Lawrence: Reckless Endangerment of a Child: Pre-Trial Probation

Summary of Facts: Our client worked as a school van driver, transporting children to and from homes outside of their school district. With a student in his van, and on a day with substantial traffic due to a snow storm, our client began feeling sick. Because of this, our client stopped at his own apartment before dropping off the child, and was physically sick. The child was left in the car for an undetermined period of time. The child’s mother became worried, and alerted authorities. Our client was summonsed to appear at a magistrate hearing on a charge of reckless endangerment of a child.

Action: Coughlin Law Group was hired to defend our client. Attorney Christopher Coughlin appeared at our client’s magistrate hearing, and despite strong arguments, a criminal complaint was issued against our client. Attorney Alexander Conley filed and argued a motion to dismiss, however the Court did not dismiss the case, despite an apparent lack of evidence. However, the arguments made at the magistrate hearing and the motion to dismiss hearing alerted the prosecutor to the weakness of the case against our client. Attorney Conley was able to successfully negotiate favorably for our client, stressing our client’s sympathetic personal circumstances. The prosecutor agreed to resolve the case with one year of pre-trial probation, leading to dismissal of the charges.

Result: Our client was given Pre-Trial Probation for one year, with conditions that he commit no new offenses, remain employed, and does not work with children. Assuming those conditions are satisfied, our client’s case will be dismissed.