2018 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 21. Crimes and Punishments
§21-852.1. Child endangerment - Knowingly permitting physical or sexual abuse – Good-faith reliance on spiritual healing - Penalties.

A. A person who is the parent, guardian, or person having custody or control over a child as defined in Section 1-1-105 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, commits child endangerment when the person:

1. Knowingly permits physical or sexual abuse of a child;

2. Knowingly permits a child to be present at a location where a controlled dangerous substance is being manufactured or attempted to be manufactured as defined in Section 2-101 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

3. Knowingly permits a child to be present in a vehicle when the person knows or should have known that the operator of the vehicle is impaired by or is under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating substance; or

4. Is the driver, operator, or person in physical control of a vehicle in violation of Section 11-902 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes while transporting or having in the vehicle such child or children.

However, it is an affirmative defense to this paragraph if the person had a reasonable apprehension that any action to stop the physical or sexual abuse or deny permission for the child to be in the vehicle with an intoxicated person would result in substantial bodily harm to the person or the child.

Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the prosecution of a person pursuant to the provisions of Section 11-902 or 11-904 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any parent, guardian or other person having custody or control of a child for the sole reason that the parent, guardian or other person in good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for the treatment or cure of disease or remedial care for such child. This subsection shall in no way limit or modify the protections afforded said child in Section 852 of this title or Section 1-4-904 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. Any person convicted of violating any provision of this section shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for a term of not more than four (4) years, or by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Added by Laws 1990, c. 165, § 2, eff. July 1, 1990. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 252, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 5, § 156, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 225, § 6, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2009, c. 143, § 1, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2009, c. 234, § 122, emerg. eff. May 21, 2009; Laws 2011, c. 350, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2011.

NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 252 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.