Man sentenced for death of 3-year-old Tacoma boy

TACOMA — A man accused of killing a 3-year-old Tacoma boy was sentenced Friday.

Mark Anthony Brown Jr., 27, pleaded guilty last year to first-degree manslaughter for the death of Jeremiah Horton.

Pierce County Superior Court Judge James Orlando gave him a midrange sentence of seven and a half years, which is what both the defense and prosecution recommended.

Brown wrote in his plea paperwork that he “recklessly caused the death of” the toddler.

“I did not intend to cause this to happen and am very sorry for my actions,” the statement said.

Horton died at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital July 4, 2018, about a week after he was taken there.

According to charging papers: Brown watched the toddler and his 4-year-old brother while their mother was at work. She came home, went to kiss the kids goodnight and saw the toddler was stiff and shaking.

She and Brown took him to the hospital, where doctors said the boy was unlikely to survive.