Pair Jailed on Injury to a Child Charges; Severe Abuse Alleged

TYLER — Two are jailed in Smith County on charges of injury to a child, and officials say the abuse was severe. Sheriff Larry Smith says On November 25, 2015, a 15-month-old child was brought into the East Texas Medical Center emergency room in Tyler by his mother, Brittany Jaynes, and her live-in boyfriend Thomas Dalton. Smith says the child was unresponsive and seizing. During treatment, it was discovered the child had acute head trauma and a brain bleed which was inconsistent with the events reported by Ms. Jaynes and Mr. Dalton, according to Smith. Due to the severe injury, the child was flown to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas for further treatment. Smith says during subsequent treatment and examination at Children’s, it was determined the child’s head trauma was a result of abuse.

During the course of the investigation, the following facts were determined, according to Smith:

-The child previously suffered from a condition (a brain abnormality) which affected development and quality of life if left untreated. If treated, the child’s quality of life would have improved.
-The child was neglected in all aspects of reasonable care and nurturing.
-The location the child was living in was deplorable due to accumulated filth and overall conditions.
-Child Protective Services investigated alongside Sheriff’s Office personnel and intervened in the lives of other children living in or associated with Thomas and Brittany to make sure they were safe and taken care of.
-It is alleged that abuse of methamphetamines by Brittany Jaynes contributed to the child’s condition.

-It was determined that on November 25, 2015, Thomas Dalton was watching the child when he was injured at the residence. During interviews, Thomas said he accidentally hit the child’s head on a doorway. He also said he sat outside the residence in his vehicle smoking a cigarette while holding the child. While in the vehicle, Thomas said the child accidentally fell and hit his head on the center console/gear shift area and fell into the floorboard. At one point, Thomas said he was frustrated since he had to take care of the child because the mother, Brittany Jaynes, would not. Smith says when contacted previously, this information was not disclosed to treating medical professionals, the Sheriff’s Office or Child Protective Services.

-Based on statements from all involved, and inconsistencies from Thomas Dalton, says Smith, it was determined Thomas somehow violently caused the traumatic injuries to the child while he was watching him. The sheriff says the child developed symptoms of abusive head trauma on Thomas’ watch.

After reviewing the complete investigation, and consulting with Children’s Medical staff and Child Protective Services staff, warrants were issued for the arrests of Thomas Dalton and Brittany Jaynes. The arrest warrant affidavits were presented to Judge Jack Skeen in the 241st State District Court for review on February 24, 2016. Judge Skeen signed and issued the arrest warrants for the mother and boyfriend. The specific charge contained in the warrant for Brittany Jaynes is Injury to a Child, a 1st Degree Felony. Her bond was set at $750,000 on this charge by 114th District Court Judge Christi Kennedy.

The charge shows Brittany’s alleged neglect in seeking adequate medical treatment to improve her child’s condition in treating the brain abnormality. The investigation indicated Brittany abandoned treatment of the child at her previous home in Minnesota, knowing the child needed medical care, and traveled to Smith County. Her abuse of methamphetamines, overall neglect, nurturing, and avoidance of the child, and the deplorable home conditions added to the Sheriff’s Office decision to pursue charges against her, according to Smith.

The specific charge contained in the warrant for Thomas Dalton is also Injury to a Child, likewise a 1st Degree Felony. His bond was set at $1,000,000 on this charge by Kennedy. Smith says the charge reflects Thomas’ alleged direct involvement in harming the child through violent means causing severe head trauma.

Previously, Brittany Jaynes had been arrested for outstanding City traffic warrants and she was already in the custody of the Smith County Jail. The warrant was served on her while in custody on February 25. A search for Thomas began on February 25, and ended on February 26. Thomas was arrested while sleeping underneath a tractor on State Highway 31 East on the outstanding warrant. He was arrested by Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Christian and placed into the custody of the Smith County Jail. The child is currently in State custody. His condition and existence is traumatic to say the least, according to Smith. The child is bed bound, and he will need constant intervention and care for the remainder of his life, according to the sheriff.