Jasmine Hopkins, (Buffalo County Jail, Courtesy)
LEXINGTON — A Cozad woman pleaded not guilty to charges felony child abuse in Dawson County District Court after the death of her infant son.
Jasmine Hopkins, 19, has been charged with one count of committing intentional child abuse, a Class 2 felony.
Hopkins appeared in Dawson County District Court on April 12 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A pre-trial hearing has been set for June 21 at 10 a.m.
A personal recognizance bond for Hopkins was filed on March 15. This type of bond allows a defendant to be released on a “promise to pay” based on their own signature.
According to court documents, on Feb. 14, the Cozad Police and Cozad Fire and Rescue responded to 202 Ave. A in Cozad for the report of an unresponsive two-month-old infant.
Officers would contact Draven Haynes, 23, who told law enforcement he had been watching his infant son, Carson Haynes, and a one-year-old daughter.
Haynes told officers that he had allegedly set Carson on the bed and then he rolled off. Medical staff informed officers that Carson had gone into cardiac arrest and had to be placed on a breathing machine.
A CT scan was performed on Carson, and it was found he sustained brain bleeding, broken ribs that were healing and burn marks across the entirety of his back that were in the process of healing.
Medical staff told officers these injuries could not have been sustained from an infant falling from the bed and stated that, “non-accidental trauma,” should be considered in their investigation.
The children were placed on a 48-hour hold and Carson was transported to the Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
The next day, officers received information that Haynes had allegedly told family members that he had slammed Carson into the ground while he was crying.
There was no record or evidence of Haynes ever seeking medical attention for Carson’s burns.
Medical staff with the Children’s Hospital also stated Carson’s injuries were caused by severe trauma. At the time, staff said that Carson was in critical condition and his injuries may be life-threatening.
On Tuesday, March 7, Carson died, being only three months and a day old.
Haynes was later booked into the Dawson County Jail.
Simultaneously, the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office was investigating Hopkins, Carson’s mother.
On Feb. 18, Deputy Shane Monthey traveled to Omaha to interview Hopkins, who said she was home at the time when the burn injuries occurred.
She said Haynes had been in the shower with Carson and after exiting, blisters from burns started to appear on his back 10 to 15 minutes later.
Hopkins said she wanted to take Carson to the hospital for medical treatment, but this led to an argument with Haynes who told her no, fearing that their children would be taken away.
Hopkins said she treated Carson’s burns with antibiotic ointment, burn cream and gauze, but never took Carson to the hospital for medical attention.
She was later arrested and booked into the Dawson County Jail.
