L.I. Man Pleads Guilty To Fatally Punching Child Who Wouldn't Take A Nap
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) - A Long Island man has pleaded guilty to murder for fatally punching a 4-year-old boy because he wouldn't take a nap.
Jonathan Thompson's guilty plea Thursday came as jury selection was about to begin in Suffolk County Court.
The 34-year-old Thompson admitted beating Adonis Reed so badly that he tore the boy's liver and bruised his kidneys, heart and lungs.
Following an anonymous 911 call on Wednesday, Adonis was found alone, unconscious and beaten inside the apartment in the rented Amityville home.
There was not an adult in sight as the child lay motionless, unable to be saved by CPR. Adonis was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, but attempts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead.
Thompson, of Amityville, had earlier sued the judge and prosecutor and tried to get them removed from the case.
Newsday reports that Thompson was seeking $500 million and a stay of his trial.
Thompson's former attorney, Joseph Hanshe, said the lawsuit will likely be dismissed in light of the guilty plea.
Judge Barbara Kahn agreed to sentence Thompson to 15 years to life in prison on Nov. 17.
Authorities said Adonis was living with his godmother and her boyfriend, Thompson, because the child's 21-year-old mother is homeless. The child's aunt said everything could have been different if she'd had custody of Adonis instead.
"I tried so long to help him, and instead of giving him to a qualified aunt, they gave him to an abuser," she said.
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