An Allentown man will serve five years of probation after pleading no contest to involuntary manslaughter in the drowning of his 23-month-old son.
Rafael Cabrera, 41, entered the plea Friday in a hearing before Judge James T. Anthony. Involuntary manslaughter is a second-degree felony.
The child, identified as A.C., drowned in a backyard pool on Fenwick Street in Allentown during a family party on July 4, 2022.
A.C.’s mother told police she handed her son — who couldn’t swim or stand in the pool — to Cabrera, who was already in the water. Cabrera placed the child in a pool float marked with a warning that it was not a life-saving device and children should not be left unattended during use.
After placing his son in the float, Cabrera began swimming laps and speaking to a family member instead of supervising A.C., who fell out and was under water for about 8 minutes before his father noticed.
The case was investigated by Allentown Police Detective Suzanne Toth and prosecuted by District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Assistant District Attorney Joseph S. Holaska.
