Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Dad pleads guilty to involuntary homicide in death of 6-month-old son (Ottawa, Canada)

Dad is identified as RAYMOND FISHER JR.

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/streator-man-pleads-guilty-in-infant-son-s-death/article_fe9bab48-8165-5d47-8988-205191a012c3.html

Streator man pleads guilty in infant son's death

April 15, 2014 6:00 am • Greg Stanmar

OTTAWA — A Streator man has pleaded guilty to involuntary homicide in the death of his infant child and will be sentenced May 30.

Raymond Fisher, Jr., 21, appeared before LaSalle County Circuit Judge H. Chris Ryan on Friday, 1 ½ years after his 6-month-old son, Raymond Fisher, III, was killed by blunt force trauma to the head.

Fisher entered a blind plea of guilty; the state is recommending a 12-year sentence, but Ryan is not obligated to agree. Fisher could get up to 14 years in prison for the Class 2 felony.

Authorities said Fisher found the child unresponsive at their North Otter Creek Road apartment on Aug. 30, 2012. The infant was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where he died the next morning.

The child lived with his father and mother, Jasmine Scott, in Streator though the father had an Ottawa address when he was arrested.

With the agreement, prosecutors dropped a charge of aggravated battery to a child.

Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Greg Sticka said earlier that Fisher’s story of dropping the infant was later changed to recklessly handling the child. Authorities said the injuries were consistent with violent shaking, or shaken baby syndrome.