Dominick Calhoun -- Deceased 4/12/10 -- Corrine Baker Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder -- Brandon Hayes Charged With Murder

Dominick Calhoun's brother, 8, tells court Brandon Hayes hated them

Updated: Monday, June 28, 2010, 1:28 PM

FLINT, Michigan -- Dominick Calhoun's 8-year-old brother took the stand today in Brandon Hayes' preliminary hearing.

The boy told the court he saw Hayes smack Dominick, kick him and slam his head against the wall in their Argentine Township apartment over the course of three to five days.

Dominick, 4, was found severely beaten in his Argentine Township apartment in April and died the following day after he was removed from life support. The boyfriend of the boys' mother, Hayes, is charged with first-degree murder and torture in Dominick's death.

Dominick's brother testified away from Hayes, who watched from a neighboring courtroom.

The boy told the court he didn't do anything or tell anyone about what was going on in his home for days. He cried once during his testimony, when he talked about threats Hayes allegedly made.

"Brandon said if I told my mom he would lock me up in my room," he said.

The preliminary hearing for Hayes is expected to continue through this afternoon.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/06/dominick_calhouns_brother_8_te.html

Brother describes abuse before Dominick Calhoun's death

by Kim Russell
June 28, 2010

“Brandon won’t be there?” Tyler Baker asked in the hallway next to the courtroom before the preliminary exam of his little brother 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun’s alleged killer.

“No,” answered Genesee County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Marcie Mabry.

Judge John Conover had ruled that testifying in the same room as 24-year-old Brandon Hayes would be too emotionally damaging for the second grader. He had Hayes placed in a neighboring courtroom where he could watch Tyler’s testimony on closed circuit television.

A short time later the 8-year-old walked into the packed courtroom at 67th District Court with confidence that many adults can’t muster.

Tyler knew Brandon wouldn’t be there.

He wore a neatly pressed blue collared shirt tucked into his dress pants as he promised to tell the truth.

“What happens when you lie?” asked Mabry.

“You get in trouble,” said Tyler on the stand as it began.

Over the next hour the testimony would soon get much more intense and difficult, but the little boy only needed a tissue once.

The tears came after he told the court what he did after he allegedly saw Brandon beat his 4-year-old brother in his family’s Argentine Township apartment.

“”I just played because I didn’t want to get hurt,” said Tyler.

Tyler told the court Brandon had hurt him and his brother before, but described escalating violence in the days before his brother died. The prosecution asked whether he told anybody about the abuse in an effort to get help.

“Brandon said if I told my mom, he would lock me in my room for a long time,” the boy explained.

He said his mom eventually figured it out. Corrine Baker then confronted Brandon Hayes who Tyler says then again became violent.

“(My mom) was pushing Brandon away so he wouldn’t hurt my brother, then he smacked my mom on the head.”

The beatings continued, and Tyler told the court he knew his neighbors knew what was happening.

"His (Dominick’s) head was smashed into the wall. That’s what was making the banging noise, and the neighbors heard it.”

“How did it end with Dominick?” asked Mabry.

“Dominick had bruises from his head to his toes,” said Tyler as he described the last time he saw his brother before he died.

After testifying at the hearing that will determine whether Hayes goes to trial, Tyler returned to his foster family. He has been in protective custody since his brother’s death in April.

His mother, Corrine Baker, is charged with second degree murder and child abuse for Dominick’s death. She is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow for a forensic review hearing. The court will take a look at a forensic evaluation just filed Monday that found her competent to stand trial.

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=476060

Brandon Hayes is a heartless S.O.B. who is in tears because he knows he is going down for a long time. The defense is living in fairyland if they think anyone is going to believe the abuse was an accident.

I am heartbroken hearing about the terror that Tyler had to live through while his brother was being beaten to death.

Dominick Calhoun's mother Corrine Baker found competent; Police honor 4-year-old

by Kim Russell
Posted: 06.29.2010 at 6:35 PM

At every hearing, Argentine Township Police wear bracelets reading Dominick's name.

