Spring Valley
A couple pleaded guilty Thursday to charges relating to the death of a handicapped, 18-month-old baby.
Wesley Howland III, 33, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the May 18 death of Justin Jaffe.
The child’s mother, Sally Jaffe, pleaded guilty to felony child abuse.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Harry Elias said the cause of death was a skull fracture and a hemorrhage, which could have been caused by a blow or severe shaking.
Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos set sentencing for Oct. 12 for both of them.
Howland was charged with murder, child endangerment and child abuse; those counts were dropped in a plea bargain. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 11 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Jaffe could be sentenced to three years and a $10,000 fine, but the judge indicated she might be placed on probation.
In her plea, Jaffe said she put her son in the care of Howland, her boyfriend, knowing that it might be dangerous.
Howland remains in County Jail in lieu of $275,000 bail, and Jaffe is in custody at Las Colinas Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
They had been scheduled to stand trial Sept. 22.
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