http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/091029_deandre_washington_deathCharges Downgraded against Boy over DeathUpdated: Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 8:25 AM CDT
Published : Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 8:25 AM CDT
HOUSTON - A capital murder charge has been downgraded against a boy who was 12 when he was accused of killing a baby.
A Harris County grand jury has now charged the juvenile with felony injury to a child over the March death of the 10-month-old boy.
Defense attorney Ronald Ray on Wednesday told a Houston newspaper that the maximum possible penalty, 40 years behind bars, remains unchanged.
Other children at the home told investigators that the 12-year-old threw Deandre Washington to the floor. The suspect's family alleges that the baby's 7-year-old brother tossed the infant, who had been crying, down some stairs or over a second-floor railing.
Assistant District Attorney Perry Jo McCollum declined comment.
No trial date has been set.
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Here is an article about when he was released into the custody of his aunt, after a month of being locked up.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/090519_child_murder_suspect_releaseChild Murder Suspect to be ReleasedUpdated: Tuesday, 19 May 2009, 6:02 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 19 May 2009, 11:45 AM CDT
ALEXANDER SUPGUL
Web Producer
HOUSTON - A 12-year-old boy charged with murdering a baby is now at home with relatives.
Prosecutors say the sixth grader killed 10-monthold DeAndre Washington, a family friend, back in March while the children were left home alone. The baby died of blunt force trauma to his head.
The 12-year-old has been locked up since last month, now a judge has released him into the custody of his aunt.
The judge said she wouldn't release the boy to his mother because the mother has 10 children. The kids range in age from 16 to 7 months old.
The judge says she has concerns about whether the mother would properly supervise the boy and fears the boy might harm one of his siblings.
The aunt where the 12-year-old is now staying does not have small children. While the sixth grader is on house arrest, he will be attending school.
The judge also ordered the 12-year-old to be strictly supervised by the aunt and 2 other court approved relatives.
Shemika Brown, the mother of the deceased baby, says she's disappointed the 12-year-old is released from juvenile detention.
Once the case goes to trial, if the sixth grader is convicted, he could spend the next 40 years in prison.
