Dakota King, 22, was sentenced to 3,276 days in prison, approximately nine years, on May 16 for his role in the death of a two-month-old child, according to court records.
King was arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend’s son the summer of 2019. He was also charged with battery resulting in death of a person under 14 years old and two counts of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury.
The state filed a notice of intent to seek life in prison without parole.
However, the case never went to trial and King was granted a plea agreement on April 27, 2021. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, which was punishable by up to 16 years in jail. He was also given the opportunity to serve the remainder of his sentence on house arrest, if he could find a place to live.
Many documents and court records related to the case, including evidence and depositions, have not been opened to the public. So it is unclear how King went from facing life in prison to a reduced sentence on house arrest.
After about 13 months of searching, during which King was released from jail three times to look for housing and King’s public defender enlisted the help of unhoused advocate Katie Norris, he did not find a place to serve his sentence.
King was granted credit for 1029 days he served in the Monroe County Jail, so his revised sentence is approximately six years. Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Valeri Haughton recommended a minimum security facility.
