MAN ORDERED TO TRIAL IN TODDLER'S SLAYING.

Byline: Marci Wormser Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A Lake Los Angeles teen accused of killing his girlfriend's toddler son has been ordered to stand trial on charges of second-degree murder, assault and child abuse.

Lancaster Superior Court Judge Steven Ogden on Tuesday ruled that there was sufficient evidence to try Rondel Dewanna Myers, 17, on charges that he beat 1-year-old Demajae Emone Davis to death Oct. 25.

Myers is being prosecuted as an adult. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.

According to Michael Allensworth, Myers' attorney, medical examiners found evidence that Demajae suffered 34 rib fractures in the months before he died. The autopsy also showed a healed clavicle fracture and one extremity fracture.

In addition, medical examiners found internal injuries that resulted in a lacerated liver, lacerated intestinal organs and multiple traumatic injuries, according to Deputy District Attorney Greg Denton.

``It is clear the beating on Oct. 25 caused the death,'' said Deputy District Attorney Rouman Ebrahim.

At Tuesday's preliminary hearing, Deputy Coroner David Whiteman testified that the boy died as a result of blunt force trauma.

Ogden agreed with the assessment, stating it was clear the child was beaten to death.

Ebrahim said Myers' account of the incidents that took place before the boy died were inconsistent. Myers, he said, originally told sheriff's deputies he saw the toddler face-down in the bathtub but assumed that he was OK, and went to answer the doorbell. He returned to dry the toddler, and Demajae stopped breathing. Shortly after, Myers gave deputies a different account of the story, telling them that when he lifted Demajae out of the tub, the boy was dead.

``That whole water story makes no sense,'' Ebrahim said.

But, according to Allensworth, ``the coroner could not rule out drowning'' as the result of death.

Allensworth contended that the injuries had occurred before the teen baby-sat the toddler or may have been caused by paramedics performing CPR.

`'There isn't any evidence that Mr. Myers inflicted those injuries,'' Allensworth said.

However, Ebrahim said a witness account provides evidence that Myers battered the boy.

``(Myers) was left alone with the victim,'' he said. `'He was the only one in the house. At 12:50 p.m., (the child) was seen ... with no injuries on his face.''

After Myers called paramedics about an hour later, the toddler was covered with bruises, Ebrahim said.

In addition, the prosecutor said, ``even incorrect CPR would not cause these types of injuries.''

Myers, who was not the boy's father, was living at the home of his 18-year-old girlfriend's family at the time of the death. The child's mother is not being charged in the case, Ebrahim said.

According to Allensworth, Myers will plead not guilty at his March 13 Superior Court arraignment.