Have you just been arrested for child endangerment in Los Angeles? Our Los Angeles child endangerment lawyers can help you fight for your freedom. At Kroger Criminal Defense, our defense team brings more than 75 years of combined criminal defense experience to every case we take.
We have handled over 5,000 criminal cases across California, and we are ready to fight for you. Call us today at (323) 655- 5700 for a free consultation. We defend clients throughout Los Angeles facing child endangerment, domestic violence, assault, drug charges, and other serious criminal matters.
Why Choose William S. Kroger for Your Los Angeles Child Endangerment Case?
When your family is on the line, you need a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who has seen these cases from every angle. William Kroger and our team have done exactly that. Here is what sets us apart:
- More than 75 years of combined criminal defense experience across our legal team.
- Over 5,000 criminal cases handled throughout California.
- A proven track record that includes a not guilty verdict in a case involving 220 kilos of cocaine, showing our ability to defend complex, high-stakes matters.
- Dismissals secured in serious felony matters, including cases that looked difficult from day one.
- Recognized by Super Lawyers and the American Institute of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
- We explain every stage of the criminal process clearly, so you always know what is happening in your case.
- Spanish-speaking clients are welcome. Interpreters are available when needed.
- Our main office is located in Beverly Hills, and we serve clients throughout Los Angeles.
Why You Need a Los Angeles Child Endangerment Lawyer
The state moves fast in child endangerment cases. Once law enforcement gets involved, prosecutors begin building a case immediately, often before you even have a chance to tell your side of the story. Evidence gets collected. Witnesses get interviewed. A child protective services investigation may already be underway. Every hour you wait is an hour the prosecution uses against you.
A skilled child endangerment attorney in Los Angeles will:
- Review your case right away
- Identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence
- Make sure your constitutional rights are protected at every step
William Kroger has the experience and the trial record to take on these charges head-on. Do not wait to get help. Call us now for a free case review.
What Is Child Endangerment Under California Law?
Parents and guardians have broad authority over how they raise their children. You choose their school, their activities, their discipline. But California law draws a line. When your actions, or your failure to act, put a child at risk of physical harm or mental suffering, you can face criminal charges for child endangerment. You do not have to actually hurt a child to be charged. The prosecution only needs to show that a child was placed in a dangerous situation.
California Penal Code 273A PC
Under Penal Code 273A PC, child endangerment is a crime that applies to anyone who willfully endangers a child under 18. To convict you, the prosecution must prove three things: (1) you willfully committed one of the acts described below, (2) you were criminally negligent in doing so, and (3) if you are a parent, you were not simply exercising your right to reasonably discipline your child. The prohibited acts under the statute include:
- Inflicting unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on a child.
- Causing or permitting a child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering.
- While having care or custody of a child, causing or permitting the child’s person or health to be injured.
- While having care or custody of a child, causing or permitting that child to be placed in a situation where their person or health is endangered.
Note that acts 1 and 2 can apply to anyone, not just a child’s parent or guardian. Acts 3 and 4 require that you had care or custody of the child at the time. In all cases, the prosecution must also prove criminal negligence. That means your conduct was a gross departure from how a reasonable person would have acted, rather than a mere mistake or lapse in judgment.
Circumstances Likely to Produce Great Bodily Harm or Death
The statute has two versions. Under PC 273A(a), the more serious version, the circumstances must have been likely to produce great bodily harm or death. Under PC 273A(b), the misdemeanor version, the danger does not have to be that severe. For the felony version, the child does not actually have to be injured. The law only requires proof that the probability of great bodily harm was high. Great bodily harm means a significant or substantial physical injury, not a minor bruise or scrape.
Criminal Negligence
Criminal negligence is a required element in every child endangerment case. It means conduct that is a gross departure from what an ordinarily careful person would do under the same circumstances, and that shows a disregard for human life or the consequences of your actions. Ordinary carelessness, inattention, or a mistake in judgment does not rise to this level. A helpful test: would a reasonable person in your exact situation have acted the same way? If so, your conduct was likely not criminally negligent. Examples that courts have found to cross this line include running a drug lab in a home where children live, or knowingly allowing a dangerous person to reside with your children.
