Dominic Dwayne Kingsbury Jr. | Homicide Watch DC

15 Year Sentence for Beating Death of DC Toddler

Laura Amico — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:36:53 -0500

The grief of Dominic Dwayne Kingsbury Jr.'s family was palpable Friday as, throughout the morning, Steven Cephas stood before them to be sentenced.

Their moans, sniffles, cries, and, once, angry words, permeated every corner of the courtroom, as they felt again the loss of their 20-month old son, grandson and nephew. He was brutally beaten to death while in Cephas' care when his mother was at work.

Not even Cephas' attorney, nor Judge William Jackson, were immune to the emotion.

"I've been on this bench nineteen years now," said Jackson, his face appearing grim and gray above the judge's robe. "Every time I'd thought I'd seen the worst case, I'd see another. This case is inexcusable. I tried my best to look for some mitigation here and I could find none."

He sentenced Cephas to 15 years and five months in prison for the crime of voluntary manslaughter.

According to the government's evidence, Cephas was babysitting Kingsbury the night of Nov. 8, 2010 and became upset when the child awoke while Cephas was playing video games. According to the government's sentencing memorandum, Cephas "became enraged and forcibly hit the child in the head and body and threw him into a wall."

Kingsbury suffered multiple injuries and died at 3:17 that morning.

"My grandson was my heart. My grandson was my joy. My grandson was my everything," Denise George stuttered through tears at sentencing. "I would like to ask why? Why did you brutally murder my grandson? Why did you murder my grandson?"

There were no answers to the question Jordan posed. Cephas pleaded guilty to the count of voluntary manslaughter before a preliminary hearing was held in the case and on Friday Cephas did not address the court.

Jason Tully however, Cephas' attorney, turned his back to the court, and, his hand held over his heart, addressed Kingsbury's family.

On behalf of all the staff who worked on the case, he said, "I offer our deepest, sincerest apologies for your loss. I have three young children and I'm so sorry for your loss. Certainly Dominic's family is in all our prayers."

While Cephas did not address the court, one of his attorneys read two letters on his behalf: one addressed to Kingsbury and one addressed to Kingsbury's mother.

To the child he wrote: "I wanted the best for you out of life. I'm sad your gone. I'll never forget how bright you made our lives. I'm terribly, terribly sorry."

To Kingsbury's mother he wrote: "I was supposed to look after you and him. I let you down. What I've done to you now it's just too much."

Just outside the courtroom doors a woman moaned.

"I can't take it no more. My heart hurts," she cried, again and again.

A press release from the US Attorney's Office is below.

District Man Sentenced to More than 15 Years in Prison In Killing of His Then-Girlfriend’s 20-Month-Old Son- Child Had Numerous Injuries, Marks and Bruises -

WASHINGTON - Steven Allen Cephas, 22, also known as Savion Allen Dawson, was sentenced today to 15 years and five months in prison for voluntary manslaughter in the death of his then-girlfriend’s 20-month-old son, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Cephas, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty in September 2011 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable William M. Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Cephas will be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to evidence presented by Assistant U. S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, Cephas was at an apartment in the 5000 block of Jay Street NE on November 8, 2010, babysitting his girlfriend’s 20-month-old son, Dominic Kingsbury Jr., while she went to work. Prior to leaving for work, the mother reported that her son showed no signs of distress, bruising or injuries.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., Cephas called his girlfriend and stated the child had stopped breathing. She then called Dominic’s grandmother, who came immediately to the apartment. Evidence showed that Cephas had caused injuries to the child while he was alone with him.

When the grandmother arrived, she observed Dominic lying face up with marks and bruising on his face and stomach. She cried for help, and a neighbor called 911. The neighbor reported that the child was cold to the touch, with no pulse, unconscious, and unresponsive.

Members of the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported Dominic, who had cardiac arrest, to Children’s National Medical Center. At 3:17 a.m., the little boy was pronounced dead. An autopsy indicated that he suffered from acute multiple blunt force injuries to the body, along with hemorrhages, lacerations of the intestine and liver, and spinal cord contusions. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The evidence indicates that Cephas was the only person caring for the child at the time of his injuries. When initially questioned by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Cephas provided a false name of “Savion Allen Dawson” and was released by the police. His true name later was discovered and he was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on November 10, 2010.

