A man has pleaded no contest in connection with the death of his 5-year-old son, who was found unconscious in a bathtub in East Hollywood in July 2022, according to court records obtained Friday.
Darwin Reyes, now 36, was immediately sentenced to 12 years in state prison following his plea Thursday to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter and one misdemeanor count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Reyes waived credit for the time he has spent behind bars since his July 25, 2022 arrest and waived his right to appeal as a result of the plea, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
He was initially charged with one count each of murder and assault on a child causing death involving his son.
The boy was found unconscious in a bathtub that day by officers sent to the 4000 block of Marathon Street, between Vermont Avenue and Hoover Street, one block north of Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles police said soon after the boy was discovered.
“Upon the officers’ arrival, they observed vomit and blood in the bedroom and in the bathroom of the residence,” police said. “Upon entering the bathroom, officers saw the victim in the bathtub unconscious and not breathing. Officers attempted to render aid to the victim and requested paramedics.”
The boy also had injuries to his face, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Paramedics took the boy to a hospital, where he died.