Penalties for Child Endangerment in California
Criminal Penalties
The penalties you face depend on whether your actions created a risk of great bodily harm or death to the child.
Misdemeanor under PC 273A(b) — No Risk of Great Bodily Harm or Death:
- Up to 1 year in Los Angeles County jail.
- Fines up to $1,000.
Wobbler under PC 273A(a) — Risk of Great Bodily Harm or Death: The prosecution can charge this as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts and your prior record.
If charged as a misdemeanor:
- Up to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.
If charged as a felony:
- 2, 4, or 6 years in a California state prison.
- Fines up to $10,000.
- A mandatory minimum of 48 months (4 years) of formal probation if probation is granted in lieu of prison.
- An additional 3 to 6 years in prison if the child suffers great bodily injury (under PC 12022.7).
- An additional 4 years in prison if the child dies as a result of your criminal negligence (under PC 12022.95).
- The conviction counts as a strike under California’s Three Strikes law, which can double your sentence for a second strike and result in 25 years to life for a third.
In either case, your sentence may also include a criminal protective order, mandatory completion of a child abuser’s treatment counseling program approved by the probation department, and requirements to abstain from drugs or alcohol.
Collateral Consequences
Jail time and fines are just part of the picture. A child endangerment conviction follows you long after your sentence ends. These are the consequences that make fighting this charge worth it:
- Loss of child custody or visitation rights.
- Loss of your right to own or possess a firearm.
- Difficulty finding and keeping a good-paying job.
- Being permanently barred from careers in healthcare, education, childcare, and government.
- Potential immigration consequences, including deportation or denial of citizenship.
- Losing access to important government assistance programs.
- A permanent criminal record that affects housing, credit, and professional licensing.
These are not small inconveniences. They are life-altering. That is why accepting a plea deal without a fight can be the worst decision you make.
Defenses Against Child Endangerment Charges
William Kroger will review every detail of your case, challenge the prosecution’s evidence, and build the strongest possible defense. There is no single playbook here. The right defense depends on the specific facts of your situation. Common defenses in child endangerment cases include:
- You did not act willfully: Your actions were accidental, not intentional. The law requires willful conduct, and an accident is not a crime.
- No criminal negligence: Your conduct was ordinary carelessness or a mistake in judgment, not the gross, reckless departure from reasonable behavior that the law requires.
- False accusations: Ex-partners, family members in custody disputes, and other parties sometimes fabricate or exaggerate claims to gain leverage.
- Lawful parental discipline: California law gives parents the right to reasonably discipline their children, and not every form of correction amounts to endangerment.
- No actual danger existed: The situation was not objectively dangerous, and the prosecution cannot prove the circumstances created a real risk of harm.
- Someone else was responsible: You were not the person who caused or permitted the endangerment, and eyewitness testimony or surveillance footage can prove it.
- Violation of your constitutional rights: Evidence obtained through an illegal search, seizure, or interrogation may be suppressible and inadmissible in court.
False accusations are especially common in child endangerment cases tied to divorce, custody battles, and family conflicts. Character witnesses and physical evidence can make a major difference in how your case turns out.
Speak With Our Los Angeles Child Endangerment Attorney Today
You do not have to face this alone. When you call Kroger Law, here is what happens: we review your case in full, explain your legal rights in plain language, and tell you exactly where things stand. There is no obligation. Just straight answers from a team that has handled over 5,000 criminal cases in California.
William Kroger and our defense team are recognized by Super Lawyers and the American Institute of Criminal Defense Attorneys. We serve clients throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Spanish-speaking clients are always welcome.
Call us now at (323) 655- 5700. Your first consultation is free, and there is no obligation to hire us.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact William S. Kroger to speak with a licensed attorney about your specific situation.