Fort Myers Child Neglect Attorneys
Child abuse charges can range from child neglect or child endangerment to criminal sexual assault. In Florida, it has become much more common for law enforcement to get involved in a child abuse charge because the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is simply too busy to respond to all of the reports. With more teachers, caregivers, medical providers and other officials following the mandatory child abuse reporting requirements, more parents are being charged with child abuse in criminal court.
It is becoming more common that when an infant is born at a hospital with drugs in his or her system, the mother will likely be charged in criminal court in addition to civil dependency court.
At The Law Offices of Agoston & Chandler, P.A., we represent mothers, fathers and others in the Naples area who have been charged with:
- Child abuse (physical, emotional or sexual)
- Child abandonment
- Child neglect
We are criminal defense attorneys with prosecution experience. David Agoston is a former prosecutor, a former public defender, and a former public defender supervisor. James (Jamie) Chandler worked in the state attorney's office in the misdemeanor, juvenile delinquency and adult felony divisions, and while there was involved in every aspect of criminal defense.
An experienced criminal defense attorney may be critical to prevent the consequences of a child abuse conviction. You may be facing:
- Loss of child custody
- Loss of job certifications or licenses
- Prison time
False Reporting of Child Abuse
When two parents are in a child custody battle, one may falsely accuse the other of child abuse, abandonment or neglect.
According to Florida statutes, a person who knowingly and willfully makes a false report of child abuse, abandonment or neglect, or who advises another to make a false report, is guilty of a third-degree felony.
We defend parents who are accused of child abuse, and we also defend those who are charged with making false accusations.
Experienced and Effective Criminal Defense ∙ Se Habla Español
Our Naples child abuse defense attorneys represent Florida residents and out-of-state visitors charged with misdemeanors or felonies. Contact our Naples law office, or call 239-206-4311 locally or 888-754-3002 toll free to discuss your case, your rights and your options.
