Butler County father pleads not guilty in drug death of 1-year-old son

A Trenton man charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of his son after toxic levels of drugs were found in the baby’s system pleaded not guilty this morning in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Dorrico Dawaun Brown, 32, of West State Street, was indicted last week by a grand jury for the death of his 1-year-old son, Dorrico Brown Jr., who was found dead in May.

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Brown’s attorney for the arraignment, Lawrence Hawkins III, entered the not guilty plea on his behalf.

Hawkins requested a reasonable bond stating Brown has been cooperative with officials and has family support.

Judge Greg Howard noted Brown has an extensive criminal record and set bond at $500,000.

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A toxicology report on Brown Jr. from the coroner’s office indicates the child tested positive for opiates, benzodiazepines and antihistamines at the time of his death.

The one-year-old’s address is listed as the 700 block of Vidourek Drive in Hamilton on the coroner’s office report.

“My son is just freezing cold and I don’t think he’s even breathing,” a man who called 911 on May 17 said to the dispatcher. “He was taking a nap and I came in here and he’s just cold.”

The dispatcher talked the man through giving CPR, but the boy was never revived.

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Brown is scheduled to be back in court on Sept. 6 for a pretrial hearing. Brown indicated today he was going to retain counsel.

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