Child Abuse Cases

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

State of Florida v. E.H.
Bruising and swelling on teenager’s cheekbone and eye socket, case DISMISSED

Our client, E.H., was arrested in Clay County on a child abuse charge. Our client’s 17 year-old stepson called the 911 and claimed that our client punched him. The boy told the officers that E.H. and his mother were engaged in a heated argument. He claimed that our client became aggressive and he defended his mother. The boy said that our client struck him with a closed fist on the right side of his face. The police also talked to our client’s wife, the mother of the alleged victim. The officers wrote that his wife told them that our client struck the right side of her son’s face with a closed fist. Our client told police that the boy hit him first. Our Clay County Child Abuse Attorney got to work on the case and investigated further. Our client’s wife denied what was in the police report. We also presented pictures to the prosecutor assigned to the case showing that it was our client who had the injury to his face, not the alleged victim. Our client is 5 ‘5 and the alleged victim is 6’5. E.H. just retired from the military and had never been arrested prior to this charge. The charge was summarily DROPPED.

State of Florida v. A.S.
Large area of deep bruising on right rib cage almost to waist, charge DROPPED

Our client, A.S., was arrested for child abuse in Duval County. Our client’s 13 year-old son told teachers and the Department of Children and Families that his father chastised him about skipping school. The boy went on to tell the police our client punched him with a closed fist at least two times in hos torso as punishment. Police were called and the boy told them the same account. The arrest report stated that the officer observed deep bruising that was excessive and not in line with acceptable corporal punishment. A.S. was interviewed by JSO and admitted to punishing his son with exercises, but denied punching him. Our Jacksonville child abuse attorney presented additional information to the prosecutor assigned to the case, including a motivation for the child to lie. Our client’s Jacksonville child abuse charge was DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. J.R.
Several red marks on 12 year-old’s upper body, red bruise on left arm and red scratch on the inside of arm, charge DISMISSED

Our client, J.R., was arrested in Jacksonville for a charge of child abuse. Our client’s 12 year-old son called the police after he was disciplined for stealing a mini-bike and repeatedly running away and not listening. The boy told police our client spanked him using a brush and cursed at him for taking a mini bike when his mom told him not to. Police observed some injuries on the child. Our client talked to the police and she told them she told her son he could not take out the mini bike and her son then took off with the bike. Our client went to find her son and found him on a busy street with a neighbor riding the bike. Once arriving home, the child ran away again, breaking property in his path. Our client’s parents were at the home and also told the police about the child’s bad and dangerous behavior. Despite all of this knowledge of the child’s actions and our client disciplining her child, which she is allowed to do, the officer chose to arrest our client for child abuse, which is a felony. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorney gave the assistant state attorney assigned to the case additional information and the charge was quickly DROPPED.

State of Florida v. C.N.
Allegations of spanking forty times with a belt on back and buttocks with observed welts, charge DISMISSED

Our client, C.N., was arrested for child abuse in Duval County. The Department of Children and Families received an anonymous call in reference to our client’s two sons being abused by our client. The police became involved and interviewed the boys. One son told investigators that he and his brother brought home bad grades. He claimed our client spanked him with a belt forty times naked on his buttocks, back and hip area. The second son told police that our client spanked him about twenty times on his back and buttocks. Both boys had minimal injuries, which were not consistent with their stories. Our client spoke to the police and said he did discipline his boys, but did not “beat” them. Our Jacksonville child abuse attorney got involved early in the case and was able to meet with the prosecutor assigned to the case. We presented mitigating information to the state attorney, including the fact there was an impending custody dispute brewing between our client and the boys’ mother. All charges were DROPPED.

State of Florida v. R.W.
Daughter’s hair ripped out, smelling of nail polish remover, case DROPPED

Our client, R.W.,was arrested in Jacksonville for the third degree felony of child abuse. Our client called the police because her 15 year-old daughter was out of control. When police arrived, the house was in complete disarray. The bathroom, kitchen and living roof were covered with an assortment of household items. Our client was out of breath in the living room. Police talked to the daughter first, the alleged child abuse victim. Out client’s daughter told police that our client grabbed her by the hair and started punching her in the back of the head. The daughter then claimed that our client rubbed petroleum jelly all over her face and hit her with the open jar. She also claimed that R.W. doused her with nail polish remover. The officer observed the nail polish remover and petroleum jelly all over the bathroom floor. Parts of our client’s daughter’s hair was ripped out and she was covered with the nail polish remover. Our client told police that her daughter was out of control and did these things to herself. Our Jacksonville child abuse attorney presented the prosecutor additional information, including the behavioral history on our client’s daughter. The charge was completely dismissed.

