Hearing delayed for teen accused in fatal toddler beating

Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 | 10:01 a.m.

Joquise Coleman

Police release photo of teen sought in toddler’s death (9-22-09)
Police searching for teen in beating death of toddler boy (9-21-09)

Beating location

A preliminary hearing set for today for a teenager accused of fatally beating a toddler boy in September has been postponed.

Jocquise Coleman, 19, is facing one count of murder by child abuse and two counts of child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm.

Attorneys are waiting on the autopsy results of 16-month-old Lamaj Terry before proceeding with the hearing. A status check on the results of the autopsy is set for Dec. 1.

An arrest report indicates Coleman was taking care of the child on Sept. 16 at an apartment complex in the 5100 block of Spyglass Hill Drive while the boy’s mother was at work. He had been caring for the boy while she worked for the past four or five days, she told police. They had been in a dating relationship for about a month.

That afternoon, children from the neighborhood alerted two residents of the complex that a toddler had stopped breathing inside an apartment. They found the boy lying on a bed alone in the apartment, his lips blue and apparently not breathing, reports indicate.

Authorities responded and the boy was taken to Sunrise Hospital, where he was placed on life support in the pediatric intensive care unit. The next day, he was pronounced brain dead and was taken off life support, resulting in his death.

A medical examination revealed the boy had bruises on his face, head and ribs, and that there was vomit in his lungs, the report said. A medical report on Lamaj indicated his injuries were the result of physical abuse.

Police arrested Coleman on Sept. 23. He is being held in the Clark County Detention Center without bond.