Couple sent to prison for child abuse that killed baby

DOWNEY -- A Downey couple was sentenced today to state prison for inflicting child abuse on their 4-month-old child, which led to the infant's death.
 
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Raul A. Sahagun sentenced Ashley Jones, 26, to 15 years to life in state prison, while her co-defendant, Johnathan Lucero, 26, was ordered to serve 10 years in prison. 
 
On Sept. 29, Jones and Lucero were convicted of several felony counts in a court trial.
 
Jones was found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse which led to the child's death. Lucero was found guilty of felony child abuse in the same case. 
 
Deputy District Attorney Franco Baratta, who prosecuted the case, said Jones, Lucero and their 4-month-old daughter were living in a Downey apartment they shared with Lucero's family.
 
On the morning of Dec. 31, 2015, Jones found the infant unresponsive and called a family member for help, the prosecutor said. The family member called 911 and when paramedics arrived they took the child to the hospital, who was soon pronounced dead, the prosecutor added.
 
A day after the child's death, Jones and Lucero were charged in connection with the incident.
 
According to court testimony, the 4-month-old baby was beaten. She was malnourished and had skull fractures, cerebral contusions, multiple rib fractures, a lacerated liver, bruised lungs and contusions to her diaphragm.
 
The case was investigated by the Downey Police Department.