Oh! I got excited for a moment thinking you were reporting news!!!
I am certain he will be charged with murder. I'm praying she will be charged with something serious.
Here's child endangerment in TX:
(a) In this section, “abandon” means to leave a child in any place without providing reasonable and necessary care for the child, under circumstances under which no reasonable, similarly situated adult would leave a child of that age and ability.
(b) A person commits an offense if, having custody, care, or control of a child younger than 15 years, he intentionally abandons the child in any place under circumstances that expose the child to an unreasonable risk of harm.
(c) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or omission, engages in conduct that places a child younger than 15 years in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment
(e) An offense under Subsection (b) is a felony of the second degree if the actor abandons the child under circumstances that a reasonable person would believe would place the child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment.
(f) An offense under Subsection (c) is a state jail felony.
Texas Penal Code - PENAL § 22.041 | FindLaw
Although the term "abandonment" clearly is geared more toward leaving a child alone or without adult care, it can also go, IMO, to leaving a kid with a drugged out person, or with an abuser. So subsections (a) (b) may apply. Subsection (c ) definitely does, IMO.
But I think she would be charged with (c) and face only state jail felony time. No more than two years.
She also likely faces the charge of injury to a child by omission:
(a) A person commits an offense if he intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly by omission, causes to a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual:
(1) serious bodily injury;
(2) serious mental deficiency, impairment, or injury; or
(3) bodily injury.
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) or (2) or (a-1)(1) or (2) is a felony of the first degree when the conduct is committed intentionally or knowingly. When the conduct is engaged in recklessly, the offense is a felony of the second degree.
Texas Penal Code - PENAL § 22.04 | FindLaw
I think she would face a second degree felony for recklessly by omission (failing to protect Maleah from that monster), causing injury to Maleah. 2-20 years in prison.
I am hoping for that and at least ten years.
