Pennsylvania Criminal & DUI Defense

July 17, 2017By Brian Manchester

What Is Recklessly Endangering Another Person?

Have you or someone you know been arrested for Reckless Endangering Another Person in Pennsylvania? This is a Misdemeanor of the 2^nd degree which can carry a jail sentence of up to 2 years and a fine up to $5000. This charge is also commonly referred to as REAP.

A person commits this offense when:

1. They engage in reckless conduct that places or may place another person in danger of death or serious bodily injury.
2. Conduct is deemed reckless when the person consciously ignores a great and unjustifiable risk that what he or she is doing will cause another person to be seriously injured.
3. Under this statute, serious bodily injury includes an injury that causes or could cause a long-term loss in the function of a body part, or that which could cause serious permanent disfigurement.

This type of charge is usually connected with other charges in Pennsylvania such as DUI with an accident, Homicide by Vehicle, Homicide by Vehicle DUI, Simple Assault, Aggravated Assault, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Child abuse, and other violent scenarios. REAP can even be charged based upon unintentional acts that hurt or endanger others in Pennsylvania. The District Attorney does not have to prove actual harm only that there was the situation in which placed a person in danger of death or serious bodily injury through your reckless actions.

The key to understanding this charge is centered on whether or not what you did was actually reckless. The police may have charged you because they believed your action was reckless, but in reality what you did may have simply been negligence. Many factors may influence the police in their decision that you were recklessly endangering another person. For example, if the police smell alcohol or find illegal drugs in your car after an accident this may affect whether they consider that your actions were reckless.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to contact an experienced firm right away to help you with these types of charges as you might be trying to “help” the police and accidentally incriminate yourself. Even if you think you are doing the right thing by talking to the police or helping them in some other manner you could be hurting your ability win against these charges and thus be facing the possibility of going to jail.

It is extremely important to contact an experienced law firm right away if you or someone you know is charged with Reckless Endangering Another Person in Pennsylvania. If you, your son, daughter, or loved one in Pennsylvania has been arrested for a crime in state or federal court in Pennsylvania you need legal representation. Here at Manchester and Associates, we represent people across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For a free consultation we can be contacted at 1-800-243-4878.

Posted in: Crimes

Tags: Charges In Pennsylvania, Criminal Defense, Reckless Endangerment,