Florida man sentenced to 60 years for death of girlfriend's 3-year-old son
Man sentenced to 60 years in prison in death of 3-year-old boy
A Florida man was sentenced Monday to 60 years in prison in the death of 3-year-old Jamison Nance, a child authorities said suffered severe and prolonged abuse before his death.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A Florida man was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Monday for the 2021 death of a 3-year-old boy after agreeing to a plea agreement.
Joshua Manns, 30, pleaded no-contest last week to second-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and child neglect in the death of Jameson Nance, the son of his girlfriend Erica Dotson.
Manns reached a plea agreement last week, avoiding trial and a possible death sentence, according to the State Attorney's Office.
The backstory:
Investigators believe Manns and Dotson abused Jameson over an extended period of time.
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Jameson died in West Melbourne after investigators said he suffered "significant pain and abuse."
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An autopsy revealed the boy died from severe ongoing physical abuse rather than an accidental drowning like Manns initially claimed at the time of Jameson's death, according to investigators.
Two years before his death, Jameson broke his leg after Dotson said he fell while running, according to investigators. The boy had another broken leg in 2021 after it was reported he stepped off a curb, police said.
Dotson has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.
Last year, a judge declared a mistrial in Dotson's case. A new trial is expected to begin on July 20.
Manns will serve his sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections.
The Source: This story was written with information from the State Attorney's Office and previous FOX 35 reporting.