The parents of a 10-month-old girl who drowned when she was left unattended in a tub of water with an older sibling were sentenced Thursday to probation and jail time.
Collins K. Manago, 29, and Chevone Estoy-Keka, 23, both of Kailua-Kona, were each sentenced to four years probation for second-degree assault and one year probation for second-degree reckless endangering in connection with the death of their daughter and for allegedly leaving their then-3-year-old son unattended in a tub on Nov. 26, 2011, according to 3rd Circuit Court records.
Each will also have to serve one year in jail for the assault offense and six months in jail for the endangering offense, with all but four months suspended, according to the sentence handed down by 3rd Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance.
Strance stipulated in the sentencing that Manago and Estoy-Keka’s jail term could be reduced should they meet several criteria, including reunifying with their son; ceasing Department of Human Services intervention; remaining clean and sober for two years; and meeting counseling conditions. Each criteria met could result in a 30-day reduction in jail time.
Strance also ordered Manago and Estoy-Keka to each complete 200 community service hours within three and a half years of sentencing, according to court records. Both will also be required to wear electronic monitoring for a 60-day period; provide DNA and print impressions to police; and obtain full-time work or enroll in an educational or vocational training program.
Strance further ordered Manago, who was also resentenced in a prior felony abuse case, to complete a domestic violence intervention program and to write a letter of apology to Estoy-Keka. Manago and Estoy-Keka must also each pay $810 in fees, according to court records.
Estoy-Keka’s sentence followed her guilty plea the same day to the assault and reckless endangering charges. Estoy-Keka had faced charges of manslaughter and second-degree reckless endangering in connection with the 2011 incident, however, the second-degree assault charge was added as part of new allegations that superseded the original July 2012 indictment.
Manago pleaded guilty March 4 to the assault and reckless endangering charges. Manago had also faced charges of manslaughter and second-degree reckless endangering. An allegation of second-degree assault was added as part of new charges that superseded the original July 2012 indictment.
According to Manago’s change of plea, the 29-year-old admitted to engaging in reckless conduct that caused serious bodily injury to the girl and placing his son in danger of serious bodily injury by leaving the youngsters unsupervised in a tub of water.
