JASON NIELSON - 6 Weeks (2008) - Provo UT

Provo UT ---- A Provo man pleaded guilty to aggravated murder
Thursday in the death of his infant son.
Cameron Nielsen, 24, will likely face the minimum sentence of 20 years to
life in prison with a chance for parole when he is sentenced on May 13.

His
attorney, Tom Means, said he met with prosecutor Donna Kelly and the judge in
chambers last week to determine whether the judge would agree to the sentence. A
conviction of aggravated murder carries a potential life sentence. If the judge
did not agree to the minimum sentence, Means said, the case likely would not
have been resolved anytime soon.
Means said statistics show that people convicted of aggravated murder
generally spend at least 25 years in prison. Kelly said a significant number of
people are never released from prison with this conviction, but some are.
"The state would like to see Mr. Nielsen be one of those folks," she
said.
Kelly said she hopes Nielsen recognizes that this conviction and sentence is
deserved. Hopefully, he will view his time in prison as necessary, she said.
"He gets the privilege to wake up every morning, and Jason Nielsen does not
get that privilege," she said.
Nielsen was originally charged with eight counts of child abuse and one count
of attempted murder in June 2008 after 6-week-old Jason was taken to Primary
Children's Medical Center on May 11, 2008. After his one-month stay, Jason was
left blind by the abuse and a physician described him as "a very damaged, very
impaired baby" whose "brain is a mess."
Nielsen was interviewed by police and admitted to squeezing Jason's rib cage
and shaking him to the point that he was also shaking. Nielsen also admitted
throwing the infant into his crib, hitting the railing. He allegedly threw the
infant into the crib again on May 9, when the baby stopped breathing and Nielsen
attempted CPR, but allegedly did not call for medical help.
Nielsen nearly pleaded guilty in October 2008 to charges in the original case
as part of a plea deal, but the deal was denied because his son died earlier in
the month.
Kelly said a lot of work was put into resolving this case on both sides, and
she commended Means for his diligence in working both with her and for his
client. He had a great knowledge of the evidence and advocated well for
Nielsen.
In working toward a resolution, Kelly said it was determined that the death
penalty would not be sought. In Nielsen's case, the mitigating factors
outweighed the aggravating factors. He is a very young man with no criminal
history, and he has the potential to make progress and reform.
However, Kelly also said the state felt strongly that Nielsen should be
charged with aggravated murder and that the charge should not be reduced.
"At least two violent assaults happened to this young baby," she said.
Judge David Mortensen said he was convinced that allowing the plea deal and
agreeing to the recommended minimum sentence is in the best interests of all
parties. He also reminded Nielsen that while there may be a possibility for
parole, there is also a significant possibility he will not ever leave
prison.
Nielsen said he understood, and told the judge he has accepted responsibility
for his actions.
"This is something that I'm going to have to deal with for a long time, for
the rest of my life," he said.

A Utah man who pleaded guilty to first-degree felony aggravated murder
in the beating death of his infant son has been sentenced to 20 years to
life in prison.

Cameron Nielsen was sentenced in state court in
Provo on Monday. Fourth District Judge David Mortensen recommended that
Nielsen get credit for 654 days he has spent in jail.

The
24-year-old Nielsen pleaded guilty to the charge in April in a plea
deal.

The child, Jason, was brought to Primary Children's Medical
Center in May 2008 and died five months later. Doctors had diagnosed
him as blind and brain-damaged from physical injuries.

Nielsen
allegedly told police he squeezed the child's rib cage and shook him
before the baby stopped breathing and he tried to
administer CPR but
did not call for medical help.