On Friday, July 15, a Grand Jury for the City of Salem returned indictments in connection with the November death of a three-month-old child. Jwawn Lamont James, Sr. was indicted on one felony count of Murder, one felony count of Child Abuse or Neglect, and one felony count of Cruelty to a Child.
On November 18, 2015 at approximately 11:16 a.m., the Salem Police Department along with Salem Fire & EMS members responded to the 1000 block of Homestead Drive in reference to a call of an unresponsive child. The child was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in serious condition, and died the following afternoon at the hospital.
James, who is the child’s father, was arrested on November 20, 2015 and charged with felony Child Neglect. The additional charges were added when the Grand Jury convened last week.
Currently, James is in custody at the Western Virginia Regional Jail.