Woman Faces Child Endangerment Charges in Nutley, NJ
A 26-year-old mother faces child endangerment charges after allegedly leaving her children in a van while she went shopping. According to The Star-Ledger, the incident occurred on Franklin Avenue in Nutley. The authorities were notified that three girls–a two-month-old, a one-year-old, and a six-year-old–were in a 1996 Plymouth van with a window cracked open. Officials arrived and arrested the mother when she exited the store. It is unclear how long the mother was in the store or if the children were in immediate damager. She now faces three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.
There are many different degrees of child endangerment under New Jersey Statute 2C: 24-4. “Endangerment” is a general term that covers many offenses including statutory rape, driving drunk with a minor in the car, child abuse, child molestation, creating child pornography, and child neglect. The penalties related to this type of offense include incarceration and heavy fines. In some cases, an act of endangerment could even result in a parent losing custody of the children.
Even if the parent did not knowingly put their child in danger, they may face life-changing consequences once the authorities are involved. It is imperative to fight these types of charges in court with a skilled attorney on your side.
The experienced Princeton criminal defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein understand the severity of child endangerment charges, and we work diligently to protect the rights of parents who have been wrongfully accused of endangerment, abuse, or neglect. To find out how we can help, call our law offices today at 609-240-0040.
