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Abandonment of a dependent person in the second degree—Exception.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person is guilty of the crime of abandonment of a dependent person in the second degree if:
(a) The person is the parent of a child, a person entrusted with the physical custody of a child or other dependent person, a person who has assumed the responsibility to provide to a dependent person the basic necessities of life, or a person employed to provide to the child or other dependent person any of the basic necessities of life; and
(b) The person recklessly abandons the child or other dependent person; and:
(i) As a result of being abandoned, the child or other dependent person suffers substantial bodily harm; or
(ii) Abandoning the child or other dependent person creates an imminent and substantial risk that the child or other dependent person will die or suffer great bodily harm.
(2) A parent of a newborn who transfers the newborn to a qualified person at an appropriate location pursuant to RCW
13.34.360 is not subject to criminal liability under this section.
(3) Abandonment of a dependent person in the second degree is a class C felony.
NOTES:
Intent—Effective date—2002 c 331: See notes following RCW
13.34.360.
Severability—1996 c 302: See note following RCW
9A.42.010.