§93.2.1.  Child desertion

A.  Child desertion is the intentional or criminally negligent exposure of a child under the age of ten years, by a person who has the care, custody, or control of the child, to a hazard or danger against which the child cannot reasonably be expected to protect himself, or the desertion or abandonment of such child, knowing or having reason to believe that the child could be exposed to such hazard or danger.

B.(1)  Whoever commits the crime of child desertion shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(2)  On a second and subsequent conviction, the offender shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars and imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than six months, at least thirty days of which shall be without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.

Acts 1986, No. 370, §1; Acts 2003, No. 168, §1.