Above Argentine Township Police Det. Arch Ravert’s is taped a picture of a blond haired little boy smiling with a fire chief’s hat on. It is a smile Ravert never saw in person.

On a Sunday in April Argentine Township Police responded to the Pinehurst Apartments and found 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun. His once smiling face then covered with bruises still haunts them.

“It doesn’t bother you all the time,” says Det. Arch Ravert. “But sometimes it bothers you when you don’t expect it. And that is what’s bad. You’re not prepared. You see a little blond haired boy out in public and it just triggers your memory.”

Police are preparing for many more reminders of Dominick.

A judge Tuesday morning found Dominick’s mom Corrine Baker competent to stand trial. Her preliminary exam is scheduled for July 19. She faces 2nd degree murder and child abuse charges. Police say she didn't do enough to save her son from her boyfriend's rage. Her attorney says she fought for her son's life, and is distraught that she failed.

The man accused of beating Dominick, 24-year-old Brandon Hayes has been bound over to circuit court where he is scheduled to be arraigned on 10 counts, including torture, child abuse, and 1st degree murder.

Det. Arch Ravert says nearly all of the officers on duty the day they responded to Dominick's home have talked to counselors. They say the horror of that day changed them.

To recognize the impact a little boy has had on an entire department, the officer’s union bought blue bracelets.

“They have Dominick’s name on them, his date of birth, and the date he died.”

As officers testify in court, speak with Dominick’s family members, or just go about their daily duties they wear these bracelets, and remember.

Dominick has given meaning to their jobs, meaning to their lives, and meaning in their fight against drugs.

“I don’t jump on a lot of causes,” says Ravert looking at the blue bracelet he wears. “But this hits close to home. Remember. Everything you hear about this case is about drugs.”

Ravert says he hopes that is what society learns from this tragedy. He says the bulk of his hours are spent dealing with people abusing drugs.

Now when he stops a kid for a simple drug crime, he thinks of 24-year-old Brandon Hayes, the man accused of beating Dominick for days before he died.

Hayes’ father has described his son as a compassionate loving kid, who changed after getting involved in drugs. It is a scenario Ravert has seen too many times in his line of work.

“He told me without the drugs Brandon was a normal kid. That's what he told me, and I believe it.”

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=476655

Jury to decide if Hayes spends rest of life in prison

By Sharon Stone
Published: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 5:31 PM EDT



Based on testimony and evidence submitted to the court during his preliminary exam, Genesee County District Court Judge John L. Conover bound Brandon Hayes’ case over to circuit court for a jury trial.

A circuit court arraignment was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on July 19.

Hayes, 24, is facing life in prison for allegedly torturing and beating 4-year-old Dominick Calhoun to death in April at their apartment in Argentine Township. Hayes shared the apartment with his girlfriend Corrine Baker and her two sons, Dominick Calhoun and Dominick’s 8-year-old half-brother Tyler Baker.

Corrine Baker, 25, is also facing felony charges of second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse for her alleged part in Dominick’s death. She and Hayes remain lodged at the Genesee County Jail, pending the outcome of their cases.

Tyler Baker testifies

Wearing his light-up sneakers, blue-checked shirt and wire-rimmed glasses, Tyler Baker, Dominick’s brother, testified on the witness stand for more than one hour. Because of concerns that the sight of his mom’s boyfriend would frighten Tyler, Hayes was detained in a nearby room where he watched the young boy’s testimony on a closed circuit TV.

The judge granted the prosecution’s request to add another count of child abuse against Hayes after Tyler testified. Tyler said Hayes began “smacking” him and Dominick around soon after they moved into the apartment. “He took my hand and swing me around. I hit the door,” said Tyler. When asked if the swinging was done in fun, Tyler said it was done in a “bad way.”

“We been getting hit since we lived there,” Tyler said.

Dr. Brian Nolan, director of pediatrics at Hurley Medical Center, previously testified that Dominick had a very severe burn on the back of his hand. On Monday, Dr. Brian Hunter, the medical examiner for Genesee County, testified that the burn Dominick had on the back of his hand was the worst burn he had ever seen.

