A Seneca Falls man is heading to prison for the beating death of his three-year-old stepson. Donald Bovio pleaded guilty this past April to second-degree murder in the boy's death last year.
Acting Seneca County Judge Jason Cook sentenced Donald Bovio to 15 years to life in prison for second-degree murder in the May 2018 death of Panagiotis "Peter" Stephanides-Vacchino.
He was sentenced yesterday after a judge denied his request to withdraw his guilty plea. Prosecutors say Bovio and his wife Alison beat her son Peter with a belt. The child hit his head on the ground and later died.
Alison pleaded guilty last fall to manslaughter.
GUILTY PLEA IN SF: Donald Bovio avoids trial, admits to killing 3-year-old stepson
Hours before his trial was set to begin - a Seneca Falls man pleaded guilty to killing his 3-year-old stepson last year. The Finger Lakes Times reports that Acting Seneca County District Attorney Mark Sinkiewicz said Donald Bovio pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the death of Panagiotis