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Youngstown woman gets probation in day-care death
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A Mahoning County Common Pleas courtroom was filled with tears and sobs as the former operator of an East Side day care was sentenced to three years’ probation for the January death of an infant in her care.
Before she was sentenced Wednesday by Visiting Judge Richard Reinbold, Deborah Poindexter, 47, of Lenox Avenue, tearfully challenged a coroner’s report that said the baby, Mekhi Dawson, the son of her cousin, died in her care because of her actions.
“I have never harmed a child or put a child in harm’s way,” Poindexter said. “What the coroner said is not true. I could not abuse my cousin.”
Poindexter entered an Alford plea in November to a third- degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter and a misdemeanor charge of endangering children.
An Alford plea means a defendant maintains his or her innocence but acknowledges there is enough evidence that a jury may be able to find a person guilty.
A pre-sentence investigation recommended probation for Poindexter, who has no criminal record.
Judge Reinbold placed her on three years’ probation.
Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McLaughlin said the state was prepared to go to trial to say the baby died of blunt force injuries but that defense experts were prepared to testify the baby died from injuries suffered at another time, not from any injuries suffered at the day care.
Because of the conflicting experts’ opinions, McLaughlin said the plea was the best way to resolve the case.
She and defense attorney Doug Taylor also were recommending probation.
Reports said officers were called to the day care about noon Jan. 30 on a report of a 4-month-old baby who was not breathing. When they arrived, two ambulances were there.
Poindexter told police the baby was lying on the floor of the basement when Poindexter went upstairs to answer the door, reports said.
Reports said when Poindexter returned, the baby was crying. Poindexter told police she thought one of the other smaller children at the day care may have fallen on Mekhi while she was upstairs.
Poindexter told police she changed the baby’s diaper and picked him up because he was still crying.
She was walking and bouncing him to quiet him when clear fluid came out of the baby’s nose, and he stopped breathing.
Justacia Dawson, the baby’s mother, told Judge Reinbold she did not want the case prosecuted in the first place. Dawson said, also through tears, that Poindexter had suffered enough.
“It’s been very hard for our family to see both of us going through this,” Dawson said.
Judge Reinbold said he understands how the family feels, but he also added it is the state’s duty to investigate any unusual death, especially the death of a child, and to file charges if warranted, which were filed after the coroner’s office ruled the baby’s death a homicide.