State of Florida v. R.Y.
30 marks on 10 year-old daughter’s buttocks, thighs and outer legs, charge DISMISSED

Our client, R.Y., was arrested for child abuse in Duval County after the child’s school called the Department of Children and Families. Our client’s ten year-old daughter reported to police that she had been hit forty times by her father with a “switch”. The child had thirty marks and bruises on her buttocks, thighs and outer legs. Our client was interviewed by police and admitted to hitting his daughter with a switch because she got into trouble at school. Our Jacksonville child abuse lawyer presented mitigating evidence to the prosecutor assigned to the case and the charge was DROPPED.

State of Florida v. R.C.
Cut on daughter’s eye, case DROPPED

Our client, R.C., was arrested for child abuse in Jacksonville. Police were dispatched after receiving a call from the Department of Children and Families. The alleged victim, our client’s 13 year-old daughter, told police that she and her father were arguing and they began pushing each other. She went on to say that our client pushed her down and she tripped on something and hit her eye. Police observed a cut on the teenager’s eye. Police noted that our client is over 200 pounds and his daughter is 90 pounds. Our client was interviewed by police at the scene and admitted the two were arguing. He told police his daughter got in his face and pushed him, leading him to push her back. Our Jacksonville child abuse attorney investigated the case further and presented information to the prosecutor assigned to the case. The charge was DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. D.G.
Deep marks and bruising on back, charge DISMISSED

Our client, D.G., was arrested in Duval County on a charge of child abuse. When his six year-old child was taken to the doctor for a physical, the doctor noticed injuries on the child. The Department of Children and Families as well as the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was contacted. The child allegedly had deep marks and bruising on his back and one of the marks developed a scab. The child reportedly also had bruising on his right and left arms as well as his legs. Police spoke to our client and he informed them the child put a cardboard pizza box in the oven while it was on, almost creating a fire. The child then lied to his mother about doing it. The child was given several opportunities to tell the truth, but did not. Our client disciplined the child with a belt and expressed remorse to the police about the incident. Our Jacksonville child abuse attorney presented mitigation to the prosecutor assigned to the case and the charge was DROPPED.

State of Florida v. I.R.
Blood around son’s nose and three cuts one inch ling on tricep, charge DROPPED

Our client, I.R., was arrested on a charge of child abuse in Jacksonville. This is a third degree felony and if convicted, our client faced up to 5 years in prison. Our client’s 16 year-old son ran up to a police officer on the street bleeding. The alleged victim told police that he got in trouble because he had a friend over and his father, our client, found out. I.R.’s son told police his father called him names and began punching him in the chest approximately three times and punching him in the face. He was able to get away and his father then grabbed a leather belt and hit him across his behind approximately five times. The son claimed our client then hit him in his triceps. Our client agreed to speak to the police and admitted he did spank his son with his hand, but that was all. Our client denied punching his son in the face and chest. Police observed some blood around the son’s nose as well as a bloody rag to wipe it. The officer also observed three lacerations approximately one inch long on his left tricep. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorney investigated further and it was revealed that our client’s son made up everything except the spanking on the behind. The child abuse charge was DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. D.M.
Several scars from lacerations – Case DISMISSED

Our client, D.M., was arrested for Child Abuse in Duval County. Police were dispatched to a report of child abuse at our client’s child’s school. Employees at the school reported seeing several lacerations on the sis year-old. The child was interviewed and he told police his mother whipped him with a black cord multiple times. The child’s twin sister was also interviewed and although she denied seeing her brother being hit, she told police her mother hit them both with a cord when they got into trouble. The police observed several scars which appeared to have been long healed. Our client was interviewed and denied ever spanking her children with an electrical cord. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorney investigated the case further and presented additional evidence to the prosecutor assigned to the case. The charge was dropped and our client was reunited with her children.

