"Toddler John" MAULDIN - 3 yo - Martinsburg/ Charleston WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A
Martinsburg man and his girlfriend were taken into custody on child
abuse charges this weekend after their 3-year-old boy died from injuries
including a fractured skull, brain bleeding and body burns, according
to the West Virginia State Police.


Jasmine K. Dawkins, 22, left, was charged with one felony count of child
neglect, and James N. Mauldin, 20, was charged with felony counts of
child abuse and child neglect in the death of Mauldin's 3-year-old son.

James Mauldin, the father of the child, was taken into custody on Saturday
for two felony charges of child abuse and child neglect and a
misdemeanor of presenting false information about child injuries.
Mauldin's girlfriend, Jasmine Dawkins, also was taken into custody on
charges of child neglect and presentation of false information regarding child injuries.
On Saturday, the State Police responded to a 911 call from Mauldin saying his child
had collapsed in his bedroom and was not breathing. When first
responders arrived at Apartment 616 on 214 Joshua Drive in Martinsburg,
they found that the little boy was under cardiac arrest and had head
trauma and scarring all over his body.
The child was transported to City Hospital, where hospital staff discovered
burn marks on the boy's buttocks and both legs and head trauma
including a fractured skull and brain bleeding. The child was later
taken to Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where he
died from the injuries.
Dawkins told the State Police that Mauldin had abused the child several days
before the incident and described how the boy had sustained the burns
and head trauma.
The State Police are re-filing charges of child abuse resulting in death against Mauldin.
http://wvgazette.com/News/policeblotter/201201010083

MARTINSBURG - Two people arrested in connection with the death of a
3-year-old boy in January were among 32 people indicted Wednesday during
the second day of the Berkeley County grand jury's May session.
The
child's father, 30-year-old James Mauldin, who is incarcerated at
Eastern Regional Jail, was indicted on charges of death of a child by a
parent, guardian or custodian by child abuse; child abuse causing
serious bodily injury; malicious assault; two counts of gross child
neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury; and one
count of presenting false information regarding a child's injuries.
Mauldin's
co-defendant, 23-year-old Jasmine K. Dawkins, of Pinewood Drive,
Waldorf, Md., was indicted on one count of death of a child by a parent,
guardian or custodian by child abuse; two counts of gross child neglect
creating a substantial risk of serious bodily injury; and one count of
presenting false information regarding a child's injuries.
The
victim, Kaiwon Connelly, was flown to Children's National Medical Center
in Washington, D.C., in critical condition on Dec. 31, 2011, and died
on New Year's Day from alleged abuse-related injuries.
The child
was found to be suffering from multiple skull fractures and brain
bleeds. Doctors and nurses also found evidence of past scarring on his
body, burn marks and head injuries.
Both defendants are accused
of failing to seek medical attention for the boy. Dawkins, who is not
the child's biological mother, told police that she witnessed Mauldin
punch the victim in the face and head multiple times a few days prior to
the child's death. The burn marks on the victim's buttocks and legs are
believed to have been caused by a punishment imposed on the child
called "squats," which involved the victim being forced to squat over a
burning hot pan.
During a preliminary hearing earlier this year,
police said they seized two pairs of the child's underwear that
contained what was believed to be burnt skin. The indictment also
alleges that both Mauldin and Dawkins lied about how the child suffered
his injuries. Dawkins also is accused of failing to report the abuse to
authorities. She previously told police that she didn't report the abuse
because she was afraid of being abused. The case was investigated by
the West Virginia State Police.
Mauldin initially told police the
child fell while eating boiled eggs and that the child began choking.
Dawkins told the officer she was in the living room and heard the child
fall. She also later said the child had fallen earlier that day in a
bathroom and hit his head.
http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/579721/Couple-indicted-in-death-of-3-year-old.html?nav=5006

Two arraigned in Berkeley County Circuit Court plead not guilty in death of toddler
Among other charges, James N. Mauldin and Jasmine K. Dawkins face charge of death of a child by parent, guardian and/or custodian by child abuse

June 06, 2012
By MATTHEW UMSTEAD | matthew.umstead@herald-mail.com

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Two people charged in the New Year’s Day death of a 3-year-old boy pleaded not guilty to multiple counts at their arraignment Tuesday in Berkeley County Circuit Court.

James N. Mauldin, 20, and Jasmine K. Dawkins, 23, were indicted last month by a Berkeley County grand jury on one count of death of a child by parent, guardian and/or custodian by child abuse, two counts of gross child neglect creating substantial risk of serious bodily injury and one count of presentation of false information regarding a child’s injuries in the death of Kaiwon Connelly, according to the indictment.

Mauldin, who is the boy’s father, also was indicted on one count of child abuse causing serious bodily and malicious assault, the indictment said.

The couple’s trial was scheduled for Dec. 10 by 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge John C. Yoder, who agreed to modify Mauldin’s bond from $275,000 cash-only to $275,000 cash or surety.

http://articles.herald-mail.com/2012-06-06/news/32085365_1_child-abuse-indictment-face-charge