Limestone teen pleads not guilty in daughter's death
5/14/09 | 12 comments

Limestone teen pleads not guilty in daughter's death


By Jen Lynds
BDN Staff

CARIBOU, Maine - A Limestone teenager on Thursday afternoon pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter stemming from the death of his 3-month-old daughter late last month.

Nicklas Jones, 17, appeared in Caribou District Court with his attorney, Anthony Trask of Presque Isle, for the brief hearing before Judge Ronald Daigle.

Jones is charged in the death of Joselyn Jones, who died April 27 at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor from injuries she reportedly received four days earlier. State Police said the baby died from blunt force trauma to the head. They allege that her father threw the baby into her crib to stop her from crying.

It is not clear at this point whether Jones will stand trial as a juvenile or an adult. Assistant Attorney General Andrew Benson said after the proceedings that the state has filed a motion for a diagnostic evaluation to determine in which manner he will be tried.

If he stands trial as a juvenile, the hearing will begin on Aug. 27.

At the Thursday hearing, Jones told the judge that he understood his rights but said nothing else.

Jones was arrested May 1 and is being held at the Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston.

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Comments
12 comments on this item
On 5/14/09 at 4:21 PM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

So sad...I feel like he is old enough to be a man and own up to his crime....

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On 5/14/09 at 4:38 PM, Kerry1963 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

He did the crime he needs to serve his time and to the full extent of the law. That precious little one didn't stand a chance, she didn't get to be 17 years old because he took that away from her when he threw her in her crib. He knew what he was doing unless he was mentally challenged and I highly doubt that.

Wow he understands his rights, well that tells us he knew perfectly well what he was doing. It just goes to show teenagers are not ready to parent children when they themselves are children. It's hard enough when your married, have jobs and are at least 25. But being a teenager, no job and trying to play house is not the answer. When are kids going to realize babies are human beings and not toys or dolls you toss aside when you get tired of playing with them.

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On 5/14/09 at 5:35 PM, Rachael1962 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Kerry1963 What year did you leave the convent?

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On 5/14/09 at 6:52 PM, frenchloprabbitz wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I thought it was innocent until proven guilty?

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On 5/14/09 at 7:08 PM, HippyKicker wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Mother and Father are home... Baby is killed (not just died, but is killed.) Someone is guilty. On the whole adult-juvenile argument... If you're old enough to father a child... you're an adult and should be treated as such.

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On 5/14/09 at 7:26 PM, AKAlala wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This big arguement we seem to get into everytime we have one of these is completely stupid. He is 17 years old. So he is still considered a minor....but at 17 years old we are completely aware of what "throwing" a baby is going to do. I mean we have all handled puppies, and other little animals and we knew not to throw them. He is completely old enough to know better. He just simply did not care. As far as innocent until proven guilty....it's manslaughter.....his actions caused his babies death. He is lucky he isnt being charges with murder. It is considered an act of passion. He didn't set out to intentionally kill the baby.....he let his emotions (act of passion) take control of him and the consequence was he killed the baby. There is a hugh difference between murder and manslaughter......he needs to take responsibility for his actions and that should be to plead guilty, not put his family through a hugh trial, not cost the state money.... He obviously needs help, he should turn this into something else by making other teens aware of fatherhood, and how hard it is. This all suck, completely, but he did it.

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On 5/14/09 at 7:27 PM, Kerry1963 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Rachel1962, I was never in the convent so save your sarcasm.

I can't help that I was raised with some decent moral values. And was not a teenage mommy. I was married at 26 and had my first child at 27 just after my 1st Anniversary. I was working fulltime and so was my now ex-husband. Life is not easy when you're an adult, but being a child with a child I guess you think is awesome.

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On 5/14/09 at 9:06 PM, Raysgirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

If we are going to have a juvenile justice system, then lets keep the juveniles in it. This whole thing is tragic, but it is not murder, it is manslaughter. This kid made a tragic mistake that ended his daughter's life. Nothing any of us say or do can change that for anyone involved. I would give MY own life right now if I could change it.

But he is still under 18 and he IS a juvenile. Having the ability to get a girl pregnant does not make him a grown-up; age and maturity are the receipe for grown-up.

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On 5/14/09 at 9:32 PM, CPSLady wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hippykicker & AKAlala, I totally agree!! This is so tragic!!!

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On 5/15/09 at 3:57 PM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Raysgirl... sorry I don't agree. Not at all. He is 17 years old, old enough to quit school, old enough to marry, old enough to drive, old enough NOT TO MURDER HIS BABY BECAUSE HE WAS OBVIOUSLY ACTING LIKE A SELFISH BRAT (which would make him a kid????) AND DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR HER CRY ANYMORE! ------AND CERTAINLY OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG!

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On 5/15/09 at 4:00 PM, berquis wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I would agree with manslaughter, not this juvenile garbage.

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On 5/15/09 at 4:40 PM, ker147 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

he should be charged as an adult absolutely but at the same time people really need to stop blaming his actions on his age I was 19 when i had my first daughter and did just fine and at 27 I have 3 beautiful little girls and would NEVER do anything to harm them in anyway it has nothing to do with his age it is his irresponsibility I know people who are almost 40 who should have ne

ver had a kid simply because they are not responsible enough so quit using his age and the whole teens shouldn't be parents bs and realize it is the problem

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