When asked how Dominick got the burn, Tyler said Hayes had put Dominick’s hand under hot water at the bathroom sink in the apartment while their mother was not there. “I heard screaming,” he said.

Marcie Mabry, the assistant prosecuting attorney, asked Tyler if he told his mother about Dominick’s burnt hand. With tears in his eyes, he said he couldn’t tell her. “Brandon said he’d lock me up.”

Mabry asked Tyler why Hayes did this to Dominick. He said, “He hates everybody. I know he does.”

Arnold Hayes testifies

Back in the courtroom, Hayes cried as he watched his father, Arnold Hayes, testify. Arnold told the court that he went to his son’s apartment on Friday, April 9 to take all four of them to the Dollar General store in Argentine Township.

When asked if he saw any injuries on Dominick, Arnold said he saw a small mark on the boy’s forehead and the burn on his hand. Mabry asked him how he reacted to seeing the burn on Dominick’s hand. “My reaction — my God, what happened?”

Arnold Hayes said he asked how the burn happened. He said he knew there was a fire pit at the apartment complex. “I was told that he got burned from another boy.

“I suggested the hospital to Corrine, but she said, ‘I can’t do that because they might think I did it.’” Mabry asked if he suggested taking the boy to the hospital to his son. He said he did not. At that point, Arnold said he drove the four to the store.

Officer Angelo Panos

Argentine Township officer Angelo Panos was the first officer to respond to the apartment on Sunday, April 11. Panos said he was at the police station, which is located in the lower level of the township hall, when Dominick’s frantic grandfather, Richard Calhoun stopped by.

Panos said Calhoun told him that they needed to get to the apartment because a little boy was dying. Calhoun had just received a phone call from Corrine’s 16-year-old sister, Christine Baker, saying that he needed to get to the apartment immediately. She called Calhoun after seeing injuries on Dominick when she stopped by the apartment with friends.

Panos followed Calhoun into the apartment and observed Dominick lying on the floor in the bedroom. He observed multiple bruises on Dominick’s head and face. Dominick was unconscious and unresponsive.

While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Panos observed Hayes attempting to hide something behind a dresser in an adjacent bedroom. He ordered Hayes out of the bedroom and onto the floor. As he approached, Panos said Calhoun punched Hayes in the face. Panos arrested and handcuffed Hayes and escorted him to the patrol vehicle.

Panos said Corrine was seated by Dominick and she appeared to be consoling the boy. After obtaining a search warrant, evidence was removed from the apartment, including a bottle of pills found behind a bedroom dresser.

Jerome Waldron (drug analyst)

Jerome Waldron, a drug analyst for the Michigan State Police crime lab, testified that the bottle of pills confiscated from Hayes’ apartment contained Vicodin. Also removed from the apartment were small plastic bags containing marijuana.

Sgt. David Dwyre

Sgt. David Dwyre, of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department testified that he questioned Hayes on April 12. Dwyer said that Hayes told him that he beat the boy because he had urinated on the sofa. He testified that Hayes told him he also beat Corrine when she confronted him about beating Dominick. Hayes told him he was in a rage over Dominick urinating on the sofa, for Corrine not providing enough pills to him and at Dominick’s biological father, Eric Calhoun, for not providing enough financial assistance for raising Dominick. He said Hayes told him he was addicted to drugs, however, he was not high when arrested.

The sergeant said he also questioned Corrine. He said she was severely beaten and had difficulty walking. He testified that Hayes beat her while she used her body to cover Dominick.

Dwyre read a portion of a letter of apology, handwritten by Hayes. In that letter to the judge, Hayes admitted he was a drug addict, apologized for what he had done and promised never to do it again.

Christine Baker

Christine testified that she accompanied her friends, Cassie and Cassie’s brother, John, to the apartment on April 11. She said her friends wanted to purchase marijuana from Hayes, while she wanted to see her nephews. After seeing Dominick on the bedroom floor, she left and called Calhoun.

