LARRY BOYD - 18 months(2010) - / Accused: Mother, Lolita Marshall and boyfriend Clyde Biggs - Las Vegas, NV

Friday, May 27, 2011 | 3:19 p.m.
           
Lolita Marshall

Clyde Biggs

A woman whose boyfriend has been charged with last November's beating death of her 18-month-old son has been given a suspended sentence in connection with the incident.

Lolita Marshall, 31, took an Alford plea of guilty to the charge of attempted child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm in the death of her son, Larry Boyd, on Nov. 1, 2010.

Marshall, 31, was sentenced to a maximum of 48 months and a minimum of 18 months in state prison. However, Judge James Bixler suspended the sentence and placed her on probation for an indeterminate amount of time not to exceed three years.

Marshall is also required to abide by a curfew, comply with all directives and orders of Children's Protective Service, get counseling and complete 16 hours of community service work each month during the probation time.

Her boyfriend, Clyde Biggs, 30, has been charged with murder and child abuse with substantial bodily harm in the boy's death.  He has also been charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, for methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

Biggs,who pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment on May 11, will stand trial at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 before Judge Bixler.

According to police, officers arrived shortly before 1 p.m. Nov. 1, at the home in the 4000 block of Broadriver Drive in northwest Las Vegas to investigate a call by Marshall that her 1-year-old son was unconscious and unresponsive, police said. The toddler was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office determined the boy died as a result of blunt force trauma.

Metro’s Crimes Against Youth and Family Bureau determined Marshall was away from the home and left the boy and his five siblings in the care of Biggs, police said. Officials said Marshall was aware of previous incidents of child abuse involving her children and Biggs, which led to her being arrested.

Biggs initially told police that Larry Boyd became unresponsive while taking a nap after lunch and that he tried to "shock" him with cold water, according to the warrant for his arrest.

The boy's 10-year-old and 4-year-old siblings, however, told police that Biggs struck Boyd with a belt multiple times before he became unresponsive, according to the warrant for his arrest.

Marshall's 10-year-old son told police he heard Biggs strike his baby brother with a belt at least twice, then he heard his brother's cries being muffled, according to the arrest report.

The 10-year-old son said he wanted to go upstairs, but he had been charged with cleaning the downstairs walls and watching his younger sister. He also told police he had witnessed Biggs striking two of his other siblings in the chest  and with a belt on previous occasions, according to the arrest report.

The boy told police he tried to tell his mother about the abuse, but she "drowns everything out and is too busy to pay attention to what is goingon," according to the arrest report.

The boy’s five siblings were removed from the home and are in the custody of Clark County Child Protective Services.


http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/may/27/woman-sentenced-connection-child-abuse-death-18-mo/