§ 22-492. Endangering children.

(a)

No person, being the parent, guardian, custodian, person having custody or control, or person in loco parentis of a child under 18 or a mentally or physically handicapped child under 21 years of age, shall create a substantial risk to the health or safety of such child, by violating a duty of care, protection or support; it is not a violation of a duty of care, protection or support under this division when the parent, guardian, custodian or person having custody or control of a child treats the physical or mental illness or defect of such child by spiritual means through prayer along, in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious body.

(b)

No person shall do any of the following to a child under 18 years of age or a mentally or physically handicapped child under 21:

(1)

Torture or cruelly abuse the child;

(2)

Administer corporal punishment or other physical disciplinary measures, or physically restrain the child in a cruel manner or for a prolonged period, which punishment, discipline or restraint is excessive under the circumstances and creates a substantial risk of serious physical harm to the child;

(3)

Repeatedly administer unwarranted disciplinary measures to the child, when there is substantial risk that such conduct, if continued, will seriously impair or retard the child's mental health or development.

(Code 1977, § 15-93)