Defendant gets maximum sentence

DERIDDER —The trial of a DeRidder man charged in the 2014 death of an infant ended Wednesday when the man withdrew his plea of not guilty to second-degree murder and pleaded guilty to manslaughter and obstruction of justice.

Kevin A. Waller, 31, stood beside defense attorney David Wallace as the plea was read by 36th Judicial District Court Judge C. Kerry Anderson.

Throughout the process, Waller commented only that he wished he could have “a day or two” to consider his plea options, but he agreed to move forward with his guilty pleas.

Sentencing was carried out immediately, with Anderson handing down the maximum of 40 years for each charge, to run consecutively.

Waller faced a sentence of life in prison had he been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter.

The baby was taken to Beauregard Memorial Hospital on Dec. 15, 2014, with traumatic injuries. The nursing supervisor on call when the child arrived said the baby wasn’t breathing on her own and had bruises on multiple areas of her body.

The baby taken to Rapides Regional Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with skull fractures. She remained on life support for several days before she died.

On Dec. 16, 2014, Waller and the child’s mother, Brittany Cooley, were both charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. The charges were upgraded after the child’s death. Waller was charged with first-degree murder, and Cooley was charged with second-degree murder.

Waller’s charge was reduced in August during pretrial hearings.

District Attorney James Lestage said Waller’s sentencing brings an end to a lengthy time of suffering for the baby’s family.

Cooley continues to await trial.

Court – GavelMGN Online