Man sentenced in girl’s drowning

Bill Gang

Thursday, Oct. 8, 1998 | 11:14 a.m.

More than three years after a 4-year-old girl drowned in 8 inches of water in a bathtub, a Las Vegas man who accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter has been sentenced to six years in prison.

David Knight sought probation Wednesday by telling District Judge Donald Mosley that the death of Ariel Robson on March 31, 1995, was "a horrible, tragic mistake ... a total accident" that occurred when he left her alone for a moment to answer the telephone.

"I loved that little girl more than anything," Knight said as he fought back tears, referring to the child as his daughter. "She was my angel, the little girl I wanted."

But the judge wasn't swayed by Knight's words or the flood of letters from supporters.

"I know a 4-year-old doesn't drown in a bathtub ... that's just common sense," Mosley told Knight. "I do know the death can be attributed to you."

Deputy District Attorney Vickie Monroe had made those arguments, adding that she had evidence children belonging to Knight's past girlfriends also had been held under water by the defendant, although none had been injured.

Knight discounted those accounts as coming from disgruntled ex-girlfriends.

Deputy Special Public Defender David Figler argued that "to paint him as other than a hardworking, caring father is not fair."

Knight originally was charged with first-degree murder but took the plea bargain and the chance at probation rather than risk being convicted of the original charge that carries a mandatory life prison sentence.