Man acquitted of child’s death sentenced to 11 years for abuse

The man tried for but acquitted of murder in the beating death of his girlfriend’s toddler last year has been sentenced to 11 years, 4 months in prison for child abuse.

Sedgwick County District Judge David Kaufman also on Wednesday ordered Sly Maples to reimburse the Kansas Crime Compensation Board $4,776.97 for money paid to the family of 2-year-old Avry Darnell for burial and other expenses, as well as $1,044.63 in court costs.

Following a six-day jury trial last month, Maples, 34, was acquitted of first-degree felony murder in Avry’s death, but jurors found enough evidence to convict him of abusing her on Jan. 19, 2015.

Avry died Jan. 21, 2015, a day after she was taken to a Wichita hospital with severe head trauma. Maples, who was watching the girl while her mother was inside a nearby library, claimed she struck her head on a playground slide at Linwood Park, 1901 S. Kansas, while playing, causing her to fall unconscious and become unresponsive. But prosecutors say he beat and choked her, causing fatal injuries.

Avry’s mother and Maples had been dating for about three months before Avry’s death, authorities have said. They moved to Wichita from Liberal the weekend before she died.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 11:35 AM with the headline "Man acquitted of child’s death sentenced to 11 years for abuse."