HONOLULU – The lawyer of a 22-year-old woman who tried to give her newborn to authorities by pretending to find the baby on a beach says she kept her pregnancy a secret because she didn't want to disappoint her family.
Keala Simeona was sentenced Thursday for filing a false police report. Defense attorney Don Pacarro says Simeona can keep the misdemeanor off her record if she stays out of trouble for a year. Her sentence includes 25 hours of community service.
Police said Simeona reported finding an infant girl on Honolulu's Sandy Beach in April and took the baby to the hospital.
Pacarro says Family Court returned the baby to Simeona.
Simeona could have taken advantage of Hawaii's Safe Haven law, which provides immunity from prosecution for leaving an unharmed newborn within 72 hours of birth at a fire department, police station or hospital.
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