Man Charged with homicide by child abuse finally on trial

Jury selection for the trial of a man accused of killing a 3-month-old baby nearly a year ago is expected to begin at 9.30a.m. today.

Steven Austin Joye, 21, is to stand trial in state court this week once jury selection is completed. He was arrested and charged with "homicide by child abuse and unlawful neglect of a child or helpless person by legal custodian" in connection with the death of David Zachery McDaniel in February last year .
Judge Thomas A. Russo denied Joye bond on March 16, because he thought the suspect was a flight risk, but agreed to set bond at $70,000 after he learned Joye had been hired by a local construction company.

Joye is ordered to wear GPS tracking device, which he has to pay for, and to stay away from the victim’s family upon release.

Judge Clements who is prosecuting the case said that decision was based on whether Joye was a flight risk or a danger to the community.

Joye was hired to babysit the infant while the child's parents were at work. Victims father David Joseph McDaniel Jr, sad he came home on February 15 to find baby lethargic.

He rushed his son to the hospital where doctors performed emergency brain surgery. Despite the fathers fast reaction and the surgery baby died from injuries two days later.

Cerebral bleeding and a parietal skull fracture as a result of blunt force trauma to the head are listed as the cause of death.

If convicted, Joye could be sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.