Passaic County autheoties announced that Mr. James Davis, 49 and Ms. Qunasia Coleman, 29, both of Paterson, have been arrested in connection to the infant fatality that took place on November 7th at a residential dwelling in the vicinity of Carroll Street in Paterson.
Police say Davis is charged with First Degree Felony Murder, First Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault and Second Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Police charged Coleman with Second Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
According to authorities, on November 7, 2020, at approximately 5:30, p.m. members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to a home in the area of Carroll Street on a report of an unresponsive child.
Upon arrival the police encountered an ambulance leaving the scene en route to St. Joseph’s University hospital and learned EMS staff were administering aid to the 16-month-old child.
The child was pronounced deceased at approximately 6:07 p.m. Upon further investigation it was revealed the child sustained multiple injuries about the body. Mr. Davis was identified as the individual present with the child during the incident.
Police say Ms. Qunasia Coleman, the mother of the child, had left the residence earlier that evening leaving Mr. Davis to care for the child. Subsequently, detectives from the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit charged Mr. Davis and Ms. Coleman.
The State has filed motions for pretrial detention for both Mr. Davis and Ms. Coleman that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge on Thursday, November 12th.
The sentencing exposure for Davis on First Degree Felony Murder is Life in New Jersey State Prison without parole; on Second Degree Aggravated Sexual Assault it is between 25 years to Life in New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 25 years before parole eligibility pursuant to the Jessica Lundsford Act; and on Second Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child it is between five and ten years in New Jersey State Prison.
The sentencing exposure for Coleman on Second Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child is between five and ten years in New Jersey State Prison.