Every person who shall without good cause abandon his wife in destitute or necessitous circumstances and neglect and refuse to maintain or provide for her, or who shall abandon his or her minor child or children under the age of fifteen (15) years and willfully neglect or refuse to maintain or provide for such child or children, shall be deemed guilty of a Class B4 felony offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for any period of time not less than one (1) year or more than ten (10) years.

Laws 1915, SB 208, c. 149, § 1, emerg. eff. March 13, 1915; Amended by Laws 1923, SB 200, c. 78, p. 144, § 2, emerg. eff. March 28, 1923; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 253 (effective date amended to July 1, 1999, by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 2, §§ 23-26, emerg. eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1009, c. 5, § 157, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, HB 2104, c. 486, § 105, eff. January 1, 2026 (superseded document available).