Dr. Brian Hunter

Dr. Hunter performed the autopsy on Dominick, which revealed numerous injuries from head to toe. He said there were more than 100 bruises and abrasions on the boy’s body and burns in several areas, including the groin area. The boy’s front teeth had been knocked out, his liver was lacerated, his skull was fractured and he had retinal hemorrhaging.

“This is the worst beating I’ve ever seen, in 2,500 autopsies.’

“Just the sheer number of injuries is overwhelming,” said Hunter. He said the pain would have been unimaginable.

When asked what caused Dominick’s death, Hunter said Dominick died from abusive head injuries, other blunt force injuries and thermal injuries (burns). He said Dominick’s death was homicide.

Judge comments

The judge said the common thread through this case was that it was the worst that experts in their field have ever seen before. He added that in his 17 years as a judge, it was the worst case he, too, had ever seen.

Conover acknowledged that Christine was the first person to do something to help Dominick by calling his grandfather. He wondered why she didn’t call 911 though. Conover also wondered how Arnold Hayes could see the severe burn on Dominick’s hand and not do something about it.

By compiling all evidence and testimony, Conover said there was probable cause to bind the case over to circuit court.

Grandmother speaks

Lisa DeLong, Dominick’s grandmother attended the preliminary hearing and other previous court hearings against Hayes. Following the judge’s decision Monday to add a child abuse charge against Hayes, related to Tyler’s injuries, DeLong said, “I’m so glad about the charge for Tyler.

“He (Hayes) can rot in hell.”

As she and others listened to testimony, describing Dominick’s injuries, DeLong said it was hard to just sit there and listen. “I wanted to get up and beat him.”

http://www.tctimes.com/articles/2010/06/29/news/doc4c2a6614cba82741007372.txt

Court Docket: Exam set for mother charged in son's death

July 18, 2010

A former Tyrone Township resident charged in connection to the beating death of her 4-year-old son returns to court Monday for a preliminary exam.

Judge John Conover in 67th District Court in Flint will decide if there is enough evidence against Corrine Baker to send her to trial on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse in connection to the April 12 death of her son, Dominick Calhoun.

Police allege Baker, 25, did not do enough to defend her son from her boyfriend, Brandon Joshua-Frederick Hayes, who is accused of murdering the child.

Baker's attorney has said he has not ruled out a battered-woman syndrome defense.

Baker's surviving son, Tyler, 8, testified at a preliminary hearing for Hayes that his mother tried to help Dominick by pushing Hayes away from the boy, but Hayes beat the woman.

Argentine Township police said at one point during the four-day assault against Dominick that Baker tried to protect Dominick by wrapping herself around him, but her action was "too little, too late."

Police said Baker left the couple's Argentine Township apartment at least twice during the weekend Dominick was brutally beaten to death and not once notified authorities, family or friends that there was trouble at the apartment.

Meanwhile, Hayes is expected to be arraigned Monday in Genesee County Circuit Court on seven felony charges, including murder, torture and child abuse, in connection to Dominick's death. He faces three drug-related charges for allegedly selling marijuana.

Baker and her two sons had lived in the Tyrone Woods manufactured-home community in Tyrone Township until about a month before Dominick's death.

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100718/NEWS01/7180310/Court-Docket-Exam-set-for-mother-charged-in-son-s-death

This is so tough to read. Corrine Baker left that apartment twice that weekend.

Relative testifies that Corrine Baker didn't seek help for son because of criminal warrants

Updated: Monday, July 19, 2010, 3:23 PM
Khalil AlHajal | The Flint Journal



FLINT, Michigan — An uncle of Brandon Hayes, the man accused of killing four-year-old Dominick Calhoun, testified in court today that worries over arrest warrants and child services intervention prevented Corrine Baker from seeking medical attention for her son's badly burnt hand in the days before his death.

Baker, 25, is facing second-degree murder and child abuse charges in the death of her son.

The burnt hand was one of a slew of injuries described by the doctor who performed Dominick's autopsy earlier in the hearing.