At the time of Dominic’s death, Cephas was pending jail time for violating the conditions of his probation in another case, involving charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license. On July 29, 2010, the Honorable Judge Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. revoked the defendant’s probation and had ordered him to be turned over to the U.S. Marshals to serve a sentence. But first, Judge Dixon gave Cephas 15 minutes to turn over his property to family members. Instead of complying, Cephas fled. After Cephas’s arrest in the murder case, Judge Dixon revoked his probation and sentenced him to seven years of incarceration.

Cephas currently is serving a 7 ½-year prison sentence, ordered by the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr., for two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Judge Jackson ordered that the sentence he imposed today run consecutively to the time that Cephas is serving for the other crimes.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of MPD Detectives Carlos Hilliard and Gina Powell, Sgt. Robert Parker, Mobile Crime Officers Petheria McIver, John R. Holder, Jay Gregory, and Tony Nwami, and Technicians Eric S. Coker and Stan Rembish. He also commended Pete Amico of the U.S. Marshals Service.

U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, Delissa Rivers, Mark Silberstein and Alesha Matthews-Yette, and Victim Witness Advocate, Marcey Rinker. He also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Note: A correction has been made to this story to correct the spelling of Denise George.

Sentencing in Death of Toddler Postponed

Laura Amico — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:39:37 -0500

Steven Cephas' sentencing on a charge of voluntary manslaughter was postponed again today, the second postponement of sentencing in the case.

Cephas pleaded guilty in September to voluntary manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend's 20-month old child. Sentencing has been rescheduled to Jan. 27.

Steven Cephas Pleads "Guilty" in Death of Girlfriend's Child

Laura Amico — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:27:53 -0400

UPDATED with statement from the US Attorney's Office.

Steven Cephas pleaded guilty this morning to causing injuries and physical trauma to his girlfriend's 20-month-old baby who was in his care last November.

The plea to voluntary manslaughter in the case came just moments after Cephas, 21, was arraigned on a charge of first-degree felony murder with aggravating circumstances in the case.

Prosecutors agreed to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, and dropped all other charges, in exchange for Cephas' plea.

According to a proffer of facts offered by prosecutors Friday, the 20-month-old child, Dominic Dwayne Kingsbury Jr., was in Cephas' care on Nov. 8, 2010 while the child's mother was at work.

While babysitting the child, Cephas called Kingsbury's mother, his girlfriend, and told her that Kingsbury had stopped breathing. The child's grandmother went to check on the baby and found him unresponsive and cold to the touch. Paramedics transported the child to Children's National Medical Center and he was pronounced dead about an hour later. An autopsy concluded that he had suffered multiple blunt force injuries. Prosecutors said Friday that Cephas had caused those injuries.

Asked by Judge William Jackson if that was true, Cephas responded "yes."

According to sentencing guideline, Cephas faces up to 30 years in jail.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 28.

From the US Attorney's Office:

District Man Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter In Killing of His Then-Girlfriend’s 20-Month-Old Son- Child Had Numerous Injuries, Marks and Bruises -

WASHINGTON - Steven Allen Cephas, 21, also known as Savion Allen Dawson, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a felony charge in the death of his then-girlfriend’s 20-month-old son, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Cephas pled guilty this morning in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. The Honorable William M. Jackson scheduled sentencing for October 28, 2011. Cephas faces up to 30 years in prison.

According to evidence presented by Assistant U. S. Attorney Cynthia Wright, Cephas was at an apartment in the 5000 block of Jay Street NE on November 8, 2010, babysitting his girlfriend’s 20-month-old son, Dominic Kingsbury Jr., while she went to work. Prior to leaving for work, the mother reported that her son showed no signs of distress, bruising or injuries.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., Cephas called his girlfriend and stated the child had stopped breathing. She then called Dominic’s grandmother, who came immediately to the apartment. Evidence showed that Cephas had caused injuries to the child while he was alone with him.

When the grandmother arrived, she observed Dominic lying face up with marks and bruising on his face and stomach. She cried for help, and a neighbor called 911. The neighbor reported that the child was cold to the touch, with no pulse, unconscious, and unresponsive.

Members of the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported Dominic, who had cardiac arrest, to Children’s National Medical Center. At 3:17 a.m., the little boy was pronounced dead. An autopsy indicated that he suffered from acute multiple blunt force injuries to the body, along with hemorrhages, lacerations of the intestine and liver, and spinal cord contusions. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.

