Celina man sentenced in meth death of toddler

CELINA - A 30-year-old Celina man was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for the methamphetamine intoxication death of a Montezuma toddler.

Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Ingraham handed down the consecutive sentences totalling 70 months to Brandon Edwards on Wednesday morning. Edwards will serve 30 months for involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony; 30 months for endangering children, a third-degree felony; and 10 months for aggravated possession of drugs, a fifth degree felony, in the 2020 death of 2-year-old Ezra Siegrist.

Edwards earlier this month pleaded guilty to three charges as part of a negotiated plea agreement.

He originally faced eight charges, including a first-degree felony charge of involuntary manslaughter, a second-degree felony charge of endangering children and a first-degree misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.

Edwards was arrested in February after a two-year investigation into the death of Siegrist.

On Feb. 11, 2020, Mercer County dispatch received a call of a young child lying facedown and unresponsive at a Montezuma home, according to a new release from Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey. A family member first administered CPR and then deputies took over until EMS arrived. Siegrist was transported to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater where he later died.

An autopsy conducted by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office determined Siegrist died of methamphetamine intoxication, and the death was ruled a homicide by Mercer County Coroner Dr. Timothy Heinrichs.

Edwards reportedly was living at the residence at the time of the toddler's death and he was in a relationship with the child's mother.

Prior to sentencing on Wednesday morning, Edwards' attorney, William F. Kluge, said the state's case rested on an uneasy tripod of factors - that Edwards used meth, was the only one in the home who used meth and was the last person to see and be with the toddler.

"Based on those three facts, the state has formed a conclusion that charged Brandon with manslaughter," he said. "How did the state reach this conclusion? What evidence did they have? The evidence that they had was really a bunch of people who used meth. There was no proof that there was even meth in the house that night and there were was no proof that the defendant, in fact, administered meth to Ezra."

Had the case gone to trial as originally scheduled, the overwhelming factors of the case would have probably resulted in the same guilty findings, Kluge said.

He asked the court to consider running all three sentences concurrently for a maximum of three years and to consider release through rehabilitation.

Kluge said his client recognizes his drug issue, "could come back and do good for himself, for this community, for others" and has strong family ties with his mother and other people in the community.

Edwards feels great remorse that a child died, Kluge added.

"And so we all have to sit there and say, 'it's just a goddamn shame, it's a goddamn shame,'" Kludge said.

Addressing the court via audio-and-video transmissions from Mercer County jail, Edwards said first and foremost he apologizes for the loss of the child. Having two sons himself, he said he can't imagine losing either one of them. He called the situation horrible, one that to this day he finds beyond baffling as to how it came about. He apologized to everyone involved and said he's trying to turn his life around and "come out of this up on top."

In response to the statements made by Edwards and his attorney, county prosecutor Erin Minor the state agrees with the defense on one thing, that it is a shame.

"It's a shame that we have to be before you today in regards to the death of a two-year-old child," Minor said. "It's also a shame that Mr. Edwards is trying to use this sentencing hearing to somehow rehash the facts or to try to change the facts and evidence that were in this case. You pled guilty to three offenses in this case."

Edwards waived his constitutional rights, including trial by jury or the bench, Minor said, adding his guilty pleas are admissions of guilt to those offenses.

The victim in the case was just two years old when his life ended as a result of Edwards' crimes, even though the defendant on Wednesday morning attempted to minimize his culpability, Minor said.

Ezra deserved better and should be a happy four year old today, learning the alphabet, how to write his name and attending preschool and making new friends, she said.

"Instead because of the defendant's actions he died alone in his bed, marked with bruises and lying in his own vomit, his death caused by a methamphetamine overdose, a substance he never should have known existed let alone ingested," Minor said.

Though not previously convicted of any felonies, Edwards was no stranger to Celina Municipal Court the last decade, she said, claiming he has not taken the criminal justice system seriously.

The state, Minor said, believes Edwards has not shown any genuine remorse for his conduct. She said the state called for significant consecutive prison sentences.

In addition to handing down prison sentences totaling 70 months, Ingraham said Edwards upon release from prison will be subject to post release control for up to three years.