Endangerment and abandonment charges sometimes overlap, but the more important thing to note is that both offenses are felonies, which means that they carry the possibility of incarceration, and in some cases significant prison time. Being accused, however, is just the beginning of the process, and there are numerous possible defenses to these charges. Some cases arise in the context of a divorce or custody battle. A false claim may be made by an adult seeking leverage or revenge against a spouse, former spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or other acquaintance. There are also cases in which a child, perhaps prompted by an adult, makes up false allegations.