Special to The Sun—
CHILDRESS – On Wednesday, Aug. 26, a Memphis man was sentenced to 99 years in prison for causing the death of his five-week-old son.
Chaz Edward Dean Carney, 23, pleaded guilty. District Attorney for the 100th Judicial District Luke Inman said the offense, a first-degree felony, occurred on Nov. 7, 2019. Carney was arrested within days of the crime, due largely in part to an extensive investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers and Hall County Sheriff’s Office.
“We were fortunate to have experienced Texas Rangers like Bo Brown, Wayne Buxton and Mike Smith come in immediately and assist Sheriff Tom Heck and the other Hall County deputies in the investigation of a young child’s tragic death,” said Inman.
The Hall County Grand Jury indicted Carney for capital murder on Dec. 18, 2019.
Inman, along with Assistant District Attorney Harley Caudle, prosecuted the case for the State of Texas, with the Honorable Judge Stuart Messer presiding. According to Caudle, “Since we couldn’t send him to hell, 99 years in the Texas prison system is the next best thing.”
“The death of a child is something no parent should have to endure,” said Inman. “But killing your own child makes you a monster unworthy of ever having kids again, and that’s what this plea accomplished today.”
The victim’s mother still faces charges related to the infant’s death and is currently set for trial on Oct. 19.
