Child Abuse Attorney
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Shawn Haff of Criminal Defense Attorney Shawn Haff is a dependable criminal defense lawyer for defendants charged with child abuse in Grand Rapids, Michigan or part of West Michigan.
Sometimes the best solution to your case is a plea deal and other times going to trial is the best solution. Either way, we will guide you down the best path if you are facing such extremely serious charges as:
- Child Molestation or sex abuse
- Criminal Sexual Conduct
- Possession of child pornography or child sexually abusive material
- Gross indecency
- Internet sex crimes
While child abuse is severe criminal care and only a few attorneys take up the case, you must always find defense attorneys to get the best results.
You could be facing a long jail or prison sentence if you do not retain skilled council to help you out.
Get A Free Case Strategy Session
Fill out my online form.
Michigan Child Abuse Laws
Under Michigan law, abuse of a child covers physical or mental harm to a child “…by an individual who is responsible for the child’s health and welfare.” Abuse of a child can include physical injury, sexual abuse, or maltreatment.
These crimes in Michigan are split into different categories, and the penalties a person charged with this extremely serious crime in Michigan face depend on the category of the crime. There are four categories of this crime in Michigan.
First-Degree Child Abuse Charges
In Michigan, First-degree is the most serious charge. If you are facing First Degree child abuse charges, law enforcement officials believe that a defendant has intentionally inflicted serious physical or mental harm on a child.
Examples of First Degree abuse against a child are when the child has suffered broken bones, injury to internal organs and brain damage. Local prosecutors will be looking to throw the book at anyone charged with inflicting this kind of damage on a child.
First-Degree Child Abuse Defense: High-Stakes Advocacy in Kent County
In the eyes of the Michigan legal system, a charge of First-Degree Child Abuse is one of the most severe accusations a citizen can face. In 2026, we are seeing an unprecedented “avidity to punish” from both the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office and Children’s Protective Services (CPS). Under MCL 750.136b, a conviction for First-Degree Child Abuse carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
When the state is threatening to take your liberty and your family away forever, you cannot afford to “wait and see. ” You must hire the best West Michigan attorney around Shawn Haff right away.
Navigating the 17th Circuit Court with Authority
If you are charged with First-Degree Child Abuse in Grand Rapids or Wyoming, your case will be heard at the 17th Circuit Court. Navigating this court requires a sophisticated understanding of the local bench, including the high standards set by Chief Judge Jeffrey J. O’Hara and his colleagues.
At Criminal Defense Attorney Shawn Haff, we don’t just “manage” cases—we dismantle them. We move with professional urgency to challenge every piece of evidence before it reaches a jury. We understand how the local Kent County judiciary operates, and we use that insight to protect our clients from a system that is often biased toward guilt the moment an allegation is made.
Challenging the Medical Narrative: The “Scientific” Defense
First-Degree Child Abuse charges almost always rely on complex medical testimony regarding “serious physical harm.” Prosecutors often rely on “expert” witnesses who may misinterpret medical emergencies as intentional abuse.
- Scrutinizing CPS Tactics: CPS workers often use coercive interview techniques on both parents and children. We move to suppress statements obtained through intimidation or improper procedure.
- Aggressive Cross-Examination: We are not afraid to go toe-to-toe with state “experts.” We bring a “brutally honest” skepticism to any narrative that ignores the constitutional right to the presumption of innocence.
A First-Degree Child Abuse charge is a direct assault on your reputation and your future. The state is already moving to freeze your assets, remove you from your home, and terminate your parental rights. You need a powerhouse defender who can stop their momentum.
Shawn Haff is a contrarian who believes that the more serious the charge, the more aggressive the defense must be. We treat your crisis with the gravity it deserves, providing a level of dedication that is unmatched in West Michigan. Do not hire another lawyer until you talk to Shawn first.
Allegations of child abuse are handled with extreme aggression by Kent County prosecutors, and you need a defense that is even more relentless. When your family, your reputation, and your freedom are on the line, you cannot settle for a lawyer who is just learning the ropes. You need to hire the best West Michigan attorney around Shawn Haff right away. Our firm understands the complex medical and psychological evidence involved in these cases and moves with a professional sense of urgency to protect your rights. Do not wait for the system to decide your fate—contact the premier criminal defense firm in West Michigan today for a free, confidential strategy session.
Second-Degree Child Abuse Charges
Second-degree charges of abusing a child in Michigan is defined by law as where a parent “willfully fails to provide adequate care to a child, and neglects a child’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.” An example this kind of child abuse is a person drunk driving with a child in the car.
This crime in Michigan is punishable by up to ten years in prison.
Third-Degree and Fourth-Degree Child Abuse Charges
Third-degree and fourth-degree charges are both high considered misdemeanor charges. Anytime someone is facing a misdemeanor charge in Michigan for harming a child, they may face jail time if convicted. A third-degree charge comes about when the defendant knowingly or intentionally commits an act against a child that caused physical harm. The prosecutor must simply show that the child has been harmed in some way.
Third-degree is a felony. People convicted of this crime in Michigan face up to 2 years in prison. There are some attorneys and even judges who will refer to a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 2 years in prison as a high-court misdemeanor. However, if you are asked on an application if you have been convicted of a felony, you would have to answer yes if you are convicted of this charge.
Fourth-degree requires either of the following:
- The parent or guardian willfully failed to provide food, clothing, or shelter necessary to the child and that the child suffered physical harm as a result; or
- The parent or guardian committed a reckless act that resulted in physical harm to the child.
People convicted of this crime in Michigan face up one year in jail.
If you are a victim of abuse, tell your teacher, tell a police officer and seek help immediately!
Federal Child Abuse Charges
Federal Child Abuse legislation provides guidance to States by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g), as amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010, defines child abuse and neglect as at minimum:
- “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation”; or
- “An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.”
This definition of federal child abuse and neglect refers specifically to parents and other caregivers. A “child” under this definition generally means a person who is younger than age 18 or who is not an emancipated minor.
While CAPTA provides definitions for sexual abuse and the special cases of neglect related to withholding or failing to provide medically indicated treatment, it does not provide specific definitions for other types of maltreatment such as physical abuse, neglect, or emotional abuse. While Federal legislation sets minimum standards for States that accept CAPTA funding, each state provides its own definitions of maltreatment within civil and criminal statutes.
A lot of lawyers talk a good game in the security of their office. Not all lawyers have the skills, talent and knowledge to get great results in court. Shawn is a skilled lawyer who deeply cares about his clients and he can be trusted to get you the good results in court! Kayla P.Client read more testimonials