BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – More than four years have passed since the tragic death of 12-year-old Danilo Coles, whose case has now reached a conclusion in the Bexar County court system. On a significant day for justice, Judge Joel Perez delivered a 20-year prison sentence to Kapri Cheatom, 31, after she was found guilty in connection with Danilo’s death.
This sentence, which is the maximum allowable under a plea agreement, follows a prolonged legal battle that saw various delays and complications. Prosecutors reported that Danilo suffered severe physical abuse from both his father, Derrick Coles, and Cheatom before his untimely death on February 6, 2022.
Danilo had only recently moved to San Antonio, Texas, following the death of his grandmother, who had been his primary caregiver. Tragically, his life was cut short just a month after this transition.
The case has been marked by a series of setbacks, including the initial dismissal of charges against Cheatom just three months after Danilo’s death. Following this dismissal, the case experienced a significant stall, with no indictment being filed for nearly a year. In August 2023, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office cited a technical error as the reason for the delay, leading to both Cheatom and Coles being indicted in September 2023.
Coles was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison in October 2025. During the recent sentencing hearing for Cheatom, her defense attorney argued that her failure to prevent the abuse did not equate to her being an active participant. However, prosecutor Willem VanZeben countered this assertion by stating that Cheatom was indeed involved, noting that she had admitted to striking Danilo multiple times.
The prosecution emphasized the absence of any advocates for Danilo during his life, highlighting the tragic reality that his only known family members were his father and Cheatom. “We looked everywhere we could to find anyone who could come in here and speak for Danilo, or somebody who knew or interacted with him when he was alive, and there is no one,” VanZeben stated in court.
Judge Perez expressed deep concern regarding the extent of Danilo’s injuries, which he believed should have been impossible for anyone in the home to overlook. “The injuries to this child are too extensive to not have noticed, to not have known, to not have done something about it,” he remarked. “You failed to protect this 12-year-old boy.”
Cheatom’s sentence includes credit for time already served, and she will be eligible for parole after serving half of her sentence. This case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by children in similar situations and the critical importance of advocacy and intervention in preventing such tragedies.
