The father of a disabled man indicted on murder charges in the death of his disabled son pleaded guilty to a reduced charge Monday, July 11.
Antoin Hawes, 54, plead guilty in Richmond County Superior Court to a charge of neglect of a disabled adult. He was indicted on murder charges in the May 13, 2018, death of his 28-year-old son, Antoin Hawes Jr.
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The victim was autistic and had a history of slipping out of his Kissingbower Road home in the middle of the night, said Assistant District Attorney Kevin Davis. That’s why his bedroom door was locked from the outside and the window in the room was boarded up. There was a bucket in his room half full of waste because he repeatedly stopped up the toilet, Davis said.
Hawes and his wife, Stephanie, who died while awaiting trial, tried to get their son into a personal care home, Davis said. They lacked the resources and ability to take care of the victim, he said. “They were doing the best they could.”
According to the indictment, they were charged with felony murder for failing to provide essential care including medical treatment for pneumonia. The autopsy report Davis provided to Judge Amanda Heath said the manner of death was natural causes. The judge noted that the report also indicated possible abuse because of extensive lacerations all over his body and that he was underweight.
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According to news reports at in May 2018, Hawes told sheriff officers that he was going to take his son to the hospital that morning, but he fell back asleep.
Hawes other son and his daughter told investigators that Hawes was a good father and that the victim was treated the same as they were, said defense attorney Sean Gamble. The victim had a medical condition that caused him to often vomit, and he slept very soundly. The Hawes didn’t realize initially that their son had died, Gamble said.
Hawes loved his son deeply, Gamble said.
Heath accepted the plea negotiation and sentenced Hawes, who has been in jail since May 2018, to two years on probation under the First Offender Act.
Sandy Hodson is a staff reporter covering courts for The Augusta Press. Reach her at sandy@theaugustapress.com.
