Attorney J. Bradley Smith answering the question: “What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?”
In a horrible case that reveals the serious criminal penalties that can be faced by even young children, police in Charlotte say they have charged an 11-year-old boy in connection with the death of his brother. Police say the 11-year-old has been charged with felony child abuse, though his charges will be handled as part of the juvenile justice system.
Police investigators quickly realized that the baby’s poor health was not accidental but instead the result of physical abuse. They quickly zeroed in on the boy’s 33-year-old mother, Wendy Johnson, as the culprit, a decision that relatives say was an unfair rush to judgment. Wendy was ultimately charged with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse.
Then earlier this week relatives of the deceased infant approached reporters with a local news station and said that the person responsible for the boy’s death was the 11-year-old brother. Relatives said that the brother admitted to family members that he beat the child because he was jealous of the attention he was receiving and because the little boy would not stop crying.
These relatives also said that at the time of the abuse, Wendy was not even at home but had left to run a 45-minute errand. When the mother returned to the house she discovered her young son dead in his crib.
The 11-year-old was eventually brought before police officers who say he confessed to his crime. Disturbingly, police say he used a doll to demonstrate how he dropped his brother three times on his head. Authorities say that the brother may have had a change of heart after the assault, because he said that he attempted to revive his brother by splashing water on his face while he was in the crib. Sadly, it was too late as the young boy had already sustained serious injuries.
Though relatives insist that the mother was not at home at the time of the attack, police have not yet revealed any intention to drop her criminal charges. Arnold & Smith, PLLC is a Charlotte based criminal defense, traffic violation defense and civil litigation law firm servicing Charlotte and the surrounding area. If you or someone you know need legal assistance, please contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today at (704) 370-2828.
About the Author:
Born and raised in Charlotte, Mr. Smith is married with one son and one daughter. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, boating, golf and hiking near his mountain home in western North Carolina.
Source:
“Boy, 11, also charged in death of infant,” published at WCNC.com.
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