HAMILTON — A Middletown man could get the death penalty if convicted of killing his girlfriend's 2-year-old son.

        In an indictment made public Thursday, a Butler County grand jury issued an aggravated murder charge against E.Y. Lawson, 22, with a death penalty specification that the victim was a child under the age of 13.

        Mr. Lawson is accused in the April 17 death of Christopher David Long, whom Mr. Lawson had been baby-sitting when the child stopped breathing April 16. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office, which investigated because the child died at Children's Hospital Medical Center, ruled that Christopher died from a brain injury caused by “multiple blunt impacts to (the) head and whiplash injuries to (the) neck.”

        Mr. Lawson remains in the Butler County Jail awaiting a June 13 arraignment on the charge. His bond is $250,000.

        His attorney, Jerry M. Bryant of Middletown, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.

        Craig Hedric, who handled about 10 death penalty cases as a defense lawyer, has been assigned this case — his first death penalty case as a Butler County assistant prosecutor.

        He declined to comment on the indictment.

        In a Middletown Municipal Court hearing May 1, a doctor testified the child's fatal brain injuries could not have been caused by a fall down the stairs, nor from his crib, as Mr. Lawson had suggested. Also, a detective testified that Mr. Lawson admitted he had shaken the child.

Alliance chief says care will cost more
Anthem expands into Kansas
Ohio tests point to gap in reading
Drop in crime may be over
In short, cabdrivers get a break
Jury decides on death penalty
RADEL: Film's fictions startle true heroes
Canada keeps sending cold air
Butler targets drunken teens
Colerain wants 'rave' dances to stop
Florence motel housed meth lab
Fund-raiser season help parties gird for 2002
Governors hold pollution summit in Appalachians
Ky. criticizes Covington schools
Medical projects put on hold
Middletown man could be executed in death of tot
New GED test coming
Papers for 'Ivan the Terrible,' retiree similar, witness says
Pickup wreck injures 4 Campbell Co. teens
Report: Special ed pupils forgotten
Smoke-free gets youthful push
Stabbing victim's husband had record
Test revamp bill goes to Taft
Watchdog finds school violations
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report