A 67-year-old grandmother in Hawaii will not be going to jail in connection with the death of her 9-year-old granddaughter, who weighed only 45 pounds when she starved in 2016 while in the woman’s care.
Hilo Circuit Court Judge Henry Nakamoto on Thursday ordered Henrietta Stone to serve a sentence of 10 years of probation over the death of young Shaelynn Lehano-Stone, authorities announced. Nakamoto handed down the sentence over the staunch objection of the Hawaii Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, who sought the maximum sentence of 20 years for Stone.
“There aren’t words to describe my disappointment and frustration in the outcome of this case. Shaelynn and our community deserved much better. Her death was caused by the three people, who she should have been able to trust the most,” Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said in a statement released after the sentencing hearing. “We will not let this result discourage our ongoing efforts to protect our keiki.”…