Any parent who shall desert or wilfully neglect or refuse to provide for the support and maintenance of his or her child or children, including the natural parent of an illegitimate child or children wherein paternity has been established by law or when the natural parent has acknowledged paternity in writing, while said child or children are under the age of eighteen (18) years shall be guilty of a felony and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished for a first offense by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by commitment to the custody of the Department of Corrections not more than five (5) years, or both; and for a second or subsequent offense, by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by commitment to the custody of the Department of Corrections not less than two (2) years nor more than five (5) years, or both, in the discretion of the court.
Structure Mississippi Code
Chapter 5 - Offenses Affecting Children
§ 97-5-1. Abandonment of child under age six
§ 97-5-3. Desertion or nonsupport of child under age eighteen
§ 97-5-5. Enticing child for concealment, prostitution or marriage
§ 97-5-7. Enticing child for employment
§ 97-5-9. Iceboxes, etc.; abandonment without removing latch prohibited
§ 97-5-11. Pool room or billiard hall; certain minors prohibited from entering
§ 97-5-31. Exploitation of children; definitions
§ 97-5-35. Exploitation of children; penalties