Cape Coral man takes plea deal, sentenced to 30 years for son’s starvation death

Reporter: Zach Oliveri Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
Ryan O'Leary
Ryan O’Leary (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

A Cape Coral father charged with his son’s starvation death has been sentenced after accepting a plea deal from the state.

Ryan O’Leary, 33, pled no contest to aggravated manslaughter of a child. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

“Just, I’m sorry.” O’Leary offered those three words right before Judge Bruce Kyle sentenced him to 30 years. Earlier in the day, the judge gave O’Leary a chance to determine his fate and take the finite prison term for the death of his son Ezra or gamble with a trial.

O’Leary watched his wife go to trial and lose. He decided not to take that chance.

Sheila O’Leary was found guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and more. She was sentenced to life in prison in August. She rejected a 30-year plea deal offered by the state.

In a separate case, Ryan O’Leary also pled guilty to sexually assaulting a child younger than 12. He was sentenced to 30 years, with a minimum of 25 years, followed by a lifetime of sex offender probation.

His two 30-year sentences will run concurrently.

O’Leary will get credit for the four and a half years he’s already served behind bars. When he’s released, he will be labeled a sexual predator and serve the rest of his life on probation.

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