Aunt takes plea deal in death of 1-year-old Baby Cain
Jasmin Jones-Bonner pleaded no contest to first-degree child abuse and delivery of a controlled substance causing death of the child at a Flint Township residence in December 2022.
By Ryan Jeltema
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FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan (WJRT) — The aunt and legal guardian of 1-year-old Baby Cain accepted a plea deal on Monday and agreed to testify against her ex-boyfriend, who is charged with the child’s murder.
Court records show 34-year-old Jasmin Jones-Bonner pleaded no contest to charges of first-degree child abuse and delivery of a controlled substance to a minor. Prosecutors dropped charges of felony murder and torture in exchange for her plea.
The no contest plea indicates that Jones-Bonner won’t admit guilt for the baby’s death, but she will accept the punishment for her charges.
Baby Cain died on Dec. 19, 2022, from a methamphetamine overdose at a Flint Township residence.
Prosecutors say Jones-Bonner, who had legal custody of Baby Cain and was attempting to adopt him, left the child with then-boyfriend Timothy Coombs while she attended a work Christmas party.
While she was gone, authorities say Coombs fed the 1-year-old methamphetamine and Baby Cain died of an overdose.
Jones-Bonner will testify against Coombs when he goes on trial Wednesday before Judge Brian Pickell in Genesee County Circuit Court. He is facing the following charges:
Felony murder. First-degree child abuse. Torture. Delivery of a controlled substance to a minor.
Coombs could face up to life in prison with no chance of parole if convicted of the most serious charges. Jones-Bonner’s plea agreement says she will be sentenced on a low end of guidelines when she appears before Pickell on July 8.
First-degree child abuse in Michigan carries a sentence of life or any term of years in prison. The court will determine her sentence guidelines with a pre-sentence investigation.
Jones-Bonner also was scheduled to stand trial with Coombs this week before she accepted the plea agreement.
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