A DWI conviction in North Carolina comes with some of the most staggering criminal and civil penalties in the country — not to mention the additional financial cost associated with having one on your record. 

Get caught driving drunk with a child passenger, though, and you could find yourself in court battling child abuse charges, too. A child abuse conviction can leave you responsible for additional criminal penalties, and, potentially devastating civil consequences, namely losing custody of your child.

How DWI Charges Work in North Carolina

North Carolina has five levels of DWIs[...]

If you are facing a child abuse charge in North Carolina, you need to understand what the law states and what the charges involve. Let’s look at the law first.

What Constitutes Child Abuse in North Carolina

Child abuse charges encompass these various behaviors toward a minor:

• Physical abuse: inflicting, allowing to be inflicted, or creating a significant risk for injury, besides what could occur by accident
• Emotional abuse: use of abusive language, grossly inappropriate behavior, or cruel treatment, including abusive attempts at behavior modification
• Sexual abuse: rape, incest, molestation, exposing a child

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