Practice area – Juvenile & Child Abuse
Juvenile charges or child abuse allegations in Riverside County?
Juvenile cases run on a separate court track with different rules and dramatically different stakes than adult court. Child abuse allegations bring DCFS, custody risk, and lifetime consequences.
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What you’re facing
Juvenile and child abuse cases are two different worlds. JUVENILE CASES (Welfare & Institutions Code) operate in juvenile court, which prioritizes rehabilitation over punishment but can still result in commitment to a Division of Juvenile Justice facility. Serious charges can be transferred to ADULT court (WIC 707), exposing minors to adult sentencing. CHILD ABUSE ALLEGATIONS (PC 273a/273d) trigger both criminal prosecution AND a DCFS investigation that can result in removal of children. Either pathway can affect custody, professional licensing, and immigration status.
Defenses I build
Juvenile cases require attorneys who understand juvenile court culture. It operates differently from adult criminal court. I push for informal probation, deferred entry of judgment, and sealing of records under W&I 781. I oppose transfer to adult court when applicable. Child abuse allegations get a forensic defense. Many cases hinge on medical evidence (skin findings, fractures, head injuries) where alternative explanations exist. I work with experts when needed.
Common Questions
What is different about juvenile court?
Juvenile court is run by the Welfare & Institutions Code, not the Penal Code. There are no juries. Penalties are framed as dispositions (treatment plans) rather than sentences. Records can often be sealed at age 18 under W&I 781. The system prioritizes rehabilitation, but a serious offense can be transferred to adult court (WIC 707), where adult rules and penalties apply.
Can DCFS take my children if I am being investigated?
Yes. The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) operates a parallel investigation track that can result in removal of children even before criminal charges are filed. The juvenile dependency case proceeds on a separate timeline from any criminal case. The two cases require coordinated defense. What you say in one affects the other.
Can a juvenile record be sealed?
Yes, in most cases. Under W&I 781, juvenile records can be sealed and destroyed, often automatically at 18 for less serious offenses, by petition for others. Sealing means the case never happened for most legal purposes (with limited exceptions). It is one of the most important post-disposition steps in juvenile work.
Juvenile and Child Abuse Charges I Defend
These cases involve overlapping criminal, juvenile, and dependency court tracks. Below are the matters I handle most often.
Juvenile Petitions (W&I 602)
Allegations of criminal conduct against minors. Handled in juvenile court.
Adult Court Transfer (W&I 707)
Motions to move serious juvenile cases to adult court. Highly consequential.
Child Abuse (PC 273a)
Endangering the health or safety of a child. Wobbler. Felony version: 2, 4, or 6 years.
Child Endangerment (PC 273a(b))
Misdemeanor placing child in dangerous situation.
Corporal Injury on Child (PC 273d)
Felony. Causing traumatic condition to a child.
Failure to Protect a Child
Often charged against non-perpetrator parents.
DCFS Investigation
Parallel non-criminal track that can result in child removal.
Sealing Juvenile Records (W&I 781)
Petition to seal and destroy juvenile records.
Adult Court Proceedings (transferred case)
Once transferred, adult sentencing including state prison applies.
Juvenile Court vs. Adult Court – Why It Matters
Where a juvenile case is heard determines the entire trajectory. Critical differences:
- Juvenile court – no jury, focus on rehabilitation, records sealable at 18
- Adult court (after WIC 707 transfer) – jury trials, adult sentencing including state prison, public record
- Transfer hearings consider age, sophistication, prior record, and severity of the offense
- Defense at the transfer hearing is often the most important moment in the case
- Juvenile dispositions can include camp, ranches, or DJJ commitment for serious matters
Whether your case stays in juvenile court or moves to adult court is often the single biggest decision in the entire case. I fight to keep juvenile cases where they belong.
