Man Could Face Less Than Two Years For Death Of Child

A homicide charge was dropped and a deal that would put a former Falls Township man in prison for less than two years was agreed to Tuesday in court.

Shawn Robert Felmey, 45, agreed to plead no contest to endangering the welfare of a child and face up to 23 months in county prison and five years probation before Bucks County Judge Theodore Fritsch at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown Borough.

Felmey answered questions from the judge but did not make further statements.

Felmey, according to court papers, had been drinking while inside a three-bedroom, two-story unit in the J building at the Commons of Fallsington. On December 18, 2018, 22-month-old Brandon Warner was found dead in the basement. Brandon was the son of Felmey’s girlfriend and died of head trauma.

The boy was deceased at the time emergency responders arrived and was found with swelling on his right eye, the right side of his head, and blood and vomit on his face and chin.

An autopsy found the fatal injuries could not have been caused by a toddler.

Felmey was the only one in the residence who went downstairs where Brandon was sleeping leading up to his death, authorities said.

While speaking with detectives following the death, Felmey said he has anger issues while drinking, which he had done December 17 into December 18, police said.

Investigators said Felmey lied to them about his actions during the time when it has been alleged Brandon suffered the life-ending injuries.

Felmey’s cousin called 9-1-1 after he told her of injuries to the boy.

Felmey resided in the Falls Township apartment with four other adults and five children, including his girlfriend, her son Brandon and daughter, and Felmey’s two kids.

One of the adult residents reported that Felmey had been rough with Brandon twice in the past and saw unexplained bruising on the child, police said.

Brandon’s identical twin brother, Dylan, died in July 2017. An autopsy at the time said the fatality was caused by sudden infant death syndrome, the coroner’s office said.

Felmey left Bucks County and headed to Florida after Brandon’s death. He was arrested last May when Falls Township and Bucks County detectives traveled to Melbourne, Florida, with an arrest warrant and extradited him to face charges in locally.

In court on Tuesday, it was not made clear why prosecutors were dropping the homicide charge.

Matt Lannetti, the prosecutor who leads the child abuse unit, declined to comment on the reason for the change on Tuesday outside of the courtroom.

The judged ordered a pre-sentencing investigation into Felmey’s background before sentencing, which has been pushed to a later date.

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