New Jersey Man Gets 30 Years For Fatally Beating Young Boy

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — A southern New Jersey man who beat his girlfriend’s young son to death two years ago has been sentenced to 30 years in state prison.

Vincent Williams of Camden pleaded guilty in March to aggravated manslaughter, admitting he punched and kicked 9-year-old Jamar Cruz. He then waited a day to seek medical attention for the child, who later died at a hospital.

The beating occurred in the apartment Williams shared with the boy’s mother, who wasn’t home when the incident occurred. It came four months after New Jersey’s child welfare agency had closed its file on the family.

The Division of Youth and Family Services became involved after Williams was accused of beating the boy with a belt in 2007. He later pleaded guilty.

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