Child abuse in Colorado

You were charged with child abuse in Colorado. That is a serious accusation about injury, mistreatment, or neglect of a child under the statute the DA cited. It is not a verdict. People search this charge by name. We list it because we take these cases. Call (303) 291-0555.

What this charge means

Child abuse covers a range of theories: causing injury, permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury, neglect patterns, and other statutory paths. The complaint will say knowing, reckless, or criminal-negligence language when those mental states apply. Read the cite. Do not assume every DHS contact is a criminal case, and do not assume every criminal case matches the civil file.

Injury severity and mental state affect charging. This page does not invent a felony class or a prison range. Your charging document controls.

How these cases usually start

A hospital report, a school call, a neighbor tip, or a police response to a family fight. Human Services may open a parallel case. Criminal court and dependency court are different systems. Statements to caseworkers and police both matter. Get counsel before you try to clear it up in an interview.

Issues that decide these cases

• What injury or risk is alleged? Medical differential diagnoses matter in injury cases.
• Who had access to the child? Timeline and caregivers.
• Mental state. Accident, poor judgment, and criminal culpability are not the same.
• Discipline vs. abuse allegations. Fact-specific. Not a slogan.
• Overlap with assault or sex-offense counts. Separate elements.

If DHS and the police are both calling, treat it as urgent. Call the firm.

Penalties (confirm before you rely on this)

The class of this offense and the jail or prison range depend on the current statute, the date of the alleged offense, and any sentence enhancers on the complaint. We will not publish a class or a year range on this page as if it were locked 2026 law. Your charging document and the current Colorado Revised Statutes control.

Enhancers can include prior convictions, a domestic-violence designation, a protection-order count, a weapon fact, or consecutive sentences on other counts. Probation eligibility is not automatic. Past results do not guarantee future results. This page is not a promise about your sentence.

Court process in plain English

After an arrest, advisement is usually the first court date. The judge covers rights and bond. Advisement is not arraignment. You do not have to enter a plea there.

The district attorney decides whether to file, add counts, drop counts, or decline. Felony cases that start in county court may have a preliminary-hearing track before district-court arraignment. Discovery, motions, and trial setting follow if the case does not resolve.

Bond is a court order, not a finding of guilt. Conditions can include no contact, no weapons, testing, and GPS. Violating a condition can create a new filing. If you have questions about a condition, call the firm before you guess.

Why people call this firm on this charge

People call because their charge is listed, because they need a trial lawyer, or because a family member is in custody and the next court date is soon. Wrongfully accused or guilty as charged, the job is the same: test the State’s proof and protect the record.

The Reisch Law Firm works from one office in Westminster and takes cases around Colorado. We try cases in Colorado state court and in federal court when the case goes there. Call (303) 291-0555.

Related Colorado charges

• Crimes against children
• Assault in the third degree
• Assault in the second degree
• Sexual assault on a child
• Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

What to do now

Call (303) 291-0555. Tell us the county and what the complaint or ticket says. The Reisch Law Firm defends Colorado criminal cases from one office in Westminster and takes cases around the state.

Call (303) 291-0555

The Reisch Law Firm
1490 West 121st Avenue, Suite 202, Westminster, CO 80234
Phone: (303) 291-0555

Back to Colorado Criminal Defense (A-Z)

Past results do not guarantee future results. Attorney advertising.

This page is general information. It is not legal advice and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. The charging document and the current Colorado Revised Statutes control.