NJ man pleads not guilty in child's shooting death

[PegLeg45]

NJ man pleads not guilty in child's shooting death

 Mon Dec 28, 3:51 pm ET

PATERSON, N.J. – A New Jersey man has pleaded not guilty in the accidental shooting death of a 5-year-old boy by his 6-year-old brother.

Twenty-three-year-old Jalik Jones of Paterson was arraigned Monday on reckless manslaughter and weapons charges. He is being held in jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Prosecutors say Jones, a convicted felon, illegally acquired a .380-caliber handgun and kept it at his mother's house in the bedroom he shared with 5-year-old Daron Mayes.

Police say Daron and his 6-year-old brother were watching television Dec. 20 when they found the gun. It fired once, hitting Daron in the back of the head.

Jones' attorney, Paul Fernandez, says the defense intends to show "what really happened" the night of the shooting..

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091228/ap_on_re_us/us_child_shoots_child;_ylt=Ai75OHZVDNvmmtDKYmZQ4utbIwgF;_ylu=X3oDMTJzc2oyc2s2BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjI4L3VzX2NoaWxkX3Nob290c19jaGlsZARwb3MDMTMEc2VjA3luX3BhZ2luYXRlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDbmptYW5wbGVhZHNu


Paterson man, 23, charged in boy's accidental shooting death

Last updated: Monday December 28, 2009, 3:00 PM
BY JOHN PETRICK
The Record
STAFF WRITER

A Paterson man was arraigned in state court Monday on charges of reckless manslaughter and acquiring a gun without a permit in connection with the accidental shooting death of a 5-year-old boy by a 6-year-old relative.
Jalik Jones, 23, pleaded not guilty to the charges before state Superior Court Judge Greta Gooden Brown in Paterson. He is being held in the Passaic County Jail on $200,000 bail. Three women who were relatives of Jones, but who declined to identify themselves further or comment on the case, attended the brief hearing.

Jones, of Kearney Street, is on parole in connection with a third-degree theft charge, according to attorneys. They would not offer other details about the case.

"The family is very concerned over this tragic situation. We’re going to show what really happened," said defense attorney Paul Fernandez of Paterson. Co-counsel Michael O’Shea of Paterson added: "When he got the phone call to turn himself in, he did so immediately." Jones, who authorities have said shared a bedroom with the victim in their Kearney Street home, was arrested Dec. 21.

John Latoracca, Passaic County chief assistant prosecutor, said in court during a formal recitation of the charges that Jones caused the shooting death of 5-year-old Daron Mayes by leaving the .380-caliber handgun within access of the two children. The prosecution has not revealed the identity of the 6-year-old or Jones’ specific relationship to the two. Defense counsel also declined to offer those details.

The victim was shot in the back of the head at 8:20 p.m. Dec. 20 and brought to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He was related to the 6-year-old child, but authorities have not revealed how.

Jones’ case has been referred to a Passaic County grand jury for possible further action.

E-mail: petrick@northjersey.com

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Paterson_man_23_charged_in_boys_accidental_shooting_death.html