Rodney Keen said during Baker's preliminary hearing today that he visited the home of Baker and Hayes on April 9 to buy marijuana from his nephew.

He said he saw that the Dominick's hand was badly burnt, and told Baker he needed medical attention.

"They said they couldn't do that because they had warrants for arrest and they didn't want child services involved," Keen said.

"It upset me bad. It made me mad. His whole hand was all swelled up and blistered and red."

Baker's sister and a group of friends who went to the Argentine Township apartment on April 11, also to buy marijuana, also took the stand today.

Their visit led to the discovery of more severe injuries to Dominick, who would die the next day.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/07/relative_testifies_that_corrin.html

These folks didn't have enough heart in them, just a teeny tiny bit, to assist a severely injured child in agony either? I just don't get the human race in these situations, it's disgusting.

Hearing reveals details of days leading up to Dominick Calhoun's death

Updated: Monday, July 19, 2010, 7:23 PM
Khalil AlHajal | The Flint Journal

FLINT — Four-year-old Dominick Calhoun’s burned hand swelled to the size of a grown man’s fist three days before he died of injuries allegedly inflicted by his mother’s boyfriend, and no one who saw the wound got the boy medical treatment.

Testimony during a preliminary hearing in mother Corrine Baker’s second-degree murder case Monday revealed details of the days leading up to the boy’s death and led District Court Judge John L. Conover to bound Baker over to Genesee Circuit Court for trial.

Several witnesses took the stand to speak about their contact with Baker and her boyfriend Brandon Hayes, who is also facing murder and a slew of other charges in the case, during the days leading up to Dominick's death.

Conover said several people neglected to act in ways that would have saved the boy, and ruled that there is overwhelming evidence supporting the charge that Baker's inaction contributed to her son's death.

Brandon and Michael DeLong, uncles of Dominick who live nearby the Argentine Township apartment where the boy was beaten and tortured, said they saw Hayes walk to a gas station for a short period of time on Saturday, April 10, two days before their nephew would die from injuries believed to have been inflicted over several days.

Conover said Baker should have taken that opportunity to seek help and get her children away from Hayes.

“She did absolutely nothing," Conover said. "If that's not willful and wanton, I don't know what is."

Baker’s mother Julie Baker, Hayes’ uncle Rodney Keen and Hayes’ father Arnold Hayes each testified that they saw or were notified of Dominick’s burned hand on Friday, April 9, but all failed to convince the boy’s parents to take him to a hospital.

"They said they couldn't do that because they had warrants for arrest and they didn't want child services involved," Keen said.

Keen had gone to the home with the intention of buying marijuana, but said he didn't buy it after growing upset over Dominick's hand.

"He was so mad that he didn't buy the marijuana that he wanted," said Conover about Keen's testimony. "What reasonable, responsible, intelligent human being would walk away and not do anything?"

Keen notified other family members but did not take further action.

The doctor who performed Dominick Calhoun's autopsy also testified Monday, describing bruises and burns found all over Calhoun's body, including his head, abdomen, chest, back, arms, legs and genitals. He said Dominick’s likely cause of death was severe head trauma.

Baker's sister and a group of friends who went to the Argentine Township apartment on April 11 to buy marijuana also took the stand.

As her friends bought a half an ounce of marijuana from Hayes for $150 that afternoon, Christine Baker found her nephew unconscious on the floor of his bedroom covered in bruises. She notified other family members who called police.

Bobby Everard, a neighbor who lived on the floor beneath Baker and Hayes, said he heard on that Sunday morning a child yelling "Mommy, stop him!"

Everard, who testified while wearing blue plastic gloves and had a long white beard and mustache that entirely covered his mouth, said he had been hearing banging on the walls in the days leading up to the discovery of Dominick's abuse.

Baker's attorney Erwin F. Meiers III said the failure to act was shared by several people.

"She was distraught and traumatized and under the direct influence that Brandon Hayes had on her," he said about his client.

