Houston Child Abuse Attorney

Former Prosecutor Fighting for the Defense in Child Abuse Cases

A child abuse accusation in Houston can move quickly from a private family crisis to a criminal investigation, CPS contact, bond questions, and a criminal court setting. Police, prosecutors, child protective services, social workers, medical providers, and family members may all become involved before you understand what has been alleged.

A Houston child abuse attorney can help you respond before the case hardens around one version of events. These cases may involve alleged child abuse, physical injury, inappropriate touching, child sexual abuse, child molestation, neglect claims, controlled substance allegations, or accusations tied to a child’s physical or mental health.

Drehner Law defends people facing criminal charges in Houston, Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, League City, and nearby communities. Attorney Shannon Drehner is a former chief felony prosecutor who has handled serious felony cases on the government side and now draws on that experience as a criminal defense attorney.

Call 832-626-0063 or send an online message for a confidential consultation. The sooner we can review your case and any reports, the better we can help you understand your options.

Child Abuse Charges in Texas Can Carry Serious Consequences

Texas law treats child abuse cases as serious criminal matters. Depending on the allegation, the case may involve injury to a child, child sex abuse, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, indecency with a child, continuous sexual abuse, or sexual performance by a child.

Under Texas Penal Code § 22.04, a person commits injury to a child if the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence causes serious bodily injury, serious mental deficiency, impairment, injury, or bodily injury to a child. For this statute, child generally means a person 14 years of age or younger.

Punishment depends on the alleged injury, mental state, and facts. Some injury-to-a-child accusations may be charged as a state jail felony. Others may rise to second-degree or first-degree felony status. Texas felony punishment ranges are outlined in Texas Penal Code Chapter 12.

CPS may call something child abuse even if the criminal charge has a different name. Your defense needs to address both the CPS and criminal sides, since either one can affect your home, your family, and your future.

Texas Child Sexual Abuse Allegations Need Immediate Legal Review

Texas Penal Code §§ 22.011 and 22.021 can both appear in child sexual abuse cases, but they address various levels of alleged conduct. Section 22.011 includes certain sexual conduct involving a child. Section 22.021 covers aggravated sexual assault, including cases involving younger children or allegations of severe injury, threats, weapons, drugs, or other aggravating facts.

Other child sex abuse charges may involve indecency with a child, continuous sexual abuse of a young child or disabled individual, or sexual performance by a child. Continuous sexual abuse requires allegations involving two or more acts of sexual abuse over a period of 30 or more days.

Child sexual abuse cases are not limited to one kind of alleged conduct. The accusation may involve inappropriate touching, sexual acts, digital communication, photos or videos, a family member, a daycare provider, a school setting, or a statement that arose during a custody conflict.

These charges can expose a person to prison time, sex offender registration issues, no-contact terms, immigration concerns, job loss, licensing problems, and damage to family relationships. A Houston child abuse lawyer should review the exact statute, the alleged facts, the child’s age, the source of the accusation, and how the statement was obtained.

CPS Investigations and Criminal Cases Are Not the Same

Child Protective Services is part of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. DFPS says CPS conducts civil investigations involving alleged abuse or neglect by caregivers or household members. Law enforcement agencies conduct criminal investigations to determine whether a crime occurred.

This difference is important. CPS might ask for an interview, a home visit, or information about your child. Police may want a statement, a warrant, phone, or medical records, or could make an arrest. If you are a parent or caregiver, you might feel pressured to respond right away, even if the accusation is not true.

Do not assume that a CPS conversation cannot affect the criminal case. Statements made to social workers, family members, school employees, medical providers, or officers may be admitted as evidence. Before giving a detailed statement, speak with legal counsel about what is being investigated and who is asking the questions.

What Counts as Abuse Under the Texas Family Code?

The Texas Family Code uses a broad definition of abuse for child protection purposes. Under Texas Family Code § 261.001, abuse includes several acts or omissions, including mental or emotional injury that results in observable and material impairment in the child’s growth, development, or psychological functioning.

