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 felony 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.
Added by Laws 1915, c. 149, § 1. Amended by Laws 1923, c. 78, p. 144, § 2, emerg. eff. March 28, 1923; Laws 1997, c. 133, § 253, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 157, eff. July 1, 1999.
NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 253 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.