Baker’s arraignment was scheduled for August 2, but that hearing is expected to be waived, as was Hayes’ arraignment. His lawyer is in the process of entering a not-guilty plea through paper work without a hearing.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/07/hearing_reveals_details_of_day.html

Judge: Fatally beaten boy needed shield, got inaction

By Lisa Roose-Church
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
July 21, 2010

A "series of very bad decisions and/or questionable decisions" through-out the years caused Dominick Calhoun "to fall through the cracks and ultimately contributed to his violent death," a Genesee County judge said Monday.

Judge John Conover of the 67th District Court in Flint said the lack of action by Child Protective Services, the Livingston County probation office and Livingston County Probate Judge Carol Hackett Garagiola contributed to the boy's murder in April.

"We have all these series of events and if you weave a thread through them, you come up with this horrific tragedy to a 4-year-old boy," he said Monday.

The judge's comments came at a preliminary hearing for Dominick's mother, Corrine Baker, who was bound over to Circuit Court for trial on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree child abuse for her failure to protect her son from her boyfriend, who is charged in the boy's murder.

Testimony revealed that family members, friends and acquaintances saw bruises on Dominick's face and a severe burn on his left hand at different times during the weekend of April 9, when he was beaten to death, allegedly by Brandon Joshua-Frederick Hayes, at the couple's Argentine Township apartment.

Yet, none of those witnesses told police. The incident came to light April 11, after Corrine Baker's younger sister called Dominick's paternal grandfather, who called police.

Testimony indicated that Corrine Baker did not heed people's requests that she seek medical attention for Dominick's burned hand because she was concerned about Child Protective Services getting involved; she did not want people to think she had burned her son; and she did not want to get into trouble for violating probation.

She was on probation through Livingston County Circuit Court for delivering/manufacturing a controlled substance, and she faces a hearing on those allegations Thursday before Judge Michael P. Hatty in Livingston County Circuit Court. She and her two sons had lived in the Tyrone Woods manufactured-home community in Tyrone Township until about two weeks to three weeks before Dominick's murder in Argentine Township.

"She's out of her jurisdiction; wouldn't they know that?" Conover asked. "Don't they do house calls? Don't they follow up on people? ... She's on probation in Livingston County and can't be living in Genesee County. Why doesn't anybody know that in Livingston County? Why isn't anybody monitoring these children?"

Dan Chepeska, supervisor of the probation and parole office in Livingston County, said Corrine Baker reported to her probation officer as required April 1, but she allegedly failed to report her change of address or that she was living with a convicted felon.

He said probationers self-report such changes. Violations are often discovered through a probationer's continued contact with law enforcement, or when family members or other people report the violation.

"We complete home calls as required within our department policy, and we follow those procedures," Chepeska said, declining to elaborate due to security concerns.

"We do the best we can to supervise people under those circumstances," Chepeska said. "... At her level of supervision, she was reporting every other month. Shortly thereafter, we were advised of what had happened. ...

"You hate that a tragic situation like this would ever take place and, obviously, you will second-guess anything that you do, but I'm not going to armchair quarterback and second-guess what we did at that time and what could have been done. Obviously, it's a very tragic situation."

Conover said he did not "know where" Child Protective Services was in the case, and he questioned whether it did enough to protect Dominick and his 8-year-old half brother, who also testified that he was abused by Hayes.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton has said that CPS "did jump in and try to rectify the situation" and that it "tried to keep the family together."

"Should at that point CPS know it was going to end up in a tragic homicide? I don't think anybody can suggest they would have known that," Leyton said in an earlier interview.

Efforts to reach CPS officials Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse said he understands that CPS caseworkers' caseloads are "too large" and that in some instances the department has "done a very good job (while) other times, we've disagreed with their handling of cases."

"I think the organization as a whole tends to be bureaucratic too often," he said. "They are bound by policies generated by Lansing and they become slave to the policy manuals, sometimes at the expense of getting the job done.

