elevated to a Class E felony if the child suffers serious bodily injury.
- Prostitution. It is a Class D felony to commit the crime of child abuse by prostitution. This can be charged if a person commits, permits, or encourages prostitution with or by a child.
Sentencing for felonies is also very complicated in North Carolina and can involve a lengthy prison sentence. Here is the range of possible sentences for child abuse felony convictions:
- 94 to 393 month prison sentence for Class B2 felonies
- 38 to 160 months prison sentence for Class D felonies
- 15 to 63 month prison sentence for Class E felonies
- 8 to 31 months prison sentence for Class G felonies
A person can also lose custody of the child and any rights to visitation. Depending on the offense, he must also have to register on the NC Sex Offender Registry for life.
Related Links: |