Q: My mom was charged with 2nd degree chid abuse on record, she was not formally charged.
we found out about the charges through letters from several attorneys, does that mean its not as severe as the charges sound?
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A: It's difficult to understand what you mean by "formally charged". There are different ways a criminal case can be instituted ranging from an application for a statement of charges filed by citizen to an indictment from a grand jury. Any criminal charges are serious ones and certainly the one your mother faces are very much so. She should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
A: That means charges have been formally filed against her but she has not been served with the charging document yet, which probably means she will receive a summons by mail to appear at a Preliminary Inquiry. But this is just an educated guess. A lawyer would need to look up the case information to be clear on what is happening. It is a serious charge, and she should be retaining defense counsel as soon as possible.
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