Mont. Code § 45-5-628

Current through the 2023 Regular Session
Section 45-5-628 - Criminal child endangerment
(1) A person commits the offense of criminal child endangerment if the person purposely, knowingly, or negligently causes substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to a child under 14 years of age by:
(a) failing to seek reasonable medical care for a child suffering from an apparent acute life-threatening condition;
(b) placing a child in the physical custody of another who the person knows has previously purposely or knowingly caused bodily injury to a child;
(c) placing a child in the physical custody of another who the person knows has previously committed an offense against the child under 45-5-502 or 45-5-503;
(d) manufacturing or distributing dangerous drugs in a place where a child is present;
(e) operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs in violation of 61-8-1002 or committing aggravated driving under the influence as defined in 61-8-1001 with a child in the vehicle; or
(f) failing to attempt to provide proper nutrition for a child, resulting in a medical diagnosis of nonorganic failure to thrive.
(2) A person may not be charged under subsection (1)(b) or (1)(c) if the person placed the child in the other person's custody pursuant to a court order.
(3) A person convicted of the offense of criminal child endangerment shall be fined an amount not to exceed $50,000 or be imprisoned in the state prison for a term not to exceed 10 years, or both.
(4) For purposes of this section, "nonorganic failure to thrive" means inadequate physical growth that is a result of insufficient nutrition and is not secondary to a diagnosed medical condition.

§ 45-5-628, MCA

Amended by Laws 2021, Ch. 498,Sec. 23, eff. 1/1/2022, and applicable to DUI incidents taking place on or after 1/1/2022.
Added by Laws 2013, Ch. 304, Sec. 1, eff. 4/25/2013.