NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A woman was sentenced to probation on Thursday for a felony charge of child abuse resulting in death in connection with the 2020 death of her 2-month-old son. Tattiyona Wilson, 29, was initially charged with murder after she was arrested in October 2021 on murder and child abuse charges in connection with the death of her son, Xaden Jackson, in September 2020.
The Clark County coroner’s office said Xaden’s death was a homicide caused by blunt force head injuries. According to police, he died from three skull fractures. Wilson did not admit to causing Xaden’s death, rather pleading to a charge of child abuse by “failing to protect” him from injuries resulting in his death, court records show.
During a court hearing, District Judge Tierra Jones sentenced Wilson to probation not to exceed three years. If she violates her probation, she could face four to 10 years in prison. Chief Deputy District Attorney Dena Rinetti said Wilson was able to plead to the child abuse charge due to “issues with the case,” including testimony from a medical examiner during a preliminary hearing that Xaden’s injuries could have been caused by a single impact.
“ The fact that the other child was responsible for this wasn’t something that was dreamed up by my client and her husband at a later date,” Chief Deputy Public Defender Edward Kane told the judge. “It was mentioned by both of them at their very first interview.” Both Kane and Rinetti said they spoke to experts who disputed the other side’s argument over the source of the injuries. Rinetti pointed out that police said there were inconsistencies in Wilson’s statements to investigators.
Rinetti said that although Wilson had “taken responsibility” in her guilty plea, she believed that a prison sentence was appropriate in the case. Wilson’s public defender instead asked for her to be placed on probation. He said that she has been cooperative with police and no longer has custody of her remaining children, but is trying to hold her family together through court-approved supervision.
Before placing Wilson on probation, the judge agreed that it was a “difficult case.” She said she had to take into account that Wilson admitted to failing to supervise the baby, not cause him harm.
In summary, Tattiyona Wilson has been sentenced to probation for a felony charge of child abuse resulting in death in connection with the 2020 death of her 2-month-old son. This comes after the initial murder charges were reduced following issues with the case, ultimately leading to a plea agreement for the lesser charge. If she violates her probation, she could face four to 10 years in prison.