Macomb Co. Prosecutors Appeal Sentence Of Man Convicted In Boy's Death

FRASER, MI — Macomb County prosecutors are appealing the conviction of a man who was found guilty of drowning his girlfriend’s 6-year-old child, who had special needs, according to the county's prosecutor's office.

Hunter Locke-Hughes, 22, was sentenced to 7 1/2 to 30 years in prison for first-degree child abuse and 43 months to 15 years for involuntary manslaughter. He was initially charged with first-degree child abuse and felony murder, both of which are punishable up to life in prison.

Prosecutors argued the child abuse conviction was 45 months below the sentencing guidelines. They also argued Macomb County Circuit Judge Kathryn Viviano sentenced Locke-Hughes to the low end of the sentencing guidelines on the involuntary manslaughter conviction.

"When a sentencing fails to reflect the gravity of the offense, we must appeal it on behalf of the victim, victim's family and the community," Prosecutor Peter Lucido said.

Prosecutors said Locke-Hughes held 6-year-old Terrance 'Terry' Adams, underwater and killed him while giving him a bath on Dec. 28, 2021 at a Clinton Township home.

According to his obituary, the boy was born with CHARGE syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects several parts of a child's body, including the eyes, nerves, heart, nasal passages, genitals and ears, according to health officials.

Despite the condition, the boy overcame many obstacles, such as learning to walk and partially seeing, according to his obituary.