Call 918 582 1313 for a free consultation.
Oklahoma Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor Child explained by Tulsa Criminal Defense lawyer Kevin Adams
Contributing to delinquency of a minor child can either be filed as a felony or a misdemeanor in Oklahoma depending on the facts of the particular case. Defendants charged with contributing to delinquency of a minor child routinely receive probation when they enter pleas of guilty or no contest, especially when charged with misdemeanors. As far as defendants charged with felon contributing to delinquency of a minor child whether or not they would receive probation on a plea of guilty or no contest would depend upon the individual facts of the case and criminal history.
Most defenses for contributing to delinquency of a minor child are going to be factual defenses, not legal ones. Factual defenses most frequently have to be asserted at a jury trial. (Read Analyzing Criminal Cases and Probable Cause-The Key to Understanding the Justice System for a better understanding of why factual defenses are trial defenses.) Suppression issues are unusual with contributing to delinquency of a minor childcases because most of these cases are based upon the testimony of factual witnesses.
Punishment for Contributing to Delinquency of a Minor Child and Conduct it Covers
Oklahoma Statute Title 21 O.S. Section 856
Misdemeanor-First Offense
0 to 1 year in county jail and/or a fine from $0-$1,000
Applies to defendants who shall knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet or encourage a minor to be, to remain, or to become a delinquent child or a runaway child
Felony-Second Offense
0 to 3 years in prison and/or a fine from $0-$5,000
Applies to defendants who shall knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet or encourage a minor to be, to remain, or to become a delinquent child or a runaway child
Felony-Encouraging Involvement of Minor-First Offense
0 to 5 years in prison and/or a fine from $0-$5,000
(1)Applies to every person eighteen (18) years of age or older who shall knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet, or encourage a minor to commit or participate in committing an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult and (2) every person who shall knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet, encourage, solicit, or recruit a minor to participate, join, or associate with any criminal street gang, as defined by subsection F of this section, or any gang member for the purpose of committing any criminal act
Felony-Encouraging Involvement of Minor-Second Offense
5 to 10 years in prison and/or a fine from $0-$5,000
(1)Applies to every person eighteen (18) years of age or older who shall knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet, or encourage a minor to commit or participate in committing an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult and (2) every person who shall knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet, encourage, solicit, or recruit a minor to participate, join, or associate with any criminal street gang, as defined by subsection F of this section, or any gang member for the purpose of committing any criminal act