Morris County Man Indicted In Beating Death Of Boy, 3: Prosecutor

MONTVILLE, N.J. – The Pine Brook man accused of beating and killing a three-year-old boy in April of 2015 was indicted Thursday on first-degree murder and a slew of other offenses, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp announced.

Maurice Pearson, 27, was arrested April 10 at the Knights Inn in Montville after allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend and her three-year-old son. The boy and his mother were both taken to Morristown Medical Center for treatment, where the woman was later released, but the boy succumbed to the injuries a day later.

See related: Boy, 3, Beaten In Morris County Hotel Dies From Injuries; Man Charged With Murder

Pearson was initially charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child, along with aggravated assault of the woman, but those charges were upgraded when the boy died.

The indictment charges Pearson with murder, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and charges of aggravated assault related to the alleged assault of the woman, Knapp said.

Pearson was also indicted on the charge of hindering his own apprehension for allegedly providing false information to police during the investigation.

The man is lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000,000 cash, bond or property.