A stock photo of a gavel.
OAKLAND — An Alameda County judge has denied a defense request to release a 22-year-old man who is accused of beating a 2-year-old boy to death while forcing the child’s mother to prostitute herself in Oakland, court records show.
Keonte Harris, 22, of Antioch, was charged last March with assault causing death of 2-year-old Jamari Madkins, on top of previously filed charges that he trafficked Jamari’s 17-year-old mother. Harris allegedly buried the boy’s body in Napa County, with the help of 21-year-old Joel Saavedra, a Suisun City resident who has denied the allegations.
Saavedra was released from jail in May, after Judge James Cramer agreed to waive his $500,000 bail. But at a Sept. 19 court hearing, Cramer denied a defense motion to release Harris to live with a relative in Sacramento and work at a roof panel manufacturing company in Vacaville.
The defense argued Harris would not be a flight risk and that he was constitutionally entitled to bail. Harris remains in Santa Rita Jail on a no-bail hold because of Cramer’s decision, and is next due in court Oct. 25.
“The government has not proved by clear and convincing evidence that pretrial detention is the only possible condition that would ensure the safety of the community,” Deputy Public Defender Jennie Otis wrote in court papers supporting Harris’ release.
In their opposition, Alameda County prosecutors revealed new details of Jamari’s death, saying he suffered 22 bruises to his mouth and six to his head, had THC in his system, and that Harris placed the toddler’s body in a duffle bag before driving to Solano County to seek Saavedra’ help. Jamari’s body was discovered in a rural area of Napa County that is accessible through a country road in Solano County, authorities said.
“The autopsy report made findings of scalp contusions, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhages, optic nerve sheath hemorrhage, bilateral and blunt impacts on the torso specifically contusions in the buttocks/lumbar spine area,” Deputy District Attorney Teresa Ortega wrote in court papers.
Harris and Jamari’s mother met in November 2022 and were living out of Harris’ car at the time of the incident, according to authorities. Prosecutors say Harris would drop the girl off at various high-prostitution area around the Bay Area and stay with Jamari while she was gone. The girl later told police that Harris would hit Jamari while attempting to potty train him, and that when she returned to the car on the night of Dec. 8, 2022, the boy was injured and barely breathing.
Harris allegedly denied the young mother’s insistence that they take him to a hospital, and left her in the East Bay while he went to dispose of Jamari’s body. Oakland police found his body on Dec. 23, 2022.
If convicted in Jamari’s death, Harris faces a sentence of 25 to life, the same for first degree murder.
Originally published at Nate Gartrell