(a) A person having the care of a dependent, whether assumed voluntarily or because of a legal obligation, who knowingly or intentionally:

1. (1) places the dependent in a situation that endangers the dependent's life or health;
2. (2) abandons or cruelly confines the dependent;
3. (3) deprives the dependent of necessary support; or

4. (4) deprives the dependent of education as required by law;

   commits neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony.

(b) However, the offense is:

1. (1) a Level 5 felony if it is committed under subsection (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) and:

   1. (A) results in bodily injury; or

   2. (B) is:

      1. (i) committed in a location where a person is violating IC 35-48-4-1 (dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug), IC 35-48-4-1.1 (dealing in methamphetamine), or IC 35-48-4-1.2 (manufacturing methamphetamine); or
      2. (ii) the result of a violation of IC 35-48-4-1 (dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug), IC 35-48-4-1.1 (dealing in methamphetamine), or IC 35-48-4-1.2 (manufacturing methamphetamine);
2. (2) a Level 3 felony if it is committed under subsection (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) and results in serious bodily injury;
3. (3) a Level 1 felony if it is committed under subsection (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(3) by a person at least eighteen (18) years of age and results in the death or catastrophic injury of a dependent who is less than fourteen (14) years of age or in the death or catastrophic injury of a dependent of any age who has a mental or physical disability; and

4. (4) a Level 5 felony if it is committed under subsection (a)(2) and consists of cruel confinement or abandonment that:

   1. (A) deprives a dependent of necessary food, water, or sanitary facilities;
   2. (B) consists of confinement in an area not intended for human habitation; or
   3. (C) involves the unlawful use of handcuffs, a rope, a cord, tape, or a similar device to physically restrain a dependent.

(c) It is a defense to a prosecution based on an alleged act under this section that:

1. (1) the accused person left a dependent child who was, at the time the alleged act occurred, not more than thirty (30) days of age:

   1. (A) in a newborn safety device described in IC 31-34-2.5-1 (a)(2), IC 31-34-2.5-1 (a)(3), IC 31-34-2.5-1 (a)(4), or IC 31-34-2.5-1 (a)(5); or

   2. (B) with a person who is an emergency medical services provider (as defined in IC 16-41-10-1 ) who took custody of the child under IC 31-34-2.5 ;

      when the prosecution is based solely on the alleged act of leaving the child in the newborn safety device or with the emergency medical services provider and the alleged act did not result in bodily injury or serious bodily injury to the child;

2. (2) the accused person, in the legitimate practice of the accused person's religious belief, provided treatment by spiritual means through prayer, in lieu of medical care, to the accused person's dependent; or
3. (3) the accused person reasonably believed that an independent activity was not dangerous.

(d) Except for property transferred or received:

1. (1) under a court order made in connection with a proceeding under IC 31-15 , IC 31-16 , IC 31-17 , or IC 31-35 (or IC 31-1-11.5 or IC 31-6-5 before their repeal); or

2. (2) under section 9(d) of this chapter;

   a person who transfers or receives any property in consideration for the termination of the care, custody, or control of a person's dependent child commits child selling, a Level 6 felony.

   As added by Acts 1976, P.L.148, SEC.6. Amended by Acts 1977, P.L.340, SEC.87; Acts 1978, P.L.144, SEC.8; Acts 1980, P.L.208, SEC.1; Acts 1981, P.L.299, SEC.2; Acts 1981, P.L.301, SEC.3; P.L.1-1997, SEC.151; P.L.197-1999, SEC.6; P.L.133-2000, SEC.10; P.L.46-2004, SEC.1; P.L.26-2006, SEC.2; P.L.15-2007, SEC.1; P.L.109-2007, SEC.1; P.L.6-2012, SEC.227; P.L.193-2013, SEC.6; P.L.158-2013, SEC.550; P.L.168-2014, SEC.85; P.L.113-2017, SEC.14; P.L.183-2017, SEC.58; P.L.263-2017, SEC.3; P.L.252-2017, SEC.17; P.L.205-2018, SEC.13; P.L.184-2019, SEC.13; P.L.170-2021, SEC.4; P.L.20-2026, SEC.5.