A judge sentenced a Del City father to 18 years in prison Tuesday after he was convicted of child neglect in connection with the deaths of his three children who were killed in a 2011 motor home fire.
Oklahoma County District Judge Jerry D. Bass upheld the jury's 18-year recommendation for Christopher Dunham, 26, who will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence, or 15 years, before he is eligible for parole.
Dunham was convicted on three counts of felony child neglect and drug-related charges. His three children were Lee Dunham Jr., 4; Crystal Ann Dunham, 3; and Kailey Mae Dunham, 1, who all died as a result of burns and smoke inhalation.
Dunham told the judge he was at work when the fire started and did not know his wife, Stephanie, left the motor home door locked from the outside to go to a nearby house.
His wife, and mother of the children, ended up not facing trial after she pleaded no contest to neglect and drug charges. She is scheduled to be sentenced July 11. Both parents have admitted to investigators they used methamphetamine and marijuana while living in the motor home with their children.
It is unknown how the fire started, but investigators believe a space heater was the probable cause. Numerous drug-related items also were discovered in the mobile home, which had no running water and was powered by extension cords from a nearby house.
The Dunhams are still married and are parents of another child who was born after the fire. Stephanie Dunham also is currently pregnant with the couple's fifth child.
