Existing law establishes the penalties to be imposed upon a person who abuses or neglects a child who is less than 18 years of age and, as a result: (1) willfully causes the child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering or places the child in a situation where the child may suffer physical or mental suffering; and (2) causes substantial bodily or mental harm to the child. If such substantial bodily or mental harm is the result of sexual abuse or exploitation and the child is less than 14 years of age, the person is guilty of a category A felony and must be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life with the possibility of parole. If such substantial bodily or mental harm is not the result of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child who is less than 14 years of age, a person is guilty of a category B felony and must be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years. (NRS 200.508) This bill provides that a person who is convicted of a second or subsequent offense of abuse or neglect of a child, where the child suffered substantial bodily or mental harm but such harm is not the result of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child who is less than 14 years of age, is guilty of a category B felony and must be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 8 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 200.508
BDR: 200.508