HILO, Hawaii (AP) — The mother of “Peter Boy” Kema, who was sentenced to 10 years of probation in June after being convicted of manslaughter in the death of her son, has been resentenced to a stricter program after violating her terms.
Jaylin Kema acknowledged in court on Tuesday that she violated probation by using marijuana. Her probation officer said she tested positive for pot multiple times.
Kema’s attorney, Brian Delima, said his client is being treated the same as any other person who is on probation and has an initial violation.
She has been placed in Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation with Enforcement program, which attorneys say requires more intense supervision.
People in this probation program are required to take frequent drug tests. If they fail, they’re given immediate jail time.
“You have to be very careful that you treat all probationers alike, so we don’t go back and say this person is on probation for manslaughter, therefore we’re not going to give them any chances on probation,” prosecutor Ricky Roy Damerville said.
Deputy prosecutor Kevin Hashizaki said that although she is on probation, the state can still file another revocation, which would then expose her to the full prison term on the manslaughter.
“For instance, if she were to go out and commit a new crime, then the state probably would seek a revocation which would expose her to the full, 20-year prison term,” Hashizaki said. “If she were to just check in maybe a couple minutes late to her probation officer, then she’d get sanctioned accordingly.”
Kema was granted a supervised release from prison in April after serving one year behind bars for her role in the death of her 6-year old son in 1997.
She pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2016 as part of a plea agreement. Her husband, Peter Kema, also pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
