South MS man threw 6 year old against a wall and choked him, DA says
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Long Beach man receives 15-year prison sentence for felony child abuse charges.
- Officials uncovered marijuana grow house during child endangerment investigation.
- Joint effort by schools, police and CPS led to swift evidence collection and arrests.
A Long Beach man is headed to prison for 15 years for felony child abuse and child endangerment after throwing a 6-year-old boy against a wall and choking him, District Attorney W. Crosby Parker said in a release.
Omar Emmanuel Deluna, 30, entered the pleas Monday in Harrison County Circuit Court before Judge Randi Mueller.
The judge sentenced Deluna to a total of 30 years on both counts, suspending 15 years and leaving 15 years for him to serve in prison plus five years under post-release supervision. Deluna had no prior criminal history.
The investigation began in October 2023 after a school official in Long Beach reported to police that a student had not shown up to class.
In addition, a school official said another student had reported that the child had not come to school because he had been abused.
Afterward, Long Beach police investigated in conjunction with officials from the state’s Child Protection Services.
When authorities first went to the home Deluna shared with his wife on Rosie Drive, they found a marijuana grow house in the garage, resulting in their initial arrests.
During a subsequent forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center, the child told authorities about Deluna attacking him.
The boy said Deluna took those actions after he became “frustrated with the victim while going over school work,” Assistant District Attorney Matthew Burrell said.
Deluna’s wife, Angela Weigel, 38, previously pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to child abuse and felony child endangerment. Weigel said she didn’t see Deluna choking the boy but did see marks on the child’s neck after she got home from work, the release said.
She said her husband later admitted to her what he had done.
A judge sentenced Weigel to 20 years for her crimes, suspending 12 years and leaving eight years for her to serve in prison.
District Attorney Crosby Parker commended the agencies that investigated the case for their coordinated efforts to solve the crimes.
“This is a powerful example of the importance of the ‘See Something, Say Something’ principle in action,” Parker said. “Long Beach schools, law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the Child Advocacy Center all responded immediately, working together to gather critical evidence and conduct thorough interviews —ultimately ensuring that those responsible were held accountable and, most importantly, that the child was protected.
“While it’s common to hear criticisms, it’s equally important to recognize the many dedicated professionals doing exceptional work every day to keep our communities safe.”
