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Pair get jail time for boy's drowning By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 7, 2006 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 19, 2010 at 12:21 AM By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 7, 2006 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 19, 2010 at 12:21 AM » Social News Father says there is 'no sorry, no nothing' from mom, her ex-boyfriend — A White City woman and her ex-boyfriend will spend time in jail for the death of her 2-year-old son, who drowned in a swimming pool two years ago. Crystal Ann Delap, 27, must spend four months in jail for the Sept. 3, 2004, drowning of Stephen Randolph Horvath. Steven John Hunt, 54, must serve five months in jail. Both were convicted of second-degree child neglect and criminal mistreatment in a two-day trial last week before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Crain. During the pair's sentencing Wednesday, Crain said Hunt received more time because he was really the one responsible in the case. She admonished him for leaving Stephen alone too long, the basis for her guilty verdict on the neglect and mistreatment counts. Crain acquitted Delap and Hunt of manslaughter charges Aug. 31. Stephen's father, Edward Horvath of Chiloquin, accused Hunt and Delap in court Wednesday of shirking responsibility and having no remorse. "There's no 'sorry'; there's no nothing," Horvath said, adding that two days after the drowning, Delap called him about Stephen's life insurance policy. Stephen was playing outside with his 4-year-old brother at Hunt's Sams Valley home when he drowned in a partially filled, above-ground swimming pool. Hunt testified in last week's trial that he believed the pool was completely drained and posed no danger to the boys. Stephen apparently climbed a plastic ladder to retrieve some plastic balls in the pool. The older boy, Jacob, told investigators that he saw Stephen in the pool and tried to get the adults' help but was told to stay outside. Crain never heard the boy's statement, which was ruled hearsay and inadmissible at trial. "Jacob's the one who has to live with this every day," Horvath told the judge. "All he knows is two adults ignored him." Crain did not respond to Horvath but encouraged Delap to consider what explanation she could give her son and only living child. Delap's youngest & 8212; an infant girl & 8212; either suffocated or succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome while sleeping with her about six months before Stephen's drowning. That death was ruled an accident. "You lost two out of three children in a very short period of time," Crain said. "You need to cherish your remaining child as much as you can." Delap cried as her attorney, Lisa Greif, read a written statement in which she referred to her son as an "angel" and his death as a "terrible, tragic accident." Delap previously pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide but Crain allowed her to withdraw the plea and stand trial. Hunt read a written apology to Horvath in court but is still suing him on allegations he prevented the sale of his Beagle Road property where Stephen drowned. Horvath is seeking a $1 million judgment against Hunt for Stephen's wrongful death. The case is set for trial in December. In addition to jail, Delap and Hunt must serve probation and pay punitive fines and restitution for Stephen's funeral and for the care he received at Rogue Valley Medical Center before he was pronounced dead. Crain fined Hunt $3,000, Delap $1,000. Delap and Hunt served two days in jail after their January arrest. They must report to custody in two weeks. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail . By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune Posted Sep. 7, 2006 at 2:00 AM Updated Dec 19, 2010 at 12:21 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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