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A. Except as provided in subsection C of this section, a person is guilty of the crime of abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree if:

1. 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 dependent person any of the basic necessities of life; and

2. The person recklessly abandons the child or other dependent person; and:

a. As a result of being abandoned, the child or other dependent person suffers bodily harm; or

b. Abandoning the child or other dependent person creates an imminent and substantial risk that the child or other person will suffer substantial bodily harm.

B. Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree is a gross misdemeanor.

C. A parent of a newborn who transfers the newborn to a qualified person at an appropriate location is not subject to criminal liability under this section. (Ord. 3567-17 § 5, 2017; Ord. 2620-02 § 2, 2002; Ord. 2468-00 § 6, 2000.)