Sentencing Delayed Again for Jacksonville Father in Infant’s Death
Sentencing in Jacksonville Child Death Case Delayed
On Friday afternoon in Jacksonville, Florida, the sentencing hearing for Justin Golden, a 21-year-old father who pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child in the death of his 8-month-old son, was postponed for the second time in a month.
The sentencing was originally scheduled for November 13 but was delayed after the court determined that additional evidence and witness testimony were still outstanding. At the latest hearing, Golden's defense lawyer requested another postponement to allow two more testimonies to be heard before Judge London Kite issues a sentence.
Plea Agreement and Dropped Charges
Justin Golden pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with the death of his son, identified as 8-month-old Pablo Kye Golden. Golden had originally pleaded not guilty to three charges on February 18. As part of a negotiated plea, state prosecutors dropped his vehicular homicide charge and a charge of failure to render aid.
In October, Golden wrote a letter to the judge asking for leniency in his sentencing. In that letter, he characterized the incident as an accident and stated that he had never been in trouble before. He wrote that, if he was guilty of anything, it was of an accident caused by a mistake.
Incident at Jacksonville Intersection
Police reported that on the morning of January 25, 2025, Golden was driving near the intersection of McDuff Avenue and Lenox Avenue in Jacksonville with his son's mother in the passenger seat and 8-month-old Pablo in the vehicle. According to police, Golden got into an altercation with the child's mother while driving.
Police said the car came to a stop at the intersection, and Golden opened the car door and placed the child on the ground. As Golden drove away from the intersection, the vehicle ran over Pablo.
First responders transported the child to Wolfson's Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Witness Account and Police Response
A witness driving directly behind Golden at the time of the incident followed his vehicle while on the phone with a 911 operator, according to Golden's arrest report. The 911 operator notified nearby officers of Golden's location.
Police then conducted a traffic stop on Golden's vehicle near Stockton Street. Officers detained him following the stop.
Statements to Investigators
During an interview with police, Golden said he had been in a verbal fight with Pablo's mother and that she said she wanted to get out of the vehicle. Golden stated that he did not want to be responsible for the child or be accused of anything involving the child, according to the arrest report.
Pablo's mother told investigators she argued with Golden over baby wipes and money. She reported that she did not remove Pablo from his car seat and that she began walking away from the vehicle to end the argument. She told investigators she then heard screaming and, when she turned around, saw her son lying in the road and noticed that Golden's vehicle was gone.
The court has not yet announced a new date for Golden's sentencing.