State of Florida v. G.B.
Bruises on both sides of neck – Case DROPPED

Our client, G.B., was arrested for child abuse in Jacksonville. This is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of possible abuse of a child, our client’s 15 year-old son. The boy told police he got in trouble at home and his father pushed him on the couch and choked him with both hands to the point he “blacked out”. The boy said he then got up and went outside to cut the grass. Our client also spoke to the police and cooperated fully. He denied that the boy almost passed out or even approached losing consciousness. Police noted that they observed two small bruises on both sides of his neck. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Lawyer presented additional information to the prosecutor as well as mitigating information about our client. This Duval County Child Abuse case was DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. K.A.
Visible bruising on arm and back area with bleeding nose – Charge DISMISSED

Our client, K.A., was arrested for child abuse in Jacksonville, a third degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in reference to a child abuse complaint. The alleged victim, our client’s 15 year-old son, told police he got into an argument with K.A., his father. The alleged victim told the officers that our client struck him wildly on his body, including both sides of his stomach, on his left arm, back, nose, mouth and forehead. The boy told police his nose bled during the incident. Officers noted bruising on the boy’s left arm and back area and marks on his forehead. Our client was also interviewed. Our Duval County Child Abuse Attorney presented mitigating evidence to the prosecutor and the Jacksonville Child Abuse Charge was DROPPED.

State of Florida v. N.B.
Facing 45 years in prison – No jail or prison

Our client, N.B., was arrested for Aggravated Child Abuse and Aggravated Child Neglect in Jacksonville. The Duval County child abuse charge is a first degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and the Jacksonville child neglect charge is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Our client, N.B., was babysitting a 2 year-old and 4 year-old for a friend. While in our client’s care, the 2 year-old’s hand was burnt in scalding hot water. It was classified as an immersion burn because the entire burned area appeared to be a glove on her hand and ended with a definitive demarcation line above her wrist. Medical personnel testified that the burn could only be the result of an adult holding the child’s hand under standing water. Our client entered a plea to the aggravated child abuse charge and was facing up to 15 years in prison. The guidelines, which is the minimum sentence the judge could impose, was just over 5 years in prison. The judge can choose to go below the guidelines if certain factors are presented and proven by our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorney. After a lengthy sentencing hearing, the judge went below the guidelines and sentenced N.B. to 12 months house arrest followed by probation. Our client was not sentenced to any prison or jail time.

State of Florida v. G.L.
Bloody and swollen face with cuts on nose and lip, case sent to diversion program

Our client, G.L.. was arrested in Jacksonville for child abuse, a third degree felony in Florida. Police spoke to the victim, our client’s daughter. She was observed to have a bloody face with cuts on her nose and mouth. The victim said that our client was disciplining her and things got physical. Our client gave a different version of events to the police and was arrested on this Duval County child abuse charge. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorney presented mitigation and additional information to the prosecutor on the case. Our client was subsequently accepted to the Pretrial Intervention Program. After G.L. successfully completes the conditions of this Jacksonville diversion program, her Duval County child abuse charge will be DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. J.J.
2 1/2 inch cuts on legs, Jacksonville child abuse charge DISMISSED

Our client, J.J. was arrested for child abuse, a third degree felony, in Jacksonville. The Department of Children and Families reported this incident to JSO. The victim, our client’s 4 year-old daughter, was seen by a doctor and the injuries were diagnosed as “abuse”. The injuries were criss-cross raised linear cuts with scabbing, measuring approximately 2 1/2 inches on the left leg and 1 1/2 inches on the right leg. Our client admitted to “whipping” her daughter with a switch because the victim pushed a younger sibling down on the hard wood floor. J.J. admitted to hitting her daughter no more than ten times. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Law Firm was able to get the charge DROPPED.

State of Florida v. G.R.
Bruise on right cheek and red mark on forearm, child abuse DROPPED

Our client, G.R., was arrested in Jacksonville on a charge of Child Abuse. This crime is a third degree felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. Jacksonville police were dispatched to a violent disturbance. Upon arrival, police met with our client and his fiance. Police first spoke to his fiance who told police her and G.R. were arguing because of how he disciplined the victim, her 6 year-old boy, earlier that day. She advised that our client was mad at the victim because he had urinated in his bed and then hid his sheets. When our client found out, she told police G.R. slapped the victim in the face and then attempted to spank him with a belt. The victim placed both of his arms behind his back to block the strikes and received some red marks on his forearms. Our client also spoke to the police and told them he did not slap the victim in the face. The boy told police our client “beat him” for peeing in the bed. Police observed a bruise on the victim’s right cheek and a red mark on the victim’s left forearm. Our Jacksonville Child Abuse Attorney was able to get the charge DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. V.B.
Four children under 9 years-old left at home alone, child neglect charge DISMISSED