The statute also addresses physical injury that results in substantial harm, failure to prevent certain injuries, sexual conduct harmful to a child, certain controlled substance conduct, sexual performance by a child, trafficking, and other conduct listed in the law.

Common signs or accusations may include:

• Bruises, fractures, burns, or other physical injury
• Claims of sexual abuse, child molestation, or inappropriate touching
• Alleged failure to protect a child from another individual
• Mental health, fear, school, or behavior changes
• Drug exposure, unsafe supervision, or neglect allegations

Texas Law Requires Reports of Suspected Child Abuse

Texas law requires certain people to report suspected child abuse. Under Texas Family Code § 261.101, anyone who reasonably believes a child’s physical or mental health has been harmed by abuse or neglect must report it. Professionals who suspect abuse or neglect usually must report it within 48 hours of first noticing it.

That reporting rule can explain why an accusation may start with a teacher, nurse, doctor, counselor, daycare worker, neighbor, relative, or coach. The person who made the report may not have witnessed a crime. A report of child abuse call may reflect suspicion, concern, misunderstanding, or incomplete information.

False accusations do occur. Mistakes, coached stories, faulty memories, and reports are common during divorce or custody battles. A defense lawyer should review evidence, check the timeline, compare statements, and determine what the state can prove.

How These Cases Move Through Harris County

Many Houston child abuse cases begin with a report to DFPS, a call to law enforcement, or a referral to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office has a Crimes Against Children Division for certain child sexual abuse cases, including cases involving family or household members, trusted individuals, long-term abuse allegations, and multiple victims.

Felony cases in Harris County move through county courts. The Harris County District Clerk states that district courts hear felony cases, while county criminal courts at law hear Class A and Class B misdemeanors and certain appeals. Criminal customer service is at 1201 Franklin in Houston.

After an arrest, the court may set bond and conditions. In child abuse or family cases, these conditions can affect your daily life while the case is open. It is important to review them closely.

A defense plan may include reviewing police reports, interviews, body-camera footage, medical records, phone records, photos, CPS files, witness statements, school records, and prior family court documents. Some cases need outside experts to review medical, psychological, or digital evidence.

Defense Issues in Child Abuse Cases

No two child abuse cases are alike. Some depend on medical evidence. Others hinge on whether a child’s statement is reliable, if an adult influenced the story, or if police missed facts that do not support the claim.

Key defense questions may include:

• Did the alleged injury have an accidental or medical explanation?
• Did the complainant’s statement change over time?
• Were interviews conducted in a fair and non-leading way?
• Does the timeline match the physical evidence?
• Did another adult have access to the child?

The state must prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt. This is critical in cases with strong emotions, family conflict, or limited physical evidence. If accused, do not try to resolve the situation with explanations, texts, or by contacting the accuser.

Why Call Drehner Law?

Drehner Law handles serious criminal defense cases in Houston and nearby counties. Attorney Shannon Drehner’s experience as a former chief felony prosecutor gives our team valuable insight into how prosecutors review evidence, prepare witnesses, find weaknesses, and decide whether to move a case forward.

The firm’s About page explains that Attorney Drehner has tried more than 80 jury trials involving charges such as sexual assault, child abuse, murder, capital murder, aggravated assault, drug charges, and other serious offenses. That trial background can be important in a case where the accusation can affect every part of your life. You will work with a small defense team, not a large office where your case may receive less direct attention. You get focused legal help, direct review of your case, and a defense plan based on your facts.

Past case results never guarantee a future outcome. Every case depends on its own evidence, judge, prosecutor, facts, and legal issues. You can review the firm’s case results page to learn more about prior matters handled by the firm.

Call a Houston Child Abuse Lawyer Today

A child abuse accusation can affect your freedom, family, work, reputation, and future. Waiting to see what happens can give investigators more time to build the case without your side being reviewed.

Call Drehner Law on 832-626-0063 or send an online message for a confidential consultation. Attorney Shannon Drehner is a former prosecutor and female criminal defense attorney who cares about clients facing serious allegations. Our team can review the charge, explain the legal process, and help you decide what to do next.