"What I don't like to hear from them or anyone else is ... 'why we can't do anything about it,' but how we are going to protect the kids?" Morse added. "Too often with CPS, we hear there are things they can't do, and largely it's because they are hamstrung with bureaucratic regulations."

Dominick's paternal grandfather, Rick Calhoun, said CPS was aware of Corrine Baker's drug problem because he had called the department to report the situation many times.

Her drug problem is also outlined in Livingston County courts, where she pleaded guilty to possession of oxymorphone with intent to deliver. After that incident, her parents, Julie Baker and Martin Baker, sought custody of Dominick and his older half brother in October 2008, but Garagiola, Livingston County's probate judge, denied that request.

Conover questioned Garagiola's decision, saying it was part of the thread that contributed to Dominick's death.

Efforts to reach Garagiola for comment were unsuccessful.

However, a videotape of the 2008 hearing shows that Garagiola made her decision after Corrine Baker told her that she left her children with Dominick's father, Eric Calhoun, and not her parents as they claimed. Garagiola was told that Eric Calhoun was invited by Corrine Baker's parents to live at their home with the boys.

In that hearing, Julie Baker also told Garagiola that her oldest grandson's school had questioned his absences and at one point had "thanked me for making sure he got to school." She said the child, Tyler Baker, took responsibility, saying, "it was his fault he didn't get to school every day because he didn't get up."

"I don't have the authority, based on what's been presented to me, to put a guardianship in place under the law," Garagiola ruled.

In her ruling, Garagiola noted at least three times that if there was concern about the children's well-being to "contact Child Protective Services."

"If any one of the number of persons we heard testify ... would have stepped up to the plate and gotten Dominick Calhoun some help, he probably would be alive today," Conover said Monday.

http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100721/NEWS01/7210303/Judge-Fatally-beaten-boy-needed-shield-got-inaction

Mom of child in beating death gets jail

By Lisa Roose-Church • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • August 13, 2010

A former Tyrone Township mother accused of not helping her son who was murdered made her first public apology for placing her 4-year-old son in harm's way.

Corrine Baker's apology came Thursday in Livingston County Circuit Court just prior to learning she will spend at least 55 months in prison for violating probation by moving to Genesee County to live with a convicted felon who now stands charged of murdering Baker's son, Dominick Calhoun.

"I am very sorry for my violation," she said.

"I understand my actions have caused other things to happen. I will be judged on that matter. I'm very sorry," she added, standing with her hands shackled at her waist and her hair in a ponytail.

Read more here:
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20100813/NEWS01/8130308/Mom-of-child-in-beating-death-gets-jail

Judge allows new psychiatric evaluation for Hayes

By Sharon Stone
Published: Thursday, September 23, 2010 9:56 AM EDT



On Monday, Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Richard B. Yuille granted a motion by Brandon Hayes’ court-appointed attorney James Piazza for an independent psychological evaluation for competency and criminal responsibility.

Hayes, 24, has been charged with the beating death of Dominick Calhoun, the 4-year-old son of his 25-year-old girlfriend, Corrine Baker. The couple, Dominick and Dominick’s stepbrother Tyler Baker were living in an apartment in Argentine Township at the time of Dominick’s death in April. Hayes is not the father of either of Baker’s sons.

Read more: http://www.tctimes.com/articles/2010/09/23/news/doc4c9a08fa58d7c552538484.txt

Court Docket: Hearing set on accused child killer's statement

October 21, 2010

A Genesee County judge granted a defense attorney’s request Monday to give his client a hearing to determine whether his client’s statement to police should be admitted at his murder trial.

Defense attorney James Piazza declined to give details from the statement Brandon Joshua-Frederick Hayes, formerly of Tyrone Township, made to police regarding him allegedly beating to death his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son at their Argentine Township apartment in April.

However, Detective Sgt. David Dwyer of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department testified at an earlier hearing that Hayes confessed and apologized. He said Hayes admitted that he hit and kicked Dominick Calhoun on April 8 and that he was “still enraged” the next day because Dominick’s father “would not give him money,” so he kicked the boy “multiple times” in the head and genitals.

