Spotsylvania mother sentenced to 15 years in prison after toddler died with cocaine in his system
VENN
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A Spotsylvania mother, 23-year-old Kahleighya Coleman, will spend 15 years in prison for the death of her 2-year-old son after being sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Cinceir Croxton Jr., or CJ, died on Dec. 7, 2023. In August 2024, both of his parents were charged with his death.
Cinceir Croxton Jr., or "CJ." He was only two years old at the time of his death. (Photo courtesy of CJ's family.)
“15 years is not enough," CJ's aunt and Coleman's sister Ja-Hnae Thompson told 8News. "You took his whole life away from him. He was young.”
Coleman accepted a plea deal in March. She was originally charged with second-degree murder, child abuse, child endangerment, possession of drugs with the intent to sell and possession of a firearm while in possession of drugs. The deal dropped the child endangerment and the possession of a firearm charges, and capped her sentence at 15 years.
“If you murder somebody...why would you get a plea deal?" Thompson said.
CJ and his parents were staying at a motel in Spotsylvania when Coleman noticed he was unconscious around 10 a.m. and called 911. He was flown from Spotsylvania to VCU's pediatric hospital. The Commonwealth's Attorney said neither of them went to the hospital with him.
On Dec. 6, 2023, CJ was declared brain dead. He passed away the next day and became an organ donor. He was given an Honor Walk for his donation with neither parent by his side.
The hospital contacted law enforcement and the Department of Social Services (DSS) after CJ tested positive for having narcotics in his system.
During the sentencing hearing, two witnesses from the Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office recalled finding cocaine residue throughout the motel room, three unsecured guns -- two in the room and one in their car -- and several snakes in a Pack 'n Play.
Authorities recovered 70 grams of cocaine and $4,000 in cash, leading authorities to believe they were selling the drugs.
When deputies questioned Coleman at the motel, she initially denied using the narcotics, but confessed later on when questioned again at the Sheriff's Office. She admitted she used cocaine in the bathroom, not near to where CJ slept.
This wasn't the parents' first run in with law enforcement and it wasn't the first time CJ was in the hospital. In October of 2023, blood was found in CJ's stool. According to a witness with DSS, the hospital called Coleman to have her bring CJ back that same day as he was also diagnosed with salmonella. CJ also had sickle cell disease.
It was said in court that Coleman didn't take him back to the hospital until hours later. CJ was then placed under a Temporary Detention Order and Coleman was arrested for disorderly conduct.
The morning CJ went to the hospital on Dec. 5, the family was coming back from a court appearance for Coleman in Richmond for this charge.
Through tears, Coleman read a letter to CJ before being sentenced. She said, "I think about you constantly” and wished she could do things differently.
Before sentencing her, the judge said CJ's death was an "inevitable consequence of [Coleman's] disregard."
“I still love my sister at the end of the day but, like, you took my nephew away from me," Thompson said. "I didn’t have much time to even spend with him. He didn’t even talk. He didn’t even know how to talk. He didn’t even know my name, didn't know how to say his own name.”
CJ’s father, Cinceir Croxton Sr., also accepted a plea deal in early October. He’ll be sentenced in January. Part of his plea deal caps his sentence at 20 years.
