Idaho Code
Idaho Code

Idaho Code § 18-1505 (2026)

Abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult. 

✓ current as of May 2026
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Abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult. 

(1) Any person who abuses or neglects a vulnerable adult under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years and not more than a twenty-five thousand dollar ($25,000) fine.

(2)  Any person who abuses or neglects a vulnerable adult under circumstances other than those likely to produce great bodily harm or death is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(3)  Any person who exploits a vulnerable adult is guilty of a misdemeanor, unless the monetary damage from such exploitation exceeds one thousand dollars ($1,000), in which case the person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than ten (10) years and not more than a twenty-five thousand dollar ($25,000) fine.
(4)  As used in this section:
(a)  "Abuse" means the intentional or negligent infliction of physical pain, injury or mental injury. Intentional abuse shall be punished under subsection (1) or (2) of this section depending upon the harm inflicted. Abuse by negligent infliction shall only be punished under subsection (2) of this section.
(b)  "Caretaker" means any individual or institution that is responsible by relationship, contract or court order to provide food, shelter or clothing, medical or other life-sustaining necessities to a vulnerable adult.
(c)  "Exploitation" or "exploit" means an action which may include, but is not limited to, the unjust or improper use of a vulnerable adult’s financial power of attorney, funds, property or resources by another person for profit or advantage.
(d)  "Neglect" means failure of a caretaker to provide food, clothing, shelter or medical care to a vulnerable adult, in such a manner as to jeopardize the life, health or safety of the vulnerable adult.
(e)  "Vulnerable adult" means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older who is unable to protect himself from abuse, neglect or exploitation due to physical or mental impairment which affects the person’s judgment or behavior to the extent that he lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate or implement decisions regarding his person, funds, property or resources.
(5)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean a person is abused, neglected or exploited for the sole reason he is relying upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination; nor shall the provisions of this section be construed to require any medical care or treatment in contravention of the stated or implied objection of such a person.
(6)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean that an employer or supervisor of a person who abuses, exploits or neglects a vulnerable adult may be prosecuted unless there is direct evidence of a violation of this statute by the employer or supervisor.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 18 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1987–2024 · leading case: State v. Smalley, 435 P.3d 1100 (Idaho 2019).
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State v. Smalley, 435 P.3d 1100 (Idaho 2019). · cites it 20× “." I.C. § 18-1505(4)(e) (emphasis added).”
State v. Ross, 507 P.3d 545 (Idaho 2022). · cites it 2× “Thus, in order to commit injury to a child, a person must “willfully cause[] or permit[] such child to be placed in such situation that its person or health is endangered.”
Ochieng v. Mukasey, 520 F.3d 1110 (10th Cir. 2008). “While a September 6, 2005, minute order recited that the conviction was for “injury to children” under Idaho Code Ann. § 18-1505 (1), that section involves abuse of vulnerable adults.”
State v. Hamlin - Sexual abuse, 324 P.3d 1006 (Idaho Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “I.C. § 18-1505(4)(e). Hamlin correctly argues that this statutory definition of a “vulnerable adult” is not coextensive with the class of adults who are incapable of consenting to sex.”
State v. Simonson, 732 P.2d 689 (Idaho Ct. App. 1987). · cites it 2× “A jury found Larry Simonson guilty of injuring a child, a felony under I.C. § 18-1505(1). 1 On appeal, he raises three issues for our review.”
State v. David Aaron Knutsen, 345 P.3d 989 (Idaho 2015). · cites it 2× “We affirm the judgment of the district court. Chief Justice BURDICK, Justices J.”
