Man Sentenced For 10-Year-Old Stepson’s Overdose Death

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — A 31-year-old western New York man has been sentenced to up to 15 years for the drug overdose death of his 10-year-old stepson.

The Monroe County District Attorney's Office says Walter Tyler Morse was sentenced Thursday in county court, where he pleaded guilty in June to charges that include manslaughter.

Authorities say Morse was caring for his 6-year-old son and stepson, J'Vieon Grayson-Sutton, in Churchville in June 2017 when he left the boys alone for several hours. During that time the older boy ingested a synthetic opioid that had been left in the family's apartment.

J'Vieon died of an overdose after ingesting the powder.

Morse was also sentenced for his conviction on attempted murder charges stemming from an incident during which he shot J'Vieon's biological father last October.