LA Times Headlines
In Brief/S. San Francisco
An infant left alone in a hot vehicle with the windows rolled up was found dead Wednesday after her grandfather allegedly forgot about her, police said.
The baby's grandfather, Lonnie Earl Sopko, 60, was supposed to supervise the child, but he told investigators he forgot the 5-month-old baby was in his auto, according to a police statement. The baby was in the vehicle parked on the street for several hours before being discovered about 3 p.m. Efforts to resuscitate her were unsuccessful. Sopko was arrested on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. Copyright 2002 Los Angeles TimesPublished May 30, 2002
Child Car Safety Resources
June 7, 2002
Released To Family
June 7 (BCN) - A South San Francisco man was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter and felony child endangerment in the death of his 5-month-old granddaughter, who died after being left in a hot car for several hours on Wednesday.
Lonnie Sopko, a 60-year-old retired computer consultant, appeared this afternoon in a Redwood City court for the first time since his arrest on Wednesday, but postponed entering a plea. He was released on his own recognizance.
Sopko was arrested shortly after his infant granddaughter, Kiana Sopko, was declared dead by paramedics who had been called to revive her Wednesday afternoon. Investigators found that Sopko had at some point that morning forgotten the girl was in his care, and left her in an SUV for several hours on what turned out to be one of the hottest days so far this year.
Chief Deputy District Attorney and San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Richard Livermore agreed that Sopko should be released to his family on his own recognizance while he awaits trial, but remain under the supervision of the court. Because Sopko has been under psychiatric observation since his arrest and is reportedly despondent, Wagstaffe asked that ongoing psychiatric treatment be made a condition of his release.
"My one concern is the safety of himself and others," Wagstaffe said. "Flight is not a concern, he obviously has a large and very supportive family here."
Members of that family lined a bench in court, but the parents of the young victim were not among them, according to defense attorney Anthony Lowenstein.
"This case is based on a tragic accident," said Lowenstein, whose firm was retained by Sopko's family. "It serves no purpose to punish the grandfather other than to pile tragedy upon tragedy."
Wagstaffe said Sopko's remorse at his actions could affect his ultimate sentence if convicted, but did not exempt him from prosecution.
"Society says when a person is responsible for a child, and the child dies, the person has to be held responsible," the prosecutor said, noting that the state Legislature had only recently passed a law making it a crime to leave a child in a car at all.
Despite these firm words, Lowenstein expressed confidence that the District Attorney's Office would show compassion for Sopko and reduce or drop charges.
Lowenstein said Sopko suffers from leukemia, but was not taking any medication that could have affected his memory or mental capacities.
Sopko will next appear in South San Francisco court on June 21 at 9 a.m. to enter a plea and set a preliminary hearing date.
Sopko's arrest comes less than a year after the arrest of 25-year-old Brian Gilbert, whose 5-month-son died after being left inside a closed car on July 24. The Santa Clara County medical examiner testified at a preliminary hearing in February that Kyle Gilbert suffered heatstroke and died of hyperthermia after his body temperature rose to 107 degrees.
A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge ruled in February that there is sufficient evidence to try Gilbert on manslaughter and child endangerment charges.