Cruelty to Children
How do South Carolina’s Laws define Cruelty to Children?
Cruelty to Children in South Carolina is defined as the following:
Whoever cruelly ill-treats, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or inflicts unnecessary pain or suffering upon a child or causes the same to be done, whether the person is the parent or guardian or has charge or custody of the child, for every offense, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than thirty days or fined not more than two hundred dollars, at the discretion of the magistrate.
Section 63-5-80 makes it clear that this charge is not as heinous as Unlawful Conduct Toward A Child, which is more often known as Child Abuse. Still, even though this specific charge is a misdemeanor the potential consequences are very serious.
As with any crime involving children, there is the possibility of public outrage. Our legal system is based on being innocent until proven guilty. However, this does not apply to the court of public perception. If you are charged with Cruelty to Children you should consider retaining a criminal defense attorney. Not just to defend you against any charges, but also to guide you during this difficult ordeal.
Call Our Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation
Any criminal charge, no matter what degree, is extremely serious. If you’ve been charged with child abuse, Cruelty to Children, or any other criminal offense you need to contact a criminal defense attorney.
Call our law office at (803) 433-5368 to schedule your free consultation.
