A Pontiac man is headed to prison for killing his girlfriend’s toddler — but could be out in approximately three years.
At a hearing Monday in Oakland County Circuit Court, Judge Daniel O’Brien sentenced Shean Amerson to 86 months – 15 years for involuntary manslaughter and a consecutive prison term of 6-10 years for second-degree child abuse. Jail credit of 1,505 days served — just over four years — was applied to the sentence, so he will reach his minimum sentence in approximately three years.
Oakland County Jail
Shean Amerson (Oakland County Jail photo)
In February, a jury convicted Amerson, 27, of both charges for the Dec. 20, 2021 death of A’Ziya Matthews, 3. A’Ziya died at Children’s Hospital from a head injury, officials said. She also had multiple broken bones, cigarette burns all over her body, two black eyes and a collapsed lung, officials said.
A’Ziya had been left in the care of Amerson while her mother was at work.
Amerson had initially been charged with first-degree felony murder and first-degree child abuse, which could have landed him in prison for life.
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