Jan 25, 2008 6:12 pm US/Central
Man Charged With Beating Baby To Death
Police: Jacky Johnson Beat Girlfriend's 1-Year-Old Son While Caring For Him
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
A 20-year-old man charged in the death of a South Side toddler was ordered held on $1 million bond Friday after he allegedly attacked the baby, then waited more than an hour to call for help.
Cook County Judge Maura Slattery Boyle set bond at $1 million for Jacky Johnson, charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of Lonnie Black, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokesman Andy Conklin said.
Johnson, who is dating Lonnie's mother, was watching the 20-month-old boy while she was at work, Conklin said, citing court records.
Prosecutors claim Johnson said in a videotaped confession that Lonnie was choking on a "tater tot" and began to cry. Johnson allegedly admitted picking up the child, then dropping him on the floor.
When the baby would not stop crying, he "lost it" and began shaking the child violently, then head-butted him, at which point Lonnie stopped crying, prosecutors said.
Johnson then waited over an hour to call for emergency assistance, according to court records.
Lonnie, of 6434 S. King Dr., was found unresponsive in his home and pronounced dead at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital at 6:10 p.m. Monday.
An autopsy conducted Tuesday determined Black suffered a subdural hematoma and blunt head trauma as the result of child abuse. The death was ruled a homicide, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said the agency is investigating the death, but has had no prior contact with the family.
A preliminary hearing has been set for Johnson on Feb. 13, according to Conklin. He is currently on parole after being convicted of seven counts of attempted residential burglary in 2005, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison.
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(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
