Draven Haynes, (Dawson County Sheriff's Office, Courtesy)
LEXINGTON — A Cozad man charged after the death of his infant son has pleaded guilty to amended charges in Dawson County District Court.
Draven Haynes, 23, had been charged with committing intentional child abuse resulting in death, a Class 1B felony and committing intentional child abuse – injury, a Class 2 felony.
Haynes appeared in court for a hearing on Monday, Dec. 2, where he pleaded guilty to the first charge while the court dismissed the second count.
Sentencing has been set for Feb. 24, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.
According to court documents, on Feb. 14, the Cozad Police and Cozad Fire and Rescue responded to 202 Ave. A in Cozad for the report of an unresponsive two-month-old infant.
Officers would contact Haynes, who told law enforcement he had been watching the infant, Carson Haynes, and a one-year-old daughter.
Haynes told officers that he had allegedly set Carson on the bed and then he rolled off. Medical staff informed officers that Carson had gone into cardiac arrest and had to be placed on a breathing machine.
A CT scan was performed on Carson, and it was found he sustained brain bleeding, broken ribs that were healing and burn marks across the entirety of his back that were in the process of healing.
Medical staff told officers these injuries could not have been sustained from an infant falling from the bed and stated that, “non-accidental trauma,” should be considered in their investigation.
The children were placed on a 48-hour hold and Carson was transported to the Children’s Hospital in Omaha.
The next day, officers received information that Haynes had allegedly told family members that he had slammed Carson into the ground while he was crying.
Haynes was transported that day to Cozad Community Health Systems after an attempted overdose.
Haynes’ mother was interviewed by officers, and she sustained Haynes confession prior to the overdose. She also provided photos of Carson suffering from severe burns on his back that were taken in January 2024.
There was no record or evidence of Haynes ever seeking medical attention for Carson’s burns.
Medical staff with the Children’s Hospital also stated Carson’s injuries were caused by severe trauma. At the time, staff said that Carson was in critical condition and his injuries may be life-threatening.
On Tuesday, March 7, Carson died, being only three months and a day old.
When Haynes was medically cleared, he was placed under arrest and booked into the Dawson County Jail.
