Some developments this past week in the case of Draven Haynes of Cozad. On Monday the 23-year-old pled not guilty to charges in Dawson County District Court involving the death of his infant son. Haynes is charged with Committing Child Abuse Intentionally Resulting in Death and Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Injury.
During his court hearing, District Judge Matthew Neher ordered Haynes undergo a psychological evaluation to determine his competency to participate in further court proceedings and to determine his state of mind at the time the alleged crimes were committed.
Carson Haynes was three-months old when he passed away on March 7, 2024 at Children’s Hospital. The infant had been hospitalized since February 14, 2024 when he was transported from his Cozad residence by Cozad Rescue who advised responding Police Department officers that infant went into cardiac arrest and had to be placed on a breathing machine. A CT scan was later performed on the infant, who was found to have brain bleeding, broke ribs and burn marks. The infant was later transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
Draven Haynes is being held on $1 Million bond but, he could be released if 10% of that amount was posted. The next hearing on the child abuse charges were scheduled for June 10, 2024 at 10:30am.
Meanwhile, Haynes picked up another charge while in the Dawson County Jail. He was arraigned in Dawson County Court on a charge of Assault by a Confined Person. It allegedly took place on March 29, 2024. An arrest affidavit indicates Haynes punched another inmate twice in the right eye while playing a board game. The players resumed the game a short time after the incident. A further hearing in that case is set for April 15, 2024 at 11:00am in Dawson County Court.
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Carson Haynes’ mother, Jasmine Hopkins, faces one count of Felony Child Abuse. She is being held on $250,000 bond. She can be released upon payment of 10% of that amount. Her next hearing in Dawson County District Court is set for April 12, 2024 at 09:30am
According to an arrest affidavit, a few days after the baby was hospitalized, Hopkins was interviewed by a Dawson County Sheriff’s investigator about pictures of injuries on the baby’s back. The investigator believed the pictures depicted second or third degree burns on his entire back, butt and the back of his neck. In an interview, Hopkins alleged the baby was in the shower with her boyfriend and baby’s father, Draven Haynes, when he handed her the baby. About 10 to 15 minutes later, blisters started appearing on the baby’s back. Hopkins said she wanted to take the baby to the hospital for treatment but, acquiesced to Haynes’ insistence that they not do that. Hopkins then treated the burns with antibiotic ointment, burn cream and gauze but, never took him to the hospital.
