St. Louis Man Found Guilty in Beating Death of Three-Year-Old Son

A jury yesterday convicted Nathanial Robinson involuntary manslaughter and felony abuse in the 2007 death of his three-year-old son, Desmon Valenzuela.

The jury's decision came four days after another of Robinson's children, nine-year-old Nate Robinson Jr., testified as to how his younger brother received a "whooping" from a belt and was "crying real loud." His testimony completed Nate Jr. smiled and waved at his father before exiting the witness stand.

Authorities say that in July 2007 Robinson beat the three-year-old with Desmon with a belt after the child wet the bed inside Robinson's south St. Louis home.

Twelve hours later Robinson got help for the child, telling medical officials that the boy had fallen from a playground slide. Investigators found bruising on Desmon's head, back, shoulders, genitals and hands.

Fox 2 (KTVI) has a good report on how members of the Robinson's family responded to the verdict.

Robinson faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced in March.