PROVO — A man who police say withheld food from his girlfriend's niece and nephew as a way to discipline them has pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Sekoa Aiono, 37, wept in 4th District Court Thursday afternoon as he entered his pleas to four counts of child abuse — two third- and two second-degree felonies.

"Are you pleading guilty because you did these things?" Judge James Taylor asked the shackled Aiono.

"Yes, your honor," he said, wiping at his eyes.

But Aiono's attorney said he believes the facts of the case will show at sentencing that Aiono's role was secondary.

"He worked six days a week, 12 to 16 hours a day," David Drake said. "The discipline by rationing (food) was not his idea. But he went along with it."

Prosecutor Tim Taylor said he felt bad for everyone involved in the case, especially the children, but pointed out that Aiono had accepted the blame.

"He lived in the house; he pled guilty to withholding food, disciplining," Taylor said. "It wasn't a no-contest plea."

Police were called to a home in Eagle Mountain on Oct. 14 after neighbors noticed a 9-year-old girl wandering around in the backyard wearing only her underwear and holding newspaper around her to keep warm.

When officers responded, the girl told them she had jumped from a bathroom window, nearly 12 feet above the ground, and that her 8-year-old brother was still locked in another bathroom.

When officers got to the boy, he was so badly bruised and emaciated that officers feared he was dead.

Both children were taken to Primary Children's Medical Center where they were treated and have already doubled their body weights, Taylor said. They also were taken into protective custody by the Division of Child and Family Services.

Aiono and his girlfriend, Mary Heath, were both arrested soon after. Heath was in Salt Lake County, where she had gone out to dinner and attended a sporting event, according to a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court.

They were originally charged with 10 felonies stemming from the withholding of food and striking the children with their hands or belts.

Heath pleaded guilty to the identical charges in November. Both she and Aiono face the maximum potential of 30 years in prison.

Aiono's family and friends filled the courtroom Thursday to show their support and left crying and hugging each other.

Aiono's brother, Tusi, said they would go visit Aiono.

"I guess it is what it is," he said. "We just want to move on, so we know. Right now we're just guessing."

Aiono will be sentenced Feb. 5.

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