As public awareness of child abuse has increased over the years, more reports of possible abuse have been made. While most reporters are taking the appropriate steps to help protect children, some of these reports are unsubstantiated. In some situations, reports are made in good faith, but an investigation will prove them untrue. In other situations, reports are made to cause harm to the subject of these allegations.
Many child abuse cases show false allegations made by a teacher, the other parent or even the child themselves. Unfortunately, many relatives, parents or other adults make these false accusations in retaliation of a perceived wrong or at the whims of the child. The accused is left baffled and likely horrified by well-meaning parties who don’t seek out the truth.
Unfortunately for the accused, proving that a child abuse allegation is false is going to be an uphill battle. Child Protective Services, the police and likely many others will consider you guilty. This rush to judgement is a result of our instinctive desire to protect our children at all cost, but it makes it difficult for the accused to obtain a fair trial.
Contact a Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately If You Have Been Accused of Child Abuse
When you think of child abuse, the first thing that comes to mind is often physical abuse. Physical abuse can include beating, punching, kicking burning or otherwise inflicting physical harm. It can also include shaking a baby, drowning, suffocation and poisoning. However, one can also be accused of child abuse for the following reasons:
- Neglect
- Emotional abuse
- Sexual abuse
Texas takes child abuse very seriously and the penalties can include heavy fines, probation, loss of child custody and years in prison. If you have been falsely accused of child abuse, the best course of action you can take to protect yourself is to consult with a Texas criminal defense attorney.
Mike Goolsby at the Goolsby Law Firm is a former district attorney and has an in-depth understanding of the Texas criminal justice system. We haven’t lost a case in more than 15 years and we don’t intend to start now.
