Delo

LISBON — An involuntary manslaughter charge against Aaron Michael Delo for allegedly causing the death of his infant son will be dismissed, per a plea agreement entered Tuesday.

Columbiana County Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone outlined the terms of the plea deal to Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton before Delo, 30, of Fairfield School Road, Columbiana, pleaded guilty to endangering children and aggravated possession of drugs, both third-degree felonies from two separate cases.

Yacovone said he’ll be requesting a two-year prison term for each charge at sentencing, which is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. Jan. 6, but ask that they be served concurrently, which means at the same time, for a total of two years.

When approached after the hearing, he said he would make no comment until after the sentencing.

Delo appeared in court with his defense attorney, James Wise, and indicated he understood the terms of his plea and the possible penalties he could face.

He had been indicted earlier this year on the first-degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, along with the endangering children charge. Both charges related to the death of his son, 4-month-old Dallas Delo, who had been left in his care overnight at the Frola Motel outside Lisbon between Dec. 31, 2017, and Jan. 1, 2018, along with two other children.

Delo was watching the children at the motel after their mother was taken into custody on a warrant. He allegedly told investigators that he had taken the children into bed with him to watch the ball drop on the television on New Year’s Eve and fell asleep. When he awoke, the baby was unresponsive.

The indictment on the drug charge, which included a specification for forfeiture of money in a drug case, had just been issued last month for Delo’s alleged possession of methamphetamine that exceeded the bulk amount but was less than five times the bulk amount on Feb. 18. The money for the forfeiture totaled $1,297.

Each of the third-degree felonies carries a possibly penalty of a minimum 9 months to a maximum 36 months in prison and an up to $10,000 fine. The drug charge also carries a minimum $5,000 fine. As part of the plea agreement, Delo forfeited the money noted in the specification.