GUILTY FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*

[Niner]

Wednesday, February 26th:
*Disposition Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
10/16/19 Update: Will be charged as adult. Will remain in the juvenile detention facility by court order. Next Appearance date on 11/6. 10/22/19: Appointed attorney ad litem for minor child. 11/6/19: Next pretrial hearing on 12/3 defendant’s appearance waived. 12/3/19: Defendant’s appearance waived. Next pretrial hearing on 12/17. 12/16/19 Update: Pretrial hearing has been rescheduled for 1/7/20.
1/7/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. GAL present. Order for Competency Exam entered. Order for competency exam-granted. 1/9/20: Confidential forensic evaluation is sealed. Next pretrial hearing on 1/21. 1/21/20: Next pretrial hearing on 1/28/20. 1/28/20: Defendant not present. Mother is present. Next Disposition hearing on 2/26.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
70 -- 2/26/2020
2/26/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK
71 -- 2/26/2020
2/26/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR
72 -- 2/26/2020
2/26/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO
73 -- 2/26/2020
2/26/2020 DEFENDANT NOT PRESENT
74 -- 2/26/2020
2/26/2020 STATUS CONFERENCE 03/10/2020 9:00 AM - 306 3RD FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202

Hearings:
2/26/2020 9:00 AM DISPOSITION 3rd Floor 306

3/10/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, March 10th:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
10/16/19 Update: Will be charged as adult. Will remain in the juvenile detention facility by court order. Next Appearance date on 11/6. 10/22/19: Appointed attorney ad litem for minor child. 11/6/19: Next pretrial hearing on 12/3 defendant’s appearance waived. 12/3/19: Defendant’s appearance waived. Next pretrial hearing on 12/17. 12/16/19 Update: Pretrial hearing has been rescheduled for 1/7/20.
1/7/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. GAL present. Order for Competency Exam entered. Order for competency exam-granted. 1/9/20: Confidential forensic evaluation is sealed. Next pretrial hearing on 1/21. 1/21/20: Next pretrial hearing on 1/28/20. 1/28/20: Defendant not present. Mother is present. Next Disposition hearing on 2/26. 2/26/20: Next Status conference hearing on 3/10.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
75 -- 3/10/2020
3/10/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

76 -- 3/10/2020
3/10/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

77 -- 3/10/2020
3/10/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

78 -- 3/10/2020
3/10/2020 DEFENDANT NOT PRESENT

79 -- 3/10/2020
3/10/2020 DEFENDANT APPEARANCE WAIVED

80 -- 3/10/2020
3/10/2020 STATUS CONFERENCE 04/07/2020 9:00 AM - 306 3RD FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202

Hearings:
3/10/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

4/7/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Still listed as happening today - maybe a video teleconference....

Tuesday, April 7th:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
10/16/19 Update: Will be charged as adult. Will remain in the juvenile detention facility by court order. Next Appearance date on 11/6. 10/22/19: Appointed attorney ad litem for minor child. 11/6/19: Next pretrial hearing on 12/3 defendant’s appearance waived. 12/3/19: Defendant’s appearance waived. Next pretrial hearing on 12/17. 12/16/19 Update: Pretrial hearing has been rescheduled for 1/7/20.
1/7/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. GAL present. Order for Competency Exam entered. Order for competency exam-granted. 1/9/20: Confidential forensic evaluation is sealed. Next pretrial hearing on 1/21. 1/21/20: Next pretrial hearing on 1/28/20. 1/28/20: Defendant not present. Mother is present. Next Disposition hearing on 2/26. 2/26/20: Next Status conference hearing on 3/10.
3/10/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/7.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
81 -- 4/7/2020
4/7/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

82 -- 4/7/2020
4/7/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

83 -- 4/7/2020
4/7/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

84 -- 4/7/2020
4/7/2020 DEFENDANT APPEARANCE WAIVED

85 -- 4/7/2020
4/7/2020 OTHERS PRESENT: PD: B. BREWER FOR T. SOPP

86 -- 4/7/2020
4/7/2020 STATUS CONFERENCE 04/21/2020 9:00 AM - 306 3RD FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202

Hearing:
4/7/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

4/21/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

This is still showing as happening for today - so I shall post it.

Tuesday, April 21st:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
Court info from 10/16/19 thru 1/7/20 reference post #25 here:
FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*
3/10/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/7. 4/7/20: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/21.

 

[3kgirlsmommy]

What a tragic case all the way around. Something I'm wondering, from the articles linked, it's not clear whether JG himself was the planned babysitter, or if the children had been left in the care of JG's mother, who then left the children alone with JG at some point. And left him alone with them for "several hours". JG's mother had to have known about his history of abuse on other children, so why would she leave him alone with 3 children by himself?

Also, it says that the police were called to "a business", and the injured child was then transported to a hospital. Does anyone know anything more about the "business"?

IMO

I live in Jacksonville & I don’t know how I missed this case but I can’t sleep tonight and happened to see it. I found an article from the Times Union newspaper that said the victim’s mother arrived and found her unresponsive - all other articles say the suspects mom found her so I’m wondering if this was his sister & he was babysitting his siblings.

