A 20-year-old Cozad woman waived her right to a trial and pled “no contest” to Felony Child Abuse involving her infant son. Jasmine Hopkins’ plea was entered Friday in Dawson County District Court. District Judge Patrick Heng found her “guilty”, ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for December 13, 2024 at 8:30am.
Carson Haynes was 3-months-old when he died on March 7, 2024. But before his death, Chief Deputy Dawson County Attorney Garrett Goodwin said the child was burned severely in either a bath or a shower. Those burns were along his entire back, back of his neck and other parts of his body. Goodwin continued that both Hopkins and the child’s father “made the decision to not take the child in for medical care for those severe wounds, the burns and blistering that resulted from that burn.” In a previous hearing, Goodwin said there was “evidence of chronic abuse throughout the child’s life.”
Hopkins is being held in the Dawson County Jail on $100,000 bond. The charge of Child Abuse is a Class II Felony with a penalty ranging from 1 year to 50 years imprisonment. During Friday’s hearing, Goodwin said he would be recommending a term of 3 years to 5 years imprisonment as part of the plea agreement. Judge Heng advised Hopkins that he is not bound by that recommendation at her sentencing.
Carson’s father and Hopkins’ boyfriend, 24-year-old Draven Haynes of Cozad, has pled not guilty to charges of Committing Child Abuse Intentionally Resulting in Death and Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Injury. His next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2024 at 11:00am in Dawson County District Court. He remains in the Dawson County Jail on $1 Million bond.
In an affadavit filed with the Court, Cozad Police Department responded on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 to Haynes and Hopkins’ residence in the 200 block of Avenue A in Cozad in reference to an unresponsive two-month-old. When officers arrived, they say Draven Haynes told them the infant was on a bed when the infant rolled off it.
The affidavit says Cozad Rescue staff advised officers that the 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, broken ribs and burn marks.
Carson Haynes was later transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha where he died shortly before 5:00 a.m. Thursday, March 7, 2024 after life support was ended.
At Friday’s hearing for Hopkins, Goodwin said Carson’s death was ultimately due to head trauma.