Our client, V.B., was arrested for Child Neglect in Jacksonville. Police responded to an apartment because there was a report of four small children being left home alone. The child who called 911 was so young, she did not know their address, so Jacksonville police had to use GPS tracking from the cell phone used to call the police. Upon the officer’s arrival, a 6 year-old answered the door and told the officer they were home by themselves. Also present was an 8 year-old, a 5 year-old and a 3 year-old. The children told police their babysitter left. The officer called the children’s mother, who was at work. The mother told police her children were supposed to be with the babysitter. When police called the mother’s babysitter, the babysitter told police her cousin, our client, was supposed to be there with the children. At that time, our client arrived at the apartment. She told police she was called by the babysitter to come and watch the children, but also said it would be a while before she could come to the apartment. Police looked at our client’s cell phone looking for that phone call from the babysitter, but could not find it. Police determined that V.B. was the adult who was supposed to be in charge of the care of all four children and she was arrested for child neglect. Child neglect is a third degree felony in Florida punishable by up to five years in prison. Our Jacksonville Child Neglect Attorney was able to get the charge DROPPED.

State of Florida v. T.D.
Client arrested for child abuse and domestic battery, both charges DROPPED

Our client, T.D., was arrested for child abuse and domestic battery in Jacksonville, Florida. The child abuse charge is a third degree felony and domestic battery is a first degree misdemeanor. If convicted of both charges, T.D. was facing up to 6 years in prison. Police were dispatched to a child abuse call. Upon arrival, the officer met with our client’s husband, who was the victim of the domestic violence. He told police that our client was in a verbal altercation with him concerning his daughter, who was the victim of the alleged child abuse. He told police T.D. slapped him with an open palm across the left side of his face and multiple times on the arm. He said he then witnessed T.D. swing at his 14 year-old daughter. Police then met with the child and she told police our client slapped her with an open palm on the left side of her face and hit her with an open palm across her chest. She also saw our client hit her father multiple times in the face. Officers observed a red mark under the child’s left eye and a large scratch across the right side of her chest. They also saw that T.D.’s husband had a red mark on his left ear and the left side of his face was swollen and red. Our Jacksonville Domestic Battery Attorney investigated the case further and all charges against our client were DISMISSED.

State of Florida v. G.D.
Marks on forearms and behind, no arrest

Our client was being investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Department of Children and Families because her 4 ½ year-old son told his teacher, initially, that our client (his mother) hit him. Her son had bruise marks on his forearms and behind. After being asked again, the child changed his story and told the teacher his mother’s boyfriend beat him. The police were called and both our client and her boyfriend were being threatened with being arrested for child abuse in Jacksonville. G.D. hired our Jacksonville Child Abuse Law Firm and she was not arrested and no charges were filed.

State of Florida v. O.R.
Scratches on face and chest, charges dropped

Our Jacksonville client was accused of hitting the alleged victim 15 to 20 times and was charged with child abuse (3rd degree felony). She was facing up to five years in prison. Police said the alleged victim fell to the floor, had trouble breathing He also had a scratch and mark on his nose, a handprint on his face with a scratch mark, along with another scratch mark on his chest near his neck. Our Jacksonville criminal lawyer worked to get all charges dropped.

State of Florida v. G.R.
Charges dropped despite new and old bruising on child

Our client in Jacksonville was exposed to five years in prison after police said his child had redness and deep bruising along his cheek, forearms, hands and back. Officers also reported the child had old bruising and scarring on his shoulders. Our client was charged with aggravated child abuse by aggravated battery (3rd degree felony). Once our Jacksonville violent crimes attorney was able to tell our client’s side, the state dropped all charges.

State of Florida v. W.P.
Welts on 4-year-old granddaughter, charges dropped

Our client was accused of beating her 4-year-old granddaughter with a belt. The child went to school with welts on her and Jacksonville police were called. There were three witnesses to incident that caused the injury. Our client was charged with child abuse (3rd degree felony) and was looking at up to five years in prison. Our Jacksonville criminal defense attorney succeeded in getting all charges dropped.

