§ 14-07-16 — Abandonment or nonsupport of spouse - Penalty

Every husband or wife who, without lawful excuse, deserts that person's spouse with intent
wholly to abandon that spouse or who willfully fails to furnish such food, shelter, clothing, and
medical attention as is reasonably necessary and sufficient to keep the life of the spouse from
danger and discomfort and the spouse's health from injury, is guilty of a class C felony.
If a husband or wife while in another state and having left that person's spouse in this state,
willfully and intentionally and without lawful excuse deserts that person's spouse and abandons
the spouse, or while in such other state, willfully and intentionally fails to furnish such food,
shelter, clothing, and medical attention as is reasonably necessary, as herein provided, while
that person's spouse is in this state, such abandonment and failure to support must be
construed to have been committed in this state and all of the laws of this state with reference to
punishment apply with the same force and effect as if such abandonment and failure to support
had occurred in this state and the abandoning spouse is subject to the penalty as in this section
provided.