A disturbing case of child abuse has come to an end in the Aloha State. Samantha Lealoha Watanabe, 38, of Oahu, was sentenced to 30 days of imprisonment and one year of supervised release, including 90 days of home detention for assaulting her 15-month-old child while onboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage to Honolulu on March 3, 2015.
According to the evidence presented in court, Watanabe repeatedly hit her child in the face with a stuffed doll, hit her child’s face with an open hand, and pulled out tufts of her hair, among other acts. Passengers and flight attendants testified that they did not observe the child do anything to warrant that treatment.
The jury found Watanabe guilty following a one-week trial in December 2015. This is not the first time Watanabe has faced allegations of child abuse. In fact, five of her other children had been permanently removed from her custody, and the victim in this case is no longer in her care. To make matters worse, Watanabe had just given birth to a seventh child.
The investigation resulting in this prosecution was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Marc A. Wallenstein and Thomas J. Brady conducted the prosecution.
Judge Kevin S.C. Chang handed down the sentence, taking into account Watanabe’s history of child abuse and her recent addition to the family. The courtroom was likely filled with the emotions of the passengers who witnessed the abuse, but also the victim’s family, who are likely still grappling with the aftermath of this heinous crime.
While the 30-day sentence may seem lenient to some, it’s essential to remember that the true punishment lies in the emotional and physical trauma inflicted on the child. As our community continues to grapple with the issue of child abuse, it’s crucial that we hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
In a statement, United States Attorney Florence T. Nakakuni said, ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.’ This case serves as a reminder that child abuse is a serious offense that will not be tolerated in our community.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Category: Violent Crime|Child Abuse|Assault
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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