(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 first 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;

(b) The person recklessly abandons the child or other dependent person; and

(c) As a result of being abandoned, the child or other dependent person suffers 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 first degree is a class B felony.

Intent—Effective date—2002 c 331: See notes following RCW 13.34.360.

Severability—1996 c 302: See note following RCW 9A.42.010.