WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — Prosecutors say they’ll seek a life sentence for a suburban Chicago man accused of beating a 4-year-old girl to death after she spilled juice on an Xbox video console.
The Chicago Tribune cites prosecutors as saying “heinous” circumstances justify the sentence for 19-year-old Johnathan Fair, of Waukegan, if he’s convicted of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s daughter, Skylar Mendez.
Lake County prosecutors say Fair was babysitting Skylar last month when she was fatally injured. Fair brought her to a hospital and initially claimed she’d fallen. She died a few days later.
Defense attorney Sam Amirante told The Associated Press Sunday that he’s confident his client will eventually be acquitted.
A grand jury indicted Fair Wednesday. Prosecutors announced their intentions on sentencing Thursday.
Fair’s arraignment is Feb. 17.
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