The evidence indicates that Cephas was the only person caring for the child at the time of his injuries. When initially questioned by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Cephas provided a false name of “Savion Allen Dawson” and was released by the police. His true name later was discovered and he was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on November 10, 2010.

At the time of Dominic’s death, Cephas was pending jail time for violating the conditions of his probation in another case, involving charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license. On July 29, 2010, the Honorable Judge Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. revoked the defendant’s probation and had ordered him to be turned over to the U.S. Marshals to serve a sentence. But first, Judge Dixon gave Cephas 15 minutes to turn over his property to family members. Instead of complying, Cephas fled. After Cephas’s arrest in the murder case, Judge Dixon revoked his probation and sentenced him to seven years of incarceration.

In announcing today’s guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of MPD Detectives Carlos Hilliard and Gina Powell, Sgt. Robert Parker, Mobile Crime Officers Petheria McIver, John R. Holder, Jay Gregory, and Tony Nwami, and Technicians, Eric S. Coker and Stan Rembish. He also commended Pete Amico of the U.S. Marshals Service.

U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, Delissa Rivers, Mark Silberstein and Alesha Mathews-Yette, and Victim Witness Advocate, Marcey Rinker. He also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Arraignment of Man Accused of Killing Child Postponed

Laura Amico — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:27:57 -0400

A felony arraignment in the first-degree murder case of a 20-month-old boy has been postponed to May 27.

Steven Cephas was due to be arraigned Tuesday. He has not yet had a preliminary hearing.

According to court records, Cephas will return to court May 27 at 9:30 a.m. instead for arraignment and a preliminary hearing. Judge William Jackson will hear the case.

Steven Cephas Indicted in Death of 20-month-old Child

Laura Amico — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:55:06 -0400

A murder case against 21-year-old Steven Cephas was indicted this week by a D.C. grand jury.

Cephas, accused in the traumatic injury death of Dominc Dwayne Kingsbury Jr., is expected to be arraigned on a first degree murder charge, a first degree cruelty to children charge, an obstruction of justice charge, and a charge that the offenses were committed during his release.

Cephas is due in court on April 5 to be arraigned. He has not yet had a preliminary hearing in the case.

Preliminary Hearing for Steven Cephas Delayed

Laura Amico — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:11:03 -0500

A preliminary hearing on evidence charging Steven Cephas with the death of 20-month-old Dominic Kingsbury Jr. has been postponed to May. Cephas, arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, was due to appear for the hearing Friday morning.

The postponement is the third for the case. The hearing has been rescheduled for May 27.

Preliminary Hearing in Killing of 20-Month-Old Postponed Until March

Laura Amico — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:05:03 -0500

A preliminary hearing on evidence charging Steven Cephas with the death of 20-month-old Dominic Kingsbury Jr. has been postponed to next month. Cephas, arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, was due to appear for the hearing Friday morning.

The postponement is the second for the case. The hearing has been rescheduled for March 3.

Steven Cephas due in Court Thursday in death of D.C. 20-month-old

Laura Amico — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:12:03 -0500

UPDATE Jan. 13 1 p.m. The preliminary hearing in this case has been rescheduled for Feb. 11 at 9:30 a.m. in Judge William Jackson's courtroom (302).

Steven Cephas is expected in court Thursday morning for a preliminary hearing in the death of a toddler he was babysitting while its mother was at work. Cephas is also known as Steve Dawson and Savion Dawson, according to charging documents in the case. He will be 21 years old on Sunday.

According to the charging documents, 20-month-old Dominic Dwayne Kingsbury Jr. was found unconscious by paramedics responding to an emergency call about the child at about 2 a.m. on Monday, November 8, 2010. He was transported to Children's National Medical Center and pronounced dead at 3:17 that morning. An autopsy concluded that he had suffered multiple blunt force injuries and that his death was a homicide.

Investigators say Cephas was home alone with Kingsbury the night the child died. According to the charging documents, Cephas called Kingsbury's mother at about 1:20 a.m. to tell her that the child was "shaking." The child's mother sent someone to check on him; that person found Kingsbury

lying face up on the bed [with] marks and bruising on his face and stomach. At that time [the witness] picked [Kingsbury] up and ran into the living room frantically screaming for help.

Charging document follow: