A Clinton Township was sentenced Wednesday to serve decades in prison in the starving death of his 2-year-old biological son.

Macomb County Circuit Court Judge Edward Servitto sentenced Jonathon Cheek, 26, to 24-50 years on a charge of second-degree murder and 86 months to 10 years on a second-degree child abuse charge.

Cheek, who along with his girlfriend was accused of allowing their child to starve to death, pleaded no contest to the charges in October.

In a news release announcing the sentencing, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido called the incident a “heartbreaking and profoundly sad case.”

“A two-year-old child, full of potential and deserving of love and care, was failed in the most devastating way,” Lucido said. “No sentence can bring back this innocent life, but hopefully the family can begin to heal.”

According to court records, the child was found dead in his crib in the family’s home on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

An investigation conducted by the Macomb County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death was fatal starvation.

Cheek was charged with second-degree murder, a life felony, and second-degree child abuse, a 10-year year felony. Cheek pled no contest as charged.

Prosecutors say a no contest plea is treated like a guilty plea in criminal court.

Cheeks’ co-defendant, Sierra Pearl Zaitona, 28, the child’s mother, is also charged with second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse; she faces a March 17 final pretrial and April 1 trial, court records say.

There was no indication in court records whether Cheek agreed to testify against Zaitona at trial.

Cheeks’ attorney, Andrew Hubbs, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.