Couple sentenced for neglect
RENO — A Reno couple who played video games while their two children went hungry and neglected have been sentenced to four years each in prison.
Michael Straw, 25, and 23-year-old Iana Straw lost themselves in a virtual world of monster-slaying missions in “Dungeons and Dragons” while their children suffered starvation and sickness, investigators said. Both pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect and were sentenced on Tuesday by Washoe District Judge Steven Elliott.
Prosecutor Kelli Anne Viloria said that instead of providing health care or food for their children, the couple spent a $50,000 inheritance on a large plasma screen TV and computer equipment. “They had food, they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games,” she said.
Their daughter weighed only 10 pounds when police arrived and could not lift her head or sit up because she had no muscle development. Their son, at 22 months, lacked muscle mass and could not walk when police arrested the couple, the prosecutor said.