State v. Smalley (Idaho Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 14× “Smalley contends that the State failed to meet its burden of proving that the victim was a vulnerable adult as defined in I.C. § 18-1505(4)(e) or that the victim was unavailable under both the Confrontation Clause and the Idaho Rules of Evidence.”
State v. Luna (Idaho Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 14× “The State charged Luna with two counts of felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult in violation of Idaho Code § 18-1505 (3), alleging that on two occasions, Luna exploited Hofferber, a vulnerable adult, by “taking and/or obtaining proceeds and/or money from Mr.”
Adrian Harthcock v. State (Idaho Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 10× “Harthcock contends that on account of his mental impairments, he qualifies as a vulnerable adult under Idaho Code § 18-1505 (4)(e).1 We agree with the district court’s determination that Harthcock failed to provide any admissible evidence of any mental impairment that would…”
State v. Folsom, 84 P.3d 563 (Idaho Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 12× “Idaho Code § 18-1505 defines “neglect” as the “failure of a caretaker to provide food, clothing, shelter or medical care to a vulnerable adult, in such a manner as to jeopardize the life, health, and safety of the vulnerable adult.”
State v. Spencer (Idaho Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 6× “was a vulnerable adult under I.C. § 18-1505. 3 Spencer argues this is because the State did not prove that L.”
State v. Wrigley (Idaho Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “________________________________________________ Before GRATTON, Chief Judge; GUTIERREZ, Judge; and LORELLO, Judge ________________________________________________ PER CURIAM Jack Allen Wrigley pled guilty to abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult, I.C. §…”
Show all 18 citing cases →
Idaho Code § 18-1505(1): 4 cases
State v. Simonson, 732 P.2d 689 (Idaho Ct. App. 1987). “A jury found Larry Simonson guilty of injuring a child, a felony under I.C. § 18-1505(1). 1 On appeal, he raises three issues for our review.”
Adrian Harthcock v. State (Idaho Ct. App. 2016). “Harthcock contends that on account of his mental impairments, he qualifies as a vulnerable adult under Idaho Code § 18-1505 (4)(e).1 We agree with the district court’s determination that Harthcock failed to provide any admissible evidence of any mental impairment that would…”
State v. Wrigley (Idaho Ct. App. 2018). “________________________________________________ Before GRATTON, Chief Judge; GUTIERREZ, Judge; and LORELLO, Judge ________________________________________________ PER CURIAM Jack Allen Wrigley pled guilty to abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult, I.C. §…”
State v. Paul Joseph Draine (Idaho Ct. App. 2015).
Idaho Code § 18-1505(3): 1 case
State v. Luna (Idaho Ct. App. 2021). “The State charged Luna with two counts of felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult in violation of Idaho Code § 18-1505 (3), alleging that on two occasions, Luna exploited Hofferber, a vulnerable adult, by “taking and/or obtaining proceeds and/or money from Mr.”
Idaho Code § 18-1505(4)(c): 1 case
State v. Luna (Idaho Ct. App. 2021). “The State charged Luna with two counts of felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult in violation of Idaho Code § 18-1505 (3), alleging that on two occasions, Luna exploited Hofferber, a vulnerable adult, by “taking and/or obtaining proceeds and/or money from Mr.”
Idaho Code § 18-1505(4)(e): 4 cases
State v. Smalley, 435 P.3d 1100 (Idaho 2019). “." I.C. § 18-1505(4)(e) (emphasis added).”
State v. Hamlin - Sexual abuse, 324 P.3d 1006 (Idaho Ct. App. 2014). “I.C. § 18-1505(4)(e). Hamlin correctly argues that this statutory definition of a “vulnerable adult” is not coextensive with the class of adults who are incapable of consenting to sex.”
State v. Smalley (Idaho Ct. App. 2018). “Smalley contends that the State failed to meet its burden of proving that the victim was a vulnerable adult as defined in I.C. § 18-1505(4)(e) or that the victim was unavailable under both the Confrontation Clause and the Idaho Rules of Evidence.”
State v. Spencer (Idaho Ct. App. 2024). “was a vulnerable adult under I.C. § 18-1505. 3 Spencer argues this is because the State did not prove that L.”
Idaho Code § 18-1505(5): 1 case
State v. Ross, 507 P.3d 545 (Idaho 2022). “Thus, in order to commit injury to a child, a person must “willfully cause[] or permit[] such child to be placed in such situation that its person or health is endangered.”
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