Judge sentences Fresno man to 19 years to life for beating death of 3-year-old son

Thursday, August 2, 2018
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A judge has sentenced Donald Nelson to 19 years to life in prison for the 2014 beating death of his three-year-old son Zion.

Officers said Nelson admitted to spanking the boy for defecating on himself. But Zion's older brother told investigators a more sinister story. The five-year-old had old injuries of his own when they said his dad asked him to lie about the beating he heard.
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