John J. Batease of Schenectady pleaded guilty late this afternoon to first-degree manslaughter in the June 2011 death of 20-month-old Asiah Maxam.
Beatease, 33, gave an emotional plea before Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Michael Coccoma.
The plea carries a sentence of 22 years in prison. He will be sentenced in August.
Batease was indicted in Asiah’s killing in September. He had long been the focus of the investigation into the little boy’s death on June 19, 2011.
Batease was watching Asiah and several of Asiah’s siblings that evening. Batease was the boyfriend of Asiah’s mother, Jamie Darrel.
At some point, Batease carried Asiah out of 611 Hattie St. and asked neighbors to summon paramedics. The neighbors said he told them Asiah had fallen out of a crib.
Batease repeated that account as rescuers tried to revive the boy, according to earlier testimony. But when the child arrived at Ellis Hospital, it was apparent to medical personnel that his injuries indicated something more than a fall. He had severe head trauma and an airway clogged with blood.
For more on the story, see Saturday’s print and online editions of The Daily Gazette.
Categories: Uncategorized
