In October of 2024, a Pennsylvania judge sentenced a Sayre man to prison for aggravated assault of a child under the age of six. The defendant pleaded guilty and received 11-24 months of prison time with 36 additional months of court supervision after his release. This case highlights the swift nature of punishment for allegations of child abuse in Pennsylvania. It is critical, however, to remember that allegations of child abuse can be made easily and even anonymously in Pennsylvania, and this leads to numerous cases of questionable worth. Child abuse allegations can sometimes be made during a contentious break-up or custody battle to gain an advantage.

If you or someone you love is facing accusations of child abuse, don't panic. Call the LLF Law Firm. The LLF Law Firm Criminal Defense Team has years of experience defending people in Childline and criminal proceedings. Call us at 888-535-3686 or submit your details online, and we will promptly contact you.

Aggravated Assault of a Minor

In Pennsylvania, aggravated assault is a serious crime, particularly when a minor is involved. The definition of aggravated assault varies depending on the age of the alleged victim:

• If the victim is under the age of 6, the perpetrator must be over 18 and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause bodily injury to the child. This is a second-degree felony.
• If the victim is over six but younger than 13, the perpetrator must be over the age of 18 and intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly cause serious bodily injury to the child. This is also a second-degree felony.

Regardless of age, aggravated assault is charged when the alleged perpetrator shows extreme indifference to the value of human life or if they intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly attempt to injure another with a deadly weapon. This is a first-degree felony.

Childline Referrals

As a practical matter, most allegations of child abuse in Pennsylvania commence with Childline, a statewide program that accepts and transmits information concerning child abuse allegations. Childline is available 24/7 and accepts both electronic (online) and verbal reports of abuse. As you can imagine, this approach leads to a high rate of false or unfounded allegations.

It is important to remember that a Childline investigation is not, in and of itself, a criminal matter. However, a Childline investigation can lead to criminal charges because Pennsylvania uses a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse investigations. This means that many agencies, including law enforcement, may be involved in an investigation of alleged child abuse.

A Childline finding can devastate the life of the accused, even if it does not lead to criminal charges. The record of a founded allegation of abuse can lead to the loss of employment, loss of custody of children, or loss of the ability to volunteer at your child's school. If the allegations lead to criminal charges of child abuse, you will need an effective defense to prevent a prison sentence on top of all the other negative consequences.

If you become the focus of child abuse accusations, you will need an experienced criminal attorney. Call the LLF Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or submit your details online, and we will promptly contact you.