Jake Haro, a 32-year-old father of three from Cabazon, California, was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison. This extreme punishment is in reaction to the tragic death of his seven-month-old son, Emmanuel. The sentence comes after Haro pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and child endangerment charges. His bad decisions led to the death of his son. They disproportionately injured a second child he was charged to keep safe.
Haro was accused of murder in addition to many other charges. One of the most disturbing accusations was of him sexually abusing his then-10-month-old daughter and inflicting on her permanent injuries. The district court had already imposed a six-year suspended prison term on the child endangerment charge. Since these recent court decisions, prosecutors are now demanding that her sentence be served.
Haro’s arrest came at his home, which is about 20 miles west of Palm Springs. He and wife, Rebecca Haro, first told police Emmanuel was abducted from outside a grocery store in Southern California. This unfortunate episode happened last August. They let it slip that Rebecca was brutally assaulted and left unconscious while changing the baby’s diaper. Despite an investigation spanning several months, Emmanuel’s remains have not been found.
At the sentencing hearing, Brandon Smith, a Riverside County assistant district attorney, described the seriousness of Haro’s conduct.
“Jake Haro murdered seven-month-old Emmanuel but, in reality, he comes before this court having taken the lives of two young children. If there are lower forms of evil in this world, I am not aware of them,” – Brandon Smith.
Haro was given a life sentence for the murder. He was sentenced to an extra seven years and two months for probation violations and associated charges. The court required him to pay $10,000 in restitution.
Rebecca Haro, Jake’s wife, has entered a not guilty plea on her charges. She remains in custody, bail is $1 million. She is currently waiting on trial, as many questions still linger about the events leading up to Emmanuel’s disappearance.
The extreme length of Jake Haro’s sentence was intended to demonstrate just how seriously the court intends to punish child endangerment. These legal repercussions signify a larger fight for the most vulnerable, defenseless children and to punish those who put their safety in jeopardy.