Father Accused Of Beating Son To Death To Stand Trial

An Indio man who allegedly hit his infant son to stop him from crying, leading to the baby’s death, was ordered today to stand trial for second-degree murder and assaulting a child.

Joseph Roy Scott, 22, also faces 13 felony robbery charges. A judge is expected to decide later today whether he be tried on those charges.

Scott allegedly used the heel of his hand to quiet his crying, 23-day- old son Alexander on June 11, 2008. Investigators believe the baby’s head hit a countertop, causing brain damage and seizures that contributed to his death in July 2009, said Deputy District Attorney Kristi Hester said.

“He was crying and (Scott) got angry and frustrated with him crying,” Hester said.

Alexander survived the alleged blow, but in the next few months, medication he was taking to prevent seizures caused his liver to fail. He contracted pneumonia in the hospital while being treated for his liver issues and died July 4, 2009.

“Had he been a normal healthy kid he would have been able to recover from the pneumonia, but with the after-effects of brain damage, he wasn’t able to,” Hester said.

Had he survived, Hester said Alexander would have suffered from developmental issues the rest of his life.

Initially arrested on suspicion of child abuse, Scott was able to post bail in December 2008. After being released, he allegedly committed a string of robberies at Circle K convenience stores across Riverside County.

From Jan. 13 to Jan. 28, 2009, Scott allegedly robbed 13 of the convenience stores from Indio to Rubidoux.

If ordered to stand trial on those charges, Scott faces sentence- enhancing allegations of using a firearm.