AUBURN — A Lewiston man charged with depraved indifference murder and manslaughter in the death of his infant son pleaded not guilty Thursday to both counts.
Danny Adams, 24, of 77 Rideout Ave., appeared in Androscoggin County Superior Court with his attorney, Donald Hornblower.
Adams denied the charges Justice MaryGay Kennedy read from a grand jury indictment, handed up last week.
Police said Adams forced a pacifier into the mouth of his 14-week-old son, Zade, shortly before he stopped breathing.
Hornblower said he expects a bail hearing to be set to determine whether Adams will be held in jail without bail or allowed release prior to his trial. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Crockett asked that Adams be barred from contacting Zade’s mother, Kaitlyn Baker, 18. Kennedy agreed.
Adams has been held without bail since his arrest in early January.
A murder conviction in Maine carries a sentence of 25 years to life in prison; manslaughter, up to 30 years.
Police said Adams told them he was frustrated that his son wouldn’t stop crying on the morning of Dec. 14, so he put a pacifier in Zade’s mouth and forced him to stay on his stomach by pressing on his back.
An autopsy determined the cause of death was asphyxiation.
Adams told police in an earlier interview that he had injected heroin the night before at a friend’s house, then smoked marijuana with Baker when he got home. He said he had bruised Zade’s ears when he squeezed them with his thumb and fingers as he held the head of the baby, who continued to cry, according to court documents.
Adams said he caused bruising on Zade’s forehead when he forced a pacifier in the baby’s mouth and held it in place with his palm, while supporting his fingers on the baby’s forehead.
Doctors detected a rib fracture during the autopsy. Adams told police he had become frustrated with Zade’s crying about four weeks earlier and had squeezed the baby with force.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
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