US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

                                  TITLE  18
                            CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
                                  CHAPTER 4
                ABANDONMENT OR NONSUPPORT OF WIFE OR CHILDREN
    18-401.  DESERTION AND NONSUPPORT OF CHILDREN OR SPOUSE. Every person who:
    (1)  Having any child under the age of eighteen (18) years dependent upon
him or her for care, education or support, deserts such child in any manner
whatever, with intent to abandon it;
    (2)  Willfully omits, without lawful excuse, to furnish necessary food,
clothing, shelter, or medical attendance for his or her child or children, or
ward or wards; provided however, that the practice of a parent or guardian who
chooses for his child treatment by prayer or spiritual means alone shall not
for that reason alone be construed to be a violation of the duty of care to
such child;
    (3)  Having sufficient ability to provide for a spouse's support, or who
is able to earn the means for such spouse's support, who willfully abandons
and leaves a spouse in a destitute condition, or who refuses or neglects to
provide such spouse with necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical
attendance, unless by the spouse's misconduct he or she is justified in
abandoning him or her;
Shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than
five hundred dollars ($500), or by imprisonment for not to exceed fourteen
(14) years, or both.