A Mays Landing man accused in the death of his infant son was ordered held pending trial due to his extensive criminal background and risk of violence, a judge found.
Jose Rojas, 35, is accused of causing severe injuries to 4-month-old JaSeir on Jan. 29. The child, a fraternal twin, died Feb. 4, at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Rojas told the child's mother that he was lying in bed with his son when the boy had a seizure, Shelly Maddox told BreakingAC.
But he told police that the baby rolled off a bed.
Neither was consistent with the severe injuries found on the baby, Assistant Prosecutor Dave Ruffenach told the judge.
Rojas was wanted in a Camden County terroristic threats case at the time of his arrest, Ruffenach said.
His public safety assessment — used to help determine whether a defendant will be held or released — was nearly the highest possible. Rojas also had a "red flag for elevated violence," according to the PSA.
He got a five out of a potential six for failure to appear, and a six out of six for risk of new crimes.
Ruffenach told Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury that he counted 16 failures to appear for Rojas since 2001.
Rojas was working a full-time job and helps support his 10 children, public defender Stephen Funk said.
The Rev. Odinga Maddox, the baby's maternal grandfather, sat in court through the proceeding.
Afterward, he said he prays Rojas admits what he did, but doesn't think that will happen.
"It's the lowest of the low, to kill your own child," he said.
https://breakingac.com/i-just-want-justice-for-my-son/
