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The Louisiana man accused of fatally injuring a toddler in Maine over the summer has pleaded not guilty.
Aziayh Scott, 23, entered his plea on a manslaughter charge in Knox County Superior Court during his arraignment Thursday, according to the Portland Press Herald.
Scott allegedly caused the death of 22-month-old Quayshawn Wilson, who became unresponsive and stopped breathing in the parking lot of the Thomaston Walmart about 7:26 p.m. on May 29.
Wilson was taken to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport, where the toddler died.
Scott had been watching Wilson that day while the boy’s mother, Shaneka Washington, went to work as a traveling nurse. Scott later left their apartment in Owls Head with Wilson to pick up Washington before going to Walmart.
Neighbors told police that Scott was carrying Wilson, whose head was tilted back “in a very concerning manner,” according to the Press Herald.
The Maine medical examiner’s office later determined Wilson died of blunt force trauma and ruled the death a homicide. Wilson had a “severely lacerated liver,” suggesting someone may have stomped on the child, the Press Herald reported.
Scott had moved to Maine and was living with Washington in Owls Head.
When police went to the Owls Head residence, they found the couple had returned to Louisiana, the Maine State Police said earlier this year.
Scott was arrested on June 5 in New Orleans by Louisiana State Police. He was taken to the Orleans Parish Prison to await extradition to Maine.
But Scott’s attorney, Christopher MacLean, maintains his client is innocent and suggested that Wilson’s injuries may have been caused by improper life-saving measures during efforts to revive the child, the Press Herald reported.
Scott is being held on $50,000 bail at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset. That’s down from the $250,000 bail imposed over the summer.
