A father is currently serving 3 years probation after he was convicted of leaving his 2 year old son home alone. The incident occurred in July 2023 when Michael Cowo began drinking at home. He left to continue drinking at a nearby store and was followed by his common law wife. An altercation erupted after which he chased her from the home and told her to leave the toddler inside. The child was found at 4:00 the next morning, abandoned in the middle of the street. In court, Cowo pleaded guilty to the charge.
And while the cruelty to a child charge has a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, Justice Nigel Pilgrim decided to depart from an imposed prison term and instead invited him to a probation order. Cowo will be under supervision by a community rehabilitation officer and must sign in at the Social Service Office. He must also abstain from alcohol and go to counseling. If he fails to comply or commits another offense, he will be sentenced to prison for a minimum of 15 years.
