Kema Sr.’s sentencing postponed

HILO — Sentencing for Peter Kema Sr. for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son, Peter Kema Jr., also known as “Peter Boy,” will be delayed for about six weeks.

On Friday, Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura ordered the 46-year-old Kema Sr., who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and first-degree hindering prosecution, to appear for sentencing at 8 a.m. July 24.

The search continues along a stretch of Puna coastline for the boy’s remains, and Kema Sr.’s attorney, Stanton Oshiro, said he needs to make arrangements with police so his client can be given a polygraph test to determine his truthfulness about where the boy’s body was placed.

Relatives of Peter Boy, all from his mother’s side, were in court, as was Jaylin Kema, the boy’s mother. She sat in a wheelchair holding a service dog on the opposite side of the courtroom gallery from her father, James Acol, her children, Chauntelle, Allan and Lina Acol, and other family.

“My understanding is that she’s here because she wanted to be here, that’s all,” Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville said after the hearing.

Jaylin Kema pleaded guilty to manslaughter for her role in the chronic abuse of Peter Boy and her failure to get medical attention for the child. She’s free on supervised release and scheduled to be sentenced at 8 a.m. Tuesday by acting Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.

Nakamoto is not bound by the plea agreement, which calls for 10 years probation and a year in jail, which Jaylin Kema has already served.

Damerville said Kema Sr.’s polygraph will be administered by Ingrid Dean, a civilian employee of the Hawaii Police Department.

“She’s very good,” he said.

If Peter Boy’s remains are found or Kema is found to have been truthful about the location, he faces a 20-year prison term and must serve six years and eight months before becoming eligible for parole. If he is found to have been untruthful, he could face an additional five years behind bars.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.