SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man whose 2-year-old son drowned in a swimming pool in Wichita is going to prison.
On April 11, Judge Christopher Magana sentenced 47-year-old William Kabutu to life in prison with parole eligibility in 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In February, Kabutu was convicted in the 2020, death of 2-year-old Omari Garcia in a pool at a mobile home park.
The judge also sentenced Kubutu to nine months each on two counts of aggravated endangering a child and ordered the sentences run consecutive to each other.
Just after 10 p.m., July 8, 2020 police responded to a neighborhood pool in the 1900 block of E. 54th Street South for a drowning call, according to officer Paul Cruz.
Upon arrival, officers contacted the calling-party, who reported observing a boy floating in the neighborhood pool. Wichita Fire Department (WFD) personnel pulled the child from the pool and attempted life-saving measures. However, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Through a thorough investigation of evidence and interviewing multiple individuals, the investigation revealed the boy and his 4-year-old brother were taken to the pool by their father William Kabutu who was intoxicated, according to officer Charley Davidson.
At the pool, Kabutu allowed the kids to by-pass the pool fence. The 2-year-old entered the pool, was not able to stay above the water, and drowned.
Kabutu was not able to access the pool due to the fence and locked gate. Emergency personnel were called after a passerby arrived and called 911