2009 Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XXXVIII CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS
Chapter 568 Offenses Against the Family
568.050. Endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree.

568.050. 1. A person commits the crime of endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree if:

(1) He or she with criminal negligence acts in a manner that creates a substantial risk to the life, body or health of a child less than seventeen years old; or

(2) He or she knowingly encourages, aids or causes a child less than seventeen years old to engage in any conduct which causes or tends to cause the child to come within the provisions of paragraph (d) of subdivision (2) of subsection 1 or subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of section 211.031, RSMo; or

(3) Being a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than seventeen years old, he or she recklessly fails or refuses to exercise reasonable diligence in the care or control of such child to prevent him from coming within the provisions of paragraph (c) of subdivision (1) of subsection 1 or paragraph (d) of subdivision (2) of subsection 1 or subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of section 211.031, RSMo; or

(4) He or she knowingly encourages, aids or causes a child less than seventeen years of age to enter into any room, building or other structure which is a public nuisance as defined in section 195.130, RSMo; or

(5) He or she operates a vehicle in violation of subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection 1 of section 565.024, RSMo, subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of section 565.060, RSMo, section 577.010, RSMo, or section 577.012, RSMo, while a child less than seventeen years old is present in the vehicle.

2. Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean the welfare of a child is endangered for the sole reason that he or she is being provided nonmedical remedial treatment recognized and permitted under the laws of this state.

3. Endangering the welfare of a child in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor unless the offense is committed as part of a ritual or ceremony, in which case the crime is a class D felony.

(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 1984 H.B. 1616, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1340 & 1348, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1030 merged with H.B. 1370, et al., A.L. 2005 H.B. 353 and H.B. 972 merged with S.B. 37, et al., A.L. 2005 1st Ex. Sess. H.B. 2)

Effective 9-15-05

(1984) The state is required to prove that defendant knowingly encouraged a child less than seventeen years of age to engage in conduct tending to injure the child's welfare; knowing the child to be less than seventeen is a material element of the crime. Recklessness is not sufficient. State v. Nations (Mo.App.), 676 S.W.2d 282.