Jacksonville teen baby sitter jailed in beating death of 3-year-old girl

None of the articles mentioned the business but the area of town it was in is not the nicest.

 

[Niner]

88 -- 4/21/2020
4/21/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

89 -- 4/21/2020
4/21/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

90 -- 4/21/2020
4/21/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

91 -- 4/21/2020
4/21/2020 DEFENDANT APPEARANCE WAIVED

92 -- 4/21/2020
4/21/2020 STATUS HEARING 04/23/2020 9:00 AM - 503 5TH FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Thursday, April 23rd:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
Court info from 10/16/19 thru 1/7/20 reference post #25 here:
FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*
3/10/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/7. 4/7/20: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/21.
4/21/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next status hearing on 4/23.

 

[Niner]

93 -- 4/23/2020
4/23/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

94 -- 4/23/2020
4/23/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

95 -- 4/23/2020
4/23/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

96 -- 4/23/2020
4/23/2020 DEFENDANT APPEARANCE WAIVED

97 -- 4/23/2020
4/23/2020 STATUS HEARING 04/30/2020 9:00 AM - 604 6TH FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202


Hearings:
4/23/2020 9:00 AM STATUS HEARING 5th Floor 503

4/30/2020 9:00 AM STATUS HEARING 6th Floor 604

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Docket:
98 -- 4/29/2020
4/29/2020 CANCELLED STATUS HEARING ON 4/30/2020 9:00:00 AM

99 -- 4/29/2020
4/29/2020 > CANCEL REASON - PER JA EMAIL

100 -- 4/29/2020
4/29/2020 STATUS HEARING 05/05/2020 9:00 AM - 503 5TH FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202

101
D104 -- 4/29/2020
4/29/2020 PER JA EMAIL

Hearings:
Date Time Type Location Courtroom Cancelled
4/30/2020 9:00 AM STATUS HEARING 6th Floor 604 Yes

5/5/2020 9:00 AM STATUS HEARING 5th Floor 503

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

This hearing is still appearing on the court site....

Tuesday, May 5th:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
Court info from 10/16/19 thru 1/7/20 reference post #25 here:
FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*
3/10/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/7. 4/7/20: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/21.
4/21/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next status hearing on 4/23. 4/23/20: Defendant waived appearance. Next status hearing on 4/30. 4/30/20: Status hearing for 4/30 has been rescheduled due to the coronavirus to 5/5/20.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
102 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

103 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

104 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

105 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 DEFENDANT PRESENT IN JAIL

106
D109 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 DEF. W/TEST. & ACCEPTS FINDINGS OF PSYCHIATRIST JOSEPH SESTA (2 PART REPORTS) DATED 12/16/19, STATE AND DEFENSE STIPULATE 15

107
D110 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 DEF. W/TEST. & ACCEPTS FINDINGS OF PSYCHIATRIST DR. WILLIAM MEADOWS - REPORT OF 1/17/2020, STATE AND DEFENSE STIPULATE 6

108 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 DEF. ADJUDGED INCOMPETENT

109 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 DEFENDANT MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR INVOLUNTARY HOSPITALIZATION - ORDER TO BE ENTERED

110 -- 5/5/2020
5/5/2020 REVIEW HEARING 08/05/2020 9:00 AM - 306 3RD FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202


Hearings:
5/5/2020 9:00 AM STATUS HEARING 5th Floor 503

8/5/2020 9:00 AM REVIEW HEARING 3rd Floor 306

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, August 5th:
*Review Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14/now 15) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
Court info from 10/16/19 thru 1/7/20 reference post #25 here:
FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*
3/10/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/7. 4/7/20: Defendant waived appearance. Next Status hearing on 4/21.
4/21/20 Update: Defendant waived appearance. Next status hearing on 4/23. 4/23/20: Defendant waived appearance. Next status hearing on 4/30. 4/30/20: Status hearing for 4/30 has been rescheduled due to the coronavirus to 5/5/20.
5/5/20 Update: Defendant appeared from jail via video. Defense with testimony & accepts findings of psychiatrists Joseph Sesta dated 12/16/19 & Dr. William Meadows dated 1/17/20, State & Defense stipulate. Defense adjudged incompetency. Defendant meets the criteria for involuntary hospitalization-Order entered. Next review hearing on 8/5/20.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
117 -- 8/5/2020
8/5/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

118 -- 8/5/2020
8/5/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

119 -- 8/5/2020
8/5/2020 ATTY. FOR DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

120 -- 8/5/2020
8/5/2020 DEFENDANT PRESENT IN JAIL

121 -- 8/5/2020
8/5/2020 DEFENDANT HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPORTED TO DCF FOR TREATMENT.

122 -- 8/5/2020
8/5/2020 STATUS CONFERENCE 08/19/2020 9:00 AM - 306 3RD FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202


Hearings:
8/5/2020 9:00 AM REVIEW HEARING 3rd Floor 306

8/19/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Here's an article on the delays of getting Godwin transferred.

