Pennsylvania man guilty in baby’s death

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A northwestern Pennsylvania jury has convicted a 20-year-old man of third-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s 3-month-old son.

Erie County prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction for Damere Talmadge, which would have carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Instead, the Erie man faces a sentence of 20 to 40 years in state prison.

Tah-Meere Talmadge died from head injuries June 16. Testimony indicated that Damere Talmadge was not the boy’s biological father, but he considered the baby to be his son.

Talmadge’s lawyer has said the only evidence against his client is from the baby’s mother and her family.

Talmadge was convicted Thursday; his sentencing is scheduled for June 1.