Clovis police say Benito Valdez, 16, shook his 4-month-old son Christopher before he died Saturday, then lied to them about the incident, the Clovis News-Journal is reporting on its Web site.

Authorities also allege that the teenager was being investigated by the state Children, Youth and Families Department for a previous incident that left the now-dead baby with a fractured bone, the News-Journal reported.

But the teen's older brother, 26-year-old Jesus Mirelez of Clovis, told the paper his brother told him the child's death was an accident, that he had dropped the baby, picked him up and noticed Christopher was convulsing and not breathing, so he shook him, the News-Journal said.

Valdez is being held without bond at the Curry County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of negligent child abuse resulting in death, tampering with evidence and obstructing the investigation, the paper reported.

Valdez will remain in custody until his case goes to the grand jury, and authorities still haven't decided whether to charge him as a juvenile or as an adult.

At a detention hearing Wednesday, State District Judge Stephen Quinn denied Valdez's request to attend the baby's funeral, according to the News-Journal.

Mirelez told the paper that his younger brother and the baby's 19-year-old mother were raising two children and that the two had been dating for about four years -- since Valdez was 12 years old.

The second child, who is about a year old, was taken into state custody by CYFD, the paper reported.

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Rate this article:
Poor Great

Comment:

BOLD

"QUOTE"

UNDERLINE