Man to be sentenced in death of 6-month-old step-grandson

CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. - A man who pleaded guilty to first degree child abuse that resulted in the death of his 6-month old step-grandson will be sentenced Monday.

48-year-old Lenwood Pearson faces up to 20 years in prison in connection with the death of Demetri Hooper.

Police say Pearson was asked to pick up 6-month-old Hooper from day care in September of last year. Officers say when the boy's father came for him an hour later, Hooper was unresponsive and was taken to a hospital where he later died.

Investigators say Pearson admitted to lifting Hooper into the air causing his head to strike the blade of a ceiling fan. Pearson said the child fell out of his hands and struck his head on the stove before falling again. Police say an autopsy showed the child had multiple injuries including multiple skull fractures, a fractured rib and a fractured femur. His death was ruled a homicide.

Sentencing is scheduled for Monday morning at the Prince George's County Courthouse.