Merced County father pleads not guilty in infant’s death

A Gustine man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of murder and child abuse in connection with the death earlier this year of his 9-month-old son.

Andrew L. Sanchez appeared before Judge Ronald W. Hansen in Merced Superior Court. Sanchez, 25, has been charged in the death of Maddix Ramsour, who died March 5.

The child’s death was linked to “blunt-force trauma” injuries suffered at his home in the 30000 block of Cottonwood Road in Gustine, according to detectives with the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.

Stephanie Jamieson, the county deputy public defender representing Sanchez, said it was too early to comment on details of the case.

“We’re still waiting for a lot of evidence and a lot of discovery,” Jamieson said.

Deputies have not commented on the specific circumstances of the child’s death or said whether they believe there was a possible motive.

Sanchez told investigators the child was hurt when he fell off a bed, but deputies said the boy’s injuries were inconsistent with that story.

Sanchez and the boy’s mother were living together. Sanchez was watching the child while the mother attended college classes in Los Banos, deputies said.

Sanchez has another child, a 4-year-old girl, with another woman. That child was present during the incident that led to Maddix’s death, according to investigators.

Sanchez remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on $1 million bail, according to booking records.

He was ordered to return to court Aug. 27.

This story was originally published August 5, 2015 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Merced County father pleads not guilty in infant’s death."