State of Florida v. J.D.
Black eye on 4 year old, no conviction

A teacher reported to police that our client’s 4-year-old daughter showed up at school with a black eye. The girl told police our client hit her and told her to stay quiet about it. Police spoke with our client’s wife, the child’s mother. She told officers she heard our client yelling at their daughter in another room The mother said she then heard a slap, followed by their child crying. She allegedly told police she was scared our client would get in trouble, so she didn’t want to say anything. Our client was arrested for child abuse (3rd degree felony) and faced up to five years in prison. Our Jacksonville criminal lawyer investigated the case, got the felony dropped and our client was not convicted of a crime.

State of Florida v. D.B.
Victim says father hit her with belt and hands, charges dismissed

Our client went to pick up his 14-year-old daughter and her friend from a party near Regency Mall about 10 p.m. He asked his daughter questions about their night out and then she told her father it was none of his business. When they got to their Jacksonville home, the alleged victim said our client walked into her room and took his belt off. She said our client hit her several times with both the metal and leather ends of the belt. The daughter said she grabbed the belt and her father started hitting her with his hands. Jacksonville police talked to the alleged victim’s brother and her friend that was with her. Both said our client hit the alleged victim several times with both ends of the belt. Officers said they saw a belt welt over her eye, and more on her back and both of her arms. He was arrested for child abuse (3rd degree felony) and simple battery (1st degree misdemeanor) and could have faced 5 years in prison. The Jacksonville child abuse lawyer in our firm got all charges dismissed.

State of Florida v. M.E.
Man puts 12 year old in headlock, attorneys get charges dismissed

Our client’s wife called police to the couple’s Jacksonville home after she said our client hit her 12-year-old grandson. The boy was staying at the home while his parents were out of town. The wife told police our client never cared for the boy because he wasn’t his biological grandson. Our client demanded the 12-year-old leave the room. The boy wouldn’t budge and our client was accused of punching the boy in the face and holding him on the ground in a headlock. Our client told police he put the boy in a headlock, but did not hit him. Police said they saw a fresh bruise on the side of the boy’s neck. Officers also said his face was flushed and he said he had a headache. Our client had minor cuts to his knees and scratches on his hand consistent with a rug burn. Our client was arrested on child abuse charges (3rd degree felony). The charges were dismissed after our Jacksonville child abuse attorney conducted a thorough investigation and provided information previously unknown to prosecutors.

State of Florida v. A.A.
Defense investigation gets child abuse, battery charges dropped

Jacksonville police arrived after our client’s wife called 911, saying she saw her two sons holding our client back from her third son, a 16 year old. The two brothers and the alleged victim both told officers our client was angry with the 16 year old and hit him three times on the right side of his head with his left fist. The alleged victim said his head hurt and, when rescue units checked him out, he had a bump on the right side of his head. Our client was arrested for child abuse (3rd degree felony) and battery (1st degree misdemeanor). Our Jacksonville child abuse attorneys took the case and discovered our client recently had a stroke that hampered his ability to move the right side of his body, especially his hand and arm. Our investigation also found one of the witnesses was in jail. All charges were dropped.

State of Florida v. J.D.
Attorneys find medical report that leads to dropping of child abuse charges

Our client was questioned by investigators after his 3-month-old daughter was diagnosed with five fractured ribs and a doctor deemed the injuries non-accidental and likely caused by squeezing the child. He was then interviewed by the Child Protection Team about the broken ribs and said he took her to the doctor and she hadn’t been sleeping, so she was fussier than normal. Our client said he swaddled her in a blanket and held her against his chest. She continued to cry and he said he may have squeezed her too hard, but if he hurt her it was an accident. He was arrested for child abuse (3rd degree felony). Our Jacksonville child abuse attorneys discovered a doctor’s report following the alleged broken ribs and the examining doctor did not notice anything wrong with the child. The investigation by our Jacksonville criminal law firm also turned up evidence of other people who may have injured the child. Our firm helped get our client into a diversionary program, which he completed, leading to all charges being dropped.

State of Florida v. L.M.
Man arrested for dunking child, son’s behavior issues lead to dismissal of charges

Jacksonville police investigated our client after his 13-year-old son claimed his father dunked his head under water and hit him with a wooden sword. The son told police he skipped school and his father learned when he got back home. The alleged victim said he was forced to fill up a sink with water and, once it was full, our client shoved his son’s head under water and held it for 15 seconds. The son then says his father grabbed the sword and hit him across the arms and back. When our client spoke with police, he told them he did spank his son and leave marks, but said the sink story was false. Our Jacksonville child abuse attorney took a closer look and alerted prosecutors of their alleged victims’ behavior issues in school. All charges were dropped.