Section 30-6-1 - Abandonment or abuse of a childA. As used in this section:(1) "child" means a person who is less than eighteen years of age;(2) "neglect" means that a child is without proper parental care and control of subsistence, education, medical or other care or control necessary for the child's well-being because of the faults or habits of the child's parents, guardian or custodian or their neglect or refusal, when able to do so, to provide them; and(3) "negligently" refers to criminal negligence and means that a person knew or should have known of the danger involved and acted with a reckless disregard for the safety or health of the child.B. Abandonment of a child consists of the parent, guardian or custodian of a child intentionally leaving or abandoning the child under circumstances whereby the child may or does suffer neglect. A person who commits abandonment of a child is guilty of a misdemeanor, unless the abandonment results in the child's death or great bodily harm, in which case the person is guilty of a second degree felony.C. A parent, guardian or custodian who leaves an infant less than ninety days old in compliance with the Safe Haven for Infants Act [Chapter 24, Article 22 NMSA 1978] shall not be prosecuted for abandonment of a child.D. Abuse of a child consists of a person knowingly, intentionally or negligently, and without justifiable cause, causing or permitting a child to be:(1) placed in a situation that may endanger the child's life or health;(2) tortured, cruelly confined or cruelly punished; or(3) exposed to the inclemency of the weather.E. A person who commits abuse of a child that does not result in the child's death or great bodily harm is, for a first offense, guilty of a third degree felony and for second and subsequent offenses is guilty of a second degree felony. If the abuse results in great bodily harm to the child, the person is guilty of a first degree felony.F. A person who commits negligent abuse of a child that results in the death of the child is guilty of a first degree felony.G. A person who commits intentional abuse of a child twelve to eighteen years of age that results in the death of the child is guilty of a first degree felony.H. A person who commits intentional abuse of a child less than twelve years of age that results in the death of the child is guilty of a first degree felony resulting in the death of a child.I. Evidence that demonstrates that a child has been knowingly, intentionally or negligently allowed to enter or remain in a motor vehicle, building or any other premises that contains chemicals and equipment used or intended for use in the manufacture of a controlled substance shall be deemed prima facie evidence of abuse of the child.J. Evidence that demonstrates that a child has been knowingly and intentionally exposed to the use of methamphetamine shall be deemed prima facie evidence of abuse of the child.K. A person who leaves an infant less than ninety days old at a hospital may be prosecuted for abuse of the infant for actions of the person occurring before the infant was left at the hospital.1953 Comp., § 40A-6-1, enacted by Laws 1973, ch. 360, § 10; 1977, ch. 131, § 1; 1978, ch. 103, § 1; 1984, ch. 77, § 1; 1984, ch. 92, § 5; 1989, ch. 351, § 1; 1997, ch. 163, § 1; 2001, ch. 31, § 9; 2001, ch. 132, § 9; 2004, ch. 10, § 1; 2004, ch. 11, § 1; 2005, ch. 59, § 1; 2009, ch. 259, § 1.