Cozad man sentenced to 70-100 years for infant son's death

A Cozad man, Draven Haynes, has been sentenced to 70 to 100 years in prison for the child abuse resulting in the death of his infant son, Carson Haynes. The sentencing took place in Dawson County District Court, where Judge Patrick Heng addressed the charges stemming from the tragic death of the three-month-old infant, who died due to blunt force head injuries sustained in February 2024.

Carson was initially taken to a local hospital after being found unresponsive, where a CT scan revealed serious injuries, including a brain bleed, broken ribs, and burn marks. Upon further investigation, medical staff determined that these injuries were the result of severe trauma, contradicting the initial claims that he had merely fallen off a bed.

During the court proceedings, Chief Deputy County Attorney Garrett Goodwin emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that Carson lived only 92 days and suffered greatly due to parental abuse and neglect. Haynes had acknowledged that he slammed Carson to the ground while he was crying and that he and Carson's mother, Jasmine Hopkins, had failed to seek medical care for severe burns the infant had suffered previously, fearing intervention from child protective services.

Haynes’ defense attorney, Kenneth Harbison, expressed that his client was horrified by his actions and understood the necessity of punishment. Harbison urged the judge to consider Haynes' mental capacity in his decision-making process, emphasizing that while there was intent behind his actions, the resulting harm was not intended.

In addition to Haynes' sentencing, Carson's mother received a three to five-year sentence in late December after pleading no contest to a felony child abuse charge. Judge Heng considered various factors in Haynes' sentencing, including statutory guidelines and a presentence investigation, and expressed disgust over the inaction that led to Carson's suffering. Haynes has been credited for 407 days already served in custody.