Brevard County mother accused of allowing son’s beating death goes on trial again

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A new trial begins Monday in Brevard County for Erica Dotson.

Dotson is facing capital murder charges in the death of her 3-year-old son, Jameson.

Prosecutors say Dotson knew her boyfriend, Joshua Manns, was abusing the boy, and did nothing to stop it.

Manns took a plea deal for beating the boy to death in 2021. Prosecutors say Dotson claimed the boy drowned in a bathtub.

Dotson first went to trial last year, but the judge declared a mistrial because prosecutors had had a conversation or “proffer” with Manns that they failed to disclose to Dotson’s attorneys, in violation of court rules.

Manns’ plea deal led to 60 years in prison.

The State Attorney’s Office confirmed on Monday that Dotson is no longer eligible for the death penalty.

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