TAHLEQUAH — A Tahlequah man charged last year with the suffocation death of his 2-month-old daughter pleaded no contest to a first-degree manslaughter charge.

Mathew Ryan Guthrie, 28, was charged in October 2007 with first-degree murder for the death of Cameron Guthrie. A couch cushion was allegedly placed on the victim’s chest while she was on her back in a playpen.

Special District Judge Sandy Crosslin sentenced Guthrie Thursday afternoon to 30 years in prison, with 18 years to serve and 12 years suspended.

Guthrie will be given credit for the 14 months he has served in the Cherokee County Detention Center.

State law will require Guthrie to serve 85 percent of the 18 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

“I think the sentence was consistent with the evidence and with what a jury would have done in a trial,” said Assistant District Attorney David Pierce.

Investigators said the child’s death was originally believed to have been Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but a year later they learned statements were made that implicated Guthrie in the death.

Guthrie allegedly told authorities he and the victim’s mother, Brandy Hurta, discussed killing their daughter because they didn’t want the burden of a small child.

Pierce said Hurta’s case was postponed until January. She is charged with enabling child abuse by injury.

Bob Gibbins writes for the Tahlequah Daily Press.