Marana Father Charged in Toddler Hot Car Death Granted Hawaii Trip

Christopher Scholtes, a Marana, Arizona father charged with first-degree murder and child abuse after his 2-year-old daughter died when left in a hot car, has been granted court approval to travel to Hawaii for a family vacation while awaiting trial. Despite strenuous objections from prosecutors, a Pima County judge allowed Scholtes, who is out on his own recognizance and under supervision, to travel with his wife and remaining children, with strict conditions including no unsupervised contact with his children and ongoing communication with Pretrial Services. Scholtes had previously rejected a plea deal that would have reduced his potential sentence. The incident leading to the charges reportedly involved Scholtes leaving his daughter in a car with the air conditioning on while he played video games; the child was later found unconscious and died at the hospital. His trial is scheduled for October, where he faces the possibility of a life sentence if convicted. The decision to permit the trip has sparked controversy, with debate over judicial discretion and public safety.