Teen murder defendant among 60 Jacksonville inmates unable to get psychiatric help

August 6, 2020
The state's refusal to accept mentally incompetent defendants has created a coronavirus backlog that a judge calls 'extremely unfortunate.'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The day before his 15th birthday, Johnathan Godwin was ordered to go to a psychiatric hospital.

By law, the state was required to place him within 15 days.

But at a hearing Wednesday -- three months later -- it became clear he isn’t going anywhere. And he’s not alone.

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, August 19th:
*Status Conference Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14/now 15) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Accused of repeatedly hitting the girl in her chest, back, legs and head with his fist and a belt in an attempt to get her to stop crying. He was babysitting her & 2 other kids. Had a history of abusing & burning another small child. Cops said he admitted to the abuse and also confessed to being involved in the little girl’s death. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office could not immediately comment on whether Godwin’s mother would be facing criminal charges.
Court info from 10/16/19 thru 4/30/20 reference post #35 here:
FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*
5/5/20 Update: Defendant appeared from jail via video. Defense with testimony & accepts findings of psychiatrists Joseph Sesta dated 12/16/19 & Dr. William Meadows dated 1/17/20, State & Defense stipulate. Defense adjudged incompetency. Defendant meets the criteria for involuntary hospitalization-Order entered. Next review hearing on 8/5/20.
8/5/20 Update: Present: Judge Mark Borello, Asst. State attorney Joel Cooper, Atty for defendant Teresa Sopp, defendant present in jail (via video); defendant has not been transported to DCF for treatment. Circuit Judge Mark Borello acknowledged Wednesday. “But the court’s order still stands: for him to be transported. And they are not doing that.” Regarding the backlog of inmates to be sent to the State psychiatric facility. And DCF saying they can't transfer him. Next status conference hearing on 8/19/20. 8/11/20 Update: Motion to intervene, to amend order commiting defendant to the Dept. of Children & Families; notice of confidential info. 8/13/20: Order permitting George E. Schulz, Jr. of Holland & Knight, LLP to withdraw.

 

[Niner]

Docket:
123
D127 -- 8/11/2020
8/12/2020 MOTION TO INTERVENE,TO AMEND ORDER COMMITMING DEFENDANT TO THE DEAPRTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 9

124
D128 -- 8/11/2020
8/12/2020 NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION 9

125
D129 -- 8/13/2020
8/13/2020 ORDER PERMITTING GEORGE E. SCHULZ, JR. OF HOLLAND & KNIGHT, LLP TO WITHDRAW 1

126 -- 8/19/2020
8/19/2020 JUDGE BORELLO, MARK

127 -- 8/19/2020
8/19/2020 ASST. STATE ATTY. COOPER, JOEL C JR

128 -- 8/19/2020
8/19/2020 ASST. PUB. DEF. SOPP, TERESA JO

129 -- 8/19/2020
8/19/2020 DEFENDANT PRESENT IN JAIL

130 -- 8/19/2020
8/19/2020 REVIEW HEARING 09/02/2020 9:00 AM - 306 3RD FLOOR, 501 W ADAMS ST JACKSONVILLE FL 32202


Hearings:
8/19/2020 9:00 AM STATUS CONFERENCE 3rd Floor 306

9/2/2020 9:00 AM REVIEW HEARING 3rd Floor 306

link: CORE - Clerk Online Resource ePortal

 

[Niner]

Wednesday, Sept. 2nd:
*Review Hearing (@ 9am ET) - FL – 3 year old girl (Aug. 16, 2019, Jacksonville) – *Johnathan Jerome Godwin (14/now 15) arrested (10/14/19), charged (10/10/19) & arraigned (10/16/19) with 2nd degree felony murder & felony aggravated child abuse. Plead not guilty. Held in juvenile detention facility by court order.
Info on murder & court info from 10/16/19 thru 5/5/20 reference post #38 here:
FL - Girl, 3, beaten to death by male babysitter, 14, Jacksonville, 16 Aug 2019 *Arrest*
8/5/20 Update: Present: Judge Mark Borello, Asst. State attorney Joel Cooper, Atty for defendant Teresa Sopp, defendant present in jail (via video); defendant has not been transported to DCF for treatment. Circuit Judge Mark Borello acknowledged Wednesday. “But the court’s order still stands: for him to be transported. And they are not doing that.” Regarding the backlog of inmates to be sent to the State psychiatric facility. And DCF saying they can't transfer him. Next status conference hearing on 8/19/20. 8/11/20 Update: Motion to intervene, to amend order committing defendant to the Dept. of Children & Families; notice of confidential info. 8/13/20: Order permitting George E. Schulz, Jr. of Holland & Knight, LLP to withdraw. 8/12/20: Motion to intervene, to amend order committing defendant to the Dept. of Children & Families. 8/13/20: Order permitting George E. Schulz, Jr. to withdraw.
8/19/20 Update: Present at hearing: Judge Mark Borello, Asst. State atty Joel Cooper, Jr. & Asst. Public defendant Teresa Sopp; defendant present in jail. Next review hearing on 9/2/20.