Man, 30, convicted in death of toddler
After 14-month-old Jasmine Velez died of blunt force trauma to her head, her mother’s boyfriend told police that the girl might have been injured when she fell off a bed.
But state Supreme Court jurors rejected the argument Wednesday and convicted Abner A. Gomez of a felony of second-degree manslaughter and a misdemeanor of endangering the welfare of a child in Jasmine’s death.
Gomez, 30, faces a penalty ranging from probation to a prison term of five to 15 years when he’s sentenced Jan. 15.
The final witness in his trial was Dr. Caroline Dignan, chief medical examiner of Monroe County, who said Gomez’s explanation wasn’t consistent with the extent of the injuries.
Dignan said Jasmine suffered a constellation of injuries, including bleeding to her brain that killed her within hours of the time the injuries were inflicted.
“The most common cause I see for these type of injuries are … high-speed motor vehicle accidents,” said Dignan.
Jasmine was found dead Nov. 5, 2008, in a Locust Street apartment that her mother, Carmen Cruz, shared with Gomez. The girl had been left alone with Gomez for about three hours the afternoon before and appeared lethargic that evening. Assistant District Attorney Sara Van Strydonck argued that Gomez beat the girl while her mother was gone.
Assistant Public Defender Thomas Winward said there was insufficient proof the fatal injuries occurred when Gomez was alone watching the girl.