The hearing is set for Dec. 17 in Genesee County Circuit Court.

Circuit Judge Richard Yuille took under advisement Piazza’s requests to try Hayes separate from the child’s mother, Corrine Baker, as well as whether to change venue from Genesee County. The judge also is considering a motion to try Hayes’ drug charges separate from the murder case.

Police say Hayes beat Dominick in the family’s Pinehurst apartment for days after the boy urinated on himself while eating breakfast on the couch.

Read more: http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20101021/NEWS01/101021007

Parental rights hearing on hold for Baker

Court awaits results of criminal case

By Sharon Stone
Published: Friday, November 19, 2010 4:08 PM EST

 A hearing was held Wednesday in Judge Duncan Beagle’s courtroom regarding Corrine Baker’s parental rights of her son Tyler Baker. Child Protective Services of Genesee County has petitioned the court to terminate her parental rights.

 Baker’s parental rights case remains on hold as the court is waiting to hear the results of her criminal case. In the mean time, Tyler remains in foster care. 

 Baker, 26, is serving time in prison on a probation violation and awaiting trial over the beating death of her 4-year-old son Dominick Calhoun, the younger half-brother of Tyler Baker, now 9. Dominick died in April as a result of being tortured and beaten to death, allegedly at the hands of Baker’s then live-in boyfriend, Brandon Hayes.

Read more: http://www.tctimes.com/articles/2010/11/19/news/local/doc4ce6e64ac23f0459722485.txt

Donations continue to come in for ‘Justice for Dominick’

By Sharon Stone
Published: Sunday, November 21, 2010 2:14 PM EST

The Justice for Dominick fund, established in the memory of Dominick Calhoun, has raised more than $20,000, to benefit groups who help abused and neglected children.

 Rick Calhoun, Dominick’s grandfather, said the nonprofit organization, Justice for Dominick, has raised approximately $21,147 in his grandson’s memory. An additional $10,520 has been raised, which will be put toward construction costs for the Dominick Calhoun amphitheater, to be built at the playscape in downtown Linden. An architect, builder and engineer have been secured for the project, which is expected to cost $80,000.

 Dominick was beaten to death in April, allegedly by his mother’s boyfriend, Brandon Hayes. Hayes faces life in prison in connection with the boy’s death and Dominick’s mother, Corrine Baker faces up to life in prison for allegedly not doing enough to protect her 4-year-old son. Hayes and Baker are behind bars awaiting their trials.

 In their attempt to make something positive out of an incomprehensible action, Calhoun and other supporters have been raising funds to help organizations that deal with abuse and neglect.

Read more: http://www.tctimes.com/articles/2010/11/21/news/local/doc4ce96b00c0e90166034113.txt

Trial Date Set For Couple Charged In 4-Year-Old's Death

February 8, 2011

2/8/11 - A trial date has been scheduled for a former Livingston County man charged in the murder of a 4 year old boy. Brandon Joshua-Frederick Hayes, who used to live in Tyrone Township, will head to trial March 29th on various counts including first-degree murder, first-degree child abuse and torture in connection with the beating death of Dominick Calhoun in Argentine Township last April. Hayes’ attorney James Piazza is still waiting for dates to be scheduled on a variety of motions he filed. He’s seeking to quash or reduce some charges and wants earlier testimony from Dominick’s 8-year-old half brother Tyler Baker to be thrown out.

Read more:

http://whmi.com/news/article/11698

Tyler Baker witnessed what was done to his little brother, I don't believe for a minute his testimony will be thrown out.

~Snipped~
Piazza also requested that several drug charges be tried separately from the murder case and that his trial be held separately from that of the boy’s mother, Corrine Baker. She’s charged with 2nd degree murder in her son’s death after authorities say she didn’t do enough to stop the beating. Her trial is also slated to begin March 29th in Genesee County Circuit Court. Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton tells WHMI that they would prefer to try the cases together and that a cut-off date for motions to be filed in either case has been set for March 7th.

~Justice for Dominick~