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Brevard County man accepts plea deal in death of 3-year-old to avoid possible death penalty
A Brevard County man accused in the child-abuse death of 3-year-old Jameson Nance has accepted a plea agreement that allows him to avoid the possibility of death row.Joshua Manns, 30, entered a no-contest plea Wednesday while jury selection was underway for his first-degree murder trial in Viera. As part of the agreement with the State Attorney’s Office, Manns was found guilty of second-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, child neglect with great bodily harm, and child abuse.Under the plea deal, Manns will serve 60 years in prison for second-degree murder. Additional sentences of 30 years each for aggravated child abuse and child neglect, along with 26 years for child abuse, will run concurrently with the 60-year sentence.Investigators say Manns and the child’s mother, Erica Dotson, subjected Jameson to months of abuse before his death in June 2021 at a West Melbourne apartment. Prosecutors said the toddler suffered injuries, including a broken rib, brain swelling, and stab wounds.A
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