Michigan Man Awaits Sentencing In Death Of 8-Month-Old Boy

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WWJ/AP) - A 31-year-old southwestern Michigan man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to murder in the death of an 8-month-old boy.

The Herald-Palladium reports Brandon Beshires entered the plea Monday to first-degree murder in the February death of Carter Donovan, who died of severe head injuries.

Charged last February and held on a $1 million bond, the Benton Harbor man had been expected to face trial next year. Sentencing is Jan. 30.

His lawyer, Donald Sappanos, says the plea was against his advice and asked to withdraw from the case.

Carter suffered head injuries while his mother, 31-year-old Autumn Atchley, was at a doctor's appointment in Coloma, southwest of Grand Rapids.

Authorities say Beshires was with the child for 90 minutes and that the child suffered mortal injuries during that time. After the mother returned to the vehicle, they drove Carter to a hospital.

Beshires is not the boy's father; but, according to Sappanos, Beshires was the mother's boyfriend at the time. He contended that injuries to the child were from an accidental fall from a changing table in a restaurant bathroom.

Court records obtained by WSBT show Beshires has a history of child abuse since 2004, including a felony convictions in 2010 involving the abuse of a 3-month-old child.

Atchley was charged with "accessory after-the-fact" after she allegedly lied to police at the hospital about Beshires' identity and who was watching her son.  She told a judge she was in shock and was afraid of Beshires.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.