Alexander Mallo looks toward his wife while leaving court Tuesday. He was sentenced to three years in prison for one count of child neglect resulting in injury.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Alexander Mallo, the 68-year-old patriarch of the West-Side family now infamous for the squalor they lived in and the crimes they committed, was sentenced to three years in prison for one count of child neglect resulting in injury.
Kanawha Circuit Judge Charlie King gave him the maximum amount of time possible under sentencing guidelines, saying he hoped Mallo, "served every day of it."
Mallo has already served 404 days in jail and is likely to be released on parole. His attorney, Shawn Bayliss, asked King to allow his client out of jail either for time served or on parole.
"This family name has become synonymous as a failure not only in life, but in a system," Bayliss said.
In June 2009, police charged then-14-year-old Thomas Mallow with stabbing his 82-year-old neighbor to death on Charleston's West Side. He faces 10 to 40 years in prison.
As police began to investigate, they charged five adult members of the family with various crimes.
In November, Alexander's sons Alexandrio and Farris Mallo both pleaded guilty. Alexandrio, then 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual assault and admitted to hitting his young nephew's genitals with a ruler. King, who was assigned all five Mallo cases, sentenced him to 180 days in jail. He has since been released.
Farris Mallo, 30, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian and nighttime burglary. The victim of the sex crimes was a 14-year-old girl he "bought" from her parents for money to buy beer and crack cocaine. He received a 40-year sentence.
In December, Trina Mallo, 28, admitted she let her 6- and 7-year-old children live in squalor in the house. She was sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Alexander's wife, Carolyn Mallo, also pleaded guilty to child neglect resulting in injury. She was sentenced to 10 months in prison and given credit for time served. She has since been released.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Alexander Mallo, the 68-year-old patriarch of the West-Side family now infamous for the squalor they lived in and the crimes they committed, was sentenced to three years in prison for one count of child neglect resulting in injury.
Kanawha Circuit Judge Charlie King gave him the maximum amount of time possible under sentencing guidelines, saying he hoped Mallo, "served every day of it."
Mallo has already served 404 days in jail and is likely to be released on parole. His attorney, Shawn Bayliss, asked King to allow his client out of jail either for time served or on parole.
"This family name has become synonymous as a failure not only in life, but in a system," Bayliss said.
In June 2009, police charged then-14-year-old Thomas Mallow with stabbing his 82-year-old neighbor to death on Charleston's West Side. He faces 10 to 40 years in prison.
As police began to investigate, they charged five adult members of the family with various crimes.
In November, Alexander's sons Alexandrio and Farris Mallo both pleaded guilty. Alexandrio, then 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual assault and admitted to hitting his young nephew's genitals with a ruler. King, who was assigned all five Mallo cases, sentenced him to 180 days in jail. He has since been released.
Farris Mallo, 30, pleaded guilty to sexual assault, sexual abuse by a parent, guardian or custodian and nighttime burglary. The victim of the sex crimes was a 14-year-old girl he "bought" from her parents for money to buy beer and crack cocaine. He received a 40-year sentence.
In December, Trina Mallo, 28, admitted she let her 6- and 7-year-old children live in squalor in the house. She was sentenced to up to five years in prison.
Alexander's wife, Carolyn Mallo, also pleaded guilty to child neglect resulting in injury. She was sentenced to 10 months in prison and given credit for time served. She has since been released.
On Tuesday, Carolyn Mallo sat in King's chambers with her hand to her mouth and tears in her eyes as her husband was sentenced.
Alexander spoke to King before he was sentenced.
"I'd like to get back to my wife," he said. "I should have been more in touch with what was going on around my house."
Kanawha County assistant prosecutor Maryclaire Akers, prosecutor Mark Plants' top assistant, said what happened in the home was "simply despicable."
"This man let his little grandchild be abused by his grown son and did nothing," Akers said.
She also said his probation officer said he had not been truthful and had a complete disregard for the judicial process.
"In my judgment, anything less than the maximum sentence is out of touch in this case," King said.
He refused to consider giving Mallo probation, saying that would be up to the regional jail system.
"My probation department has better things to do," he said.
Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5163.
