South Daytona, FL - A South Daytona man was convicted of aggravated child abuse and third-degree murder for allegedly beating his girlfriend's 4-year-old child to death.
37-year-old
Joe McCaskell was convicted on Thursday after a more than two-week trial period. Prosecutors say McCaskell beat the child over a multiple-day period, and the child died in April of 2013.
According to the State Attorney R.J. Larizza's Office, sentencing is set for a later date pending a pre-sentence investigation. McCaskell faces up to 45 years in prison. Circuit Judge Matt Foxman presided over the trial.
McCaskell's girlfriend,
Mikkia Lewis, is charged with aggravated child abuse in the case, and she is scheduled to be tried in July of this year.
(Mikkia Lewis)
Mugshots courtesy of Volusia County Jail.
