Byron Perkins, 'World's Worst Father,' Sentenced to 42 Years in Prison

Sept. 3, 2009— -- A man who four years ago was temporarily released from jail to potentially donate a kidney to his sick son, but instead escaped to Mexico with his girlfriend, was sentenced Wednesday to more than 42 years behind bars.

Byron Perkins, 40, once dubbed by federal authorities "the world's worst father," for skipping out on an ill child, was sentenced by a federal judge in Louisville, Ky., on charges of armed robbery and drug trafficking.

Perkins pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges in 2005. While awaiting sentencing, he petitioned a judge in early 2006 to be released so he could be tested as a potential kidney donor for his then teenage son, Destin.

Before completing testing to determine if he was a donor match, Perkins fled to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, in January 2006. In April 2007, authorities arrested Perkins and his girlfriend Lea Ann Howard and returned the fugitive to the United States.

Perkins' sentencing Wednesday ended a hearing that began four years ago. He still may stand trial for escaping his bond and fleeing to Mexico.

According to his lawyer, Perkins was coerced into taking the plea in 2005 and was told by prosecutors he would not be allowed to get tested unless he pleaded guilty.

Perkins, his lawyer told ABCNews.com, took a preliminary blood test and was under the impression that he was not a match. He fled to Mexico, his lawyer said, because he believed he was facing what amounted to a life sentence in prison.

"[Perkins] did not willfully obstruct justice. He did not willfully flee to Mexico. He believed he had no choice. Few people would accept a 40-year plea, when the minimum sentence was 25 years. He only agreed to take the plea because he thought he had to save his life," said Patrick Renn, Perkins' defense attorney.

The prosecution saw Perkins' decision to lam it quite a bit differently.

"This sentencing was just about the federal weapons and narcotics charges," said Dawn Madsen, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Lexington. "He still needs to be tried for lying about wanting to help his son and then fleeing to Mexico."