568.032. Abandonment of a child, second degree — penalty.
It’s a serious crime to leave a young child alone in a dangerous situation.
This law punishes anyone who leaves a child under 8 years old on purpose in a way that could cause serious harm or death.
1. A person commits second-degree child abandonment if they are a parent, guardian, or someone legally responsible for a child under 8 years old and purposely leave the child somewhere with the intent to abandon them, in a situation likely to cause serious injury or death.
2. This crime is a class D felony. If the child is seriously hurt, it becomes a class B felony. If the child dies, it becomes a class A felony.
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