A Lehighton man was sentenced to two years of probation Tuesday in Carbon County Court of Common Pleas after pleading guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the death of his 3-month-old son in September 2024.

The more serious involuntary manslaughter charge against Skylar G. Strickland, 33, was dismissed as part of the negotiated plea.

The case stems from the death of his infant son, Atlas William Gerard Strickland, in the early morning hours of Sept. 10, 2024.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Gary Fedor and Trooper First Class Nicolas De La Iglesia, at approximately 3:15 a.m., a woman called 911 and reported that her 3-month-old son was not breathing. She told dispatchers that her husband — identified as Strickland, then 32 — had fallen asleep in bed with the infant, and that the baby was not moving and his lips were turning purple.

Franklin Township police Officer Christopher Lekka was dispatched and arrived at the home on Fairyland Road, where he assisted in performing CPR on the infant. Atlas was transported to St. Luke’s Carbon Campus by Lehighton Ambulance Association, where he was pronounced dead at 3:48 a.m. by an emergency room physician.

Franklin Township Police Department Detective David Roberts arrived on scene at 3:40 a.m. According to Roberts, Lekka told him Strickland made statements that he may have rolled over on his son while sleeping. Roberts later secured the residence until Pennsylvania State Police from the Lehighton barracks relieved him.

In his statement to investigators, Strickland said that on the afternoon and evening of Sept. 9, he had been working on the residence and painting an upstairs bedroom designated for their children. He said he consumed two mixed vodka beverages and one glass of bourbon during the evening hours, describing the effect as feeling a “buzz.” At 9 p.m., he said he smoked a bowl of what he described as his medical marijuana.

Strickland told investigators that he and his wife typically placed Atlas in a pack-and-play next to their bed, feeding him his last bottle around 11 p.m. to midnight. That night, after the baby began to fuss, his mother changed his diaper and got him ready for bed. Strickland then took the infant to feed him a 5-ounce bottle of formula while lying in bed. His wife fell asleep, and Strickland said he also dozed off while feeding the child.

“He fell asleep and later awoke discovering that the baby was lying face down in the bed next to him and the infant was unresponsive,” according to the affidavit. He immediately woke his wife and they called 911.

During the execution of a search warrant, investigators asked Strickland about his marijuana. According to the affidavit, he admitted he had initially lied about the legality of the marijuana at the residence, and that a small amount present on the back deck had not come from a licensed dispensary. A toxicology report on Strickland’s blood samples later returned positive for THC.

An autopsy determined that Atlas died of unexplained sudden death. The report noted extrinsic factors including co-sleeping and bed sharing with an adult and being found in a prone position.

Sentencing details

Strickland was originally charged with two counts: involuntary manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and endangering the welfare of children — parent/guardian commits offense, a third-degree felony. He was arrested Feb. 24, 2025. Bail was initially set at $75,000 monetary but was later changed to an unsecured bond of the same amount.

He entered a negotiated guilty plea Dec. 1, 2025 in front of Common Pleas Judge Joseph Matika.

In addition to probation, Strickland’s sentence carries several conditions. He is required to serve seven months on electronic home monitoring, beginning within 20 days of sentencing, and must submit a DNA blood sample to the Carbon County Correctional Facility within 60 days. He must also undergo a comprehensive drug and alcohol evaluation and follow all recommended treatment, and complete 100 hours of community service.

Strickland faces $5,339.79 in court costs and fees, which include a $3,150 home electronic monitoring fee.