WICHITA FALLS ( KFDX/KJTL ) — A father charged after the “suspicious” death of his 2-year-old daughter won’t see any more jail time after pleading to a lesser charge.
PREVIOUS STORY: Father arrested for 2020 ‘suspicious’ death of 2-year-old daughter Garrett Lloyd Wayne Jos Gestes, 31, of Vernon , pled guilty to two counts of injury to a child causing reckless bodily injury on Friday, July 19, 2024, during a scheduled pre-trial hearing in the 78th District Court, with Judge Meredith Kennedy presiding.
Gestes was sentenced to 18 months in state jail. However, because he’s been behind bars for 606 days since November 2022, he was credited for time served.
As a part of Gestes’ plea agreement, the two pending charges against him for abandoning or endangering a child related to his child’s death were dismissed.
Gestes was awaiting trial on those charges after Judge Kennedy granted a continuance. This delayed the start of his trial, which was set to begin on July 8, as the court had previously been given notice that his defense attorney had a conflict with that date.
READ MORE: Deleted texts reveal abuse prior to death of 2-year-old in 2020 Gestes was indicted by a grand jury after police said his 2-year-old daughter was found dead with blood coming from her nose and mouth on the kitchen floor.
The officers considered the two-year-old’s death as “suspicious,” according to the arrest affidavit, adding that they were “instantly taken back by the smell of rotten food and general filth” and noting the entire house was covered in spoiled food, dirty clothes, empty soda cans, and dirty dishes.
During a bond hearing in March 2024, video showed Gestes leaving his home on the night of December 19, 2020, when police said he left his 2-year-old daughter and her 3-year-old sister home alone while he drove for DoorDash for over three hours.
According to the arrest affidavit, Gestes was supposed to have been watching the children while his wife, Autumn Gestes, was out at the bar. Her charge of tampering with evidence in connection to this case is currently pending.
This is a developing story. Stick with Texoma’s Homepage for updates as more information becomes available.
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