4:30 p.m.  After three and a half hours of deliberation at the Riley County Court house, the jury declared a verdict in the case of Antonio Brown Sr. vs State of Kansas. Brown was found guilty of first degree murder, two counts of abuse of a child, and one count of obstruction of justice.
The state prosecution also sought to extend the severity of the punishment for the two counts of child abuse due to aggravating factors in the case. The state submitted that the aggravating factors of the case were due to the age of Clayden during the abuse, the severity and extent of the injuries to Clayden, the fact that Clayden and Brown were in a fiduciary relationship, and the fact that Brown failed to render aid to Clayden after Brown was aware of Clayden’s injuries.

The defense explained to the jury during her closing arguments that the aggravated factors would increase the punishment for Brown’s sentencing. She submitted that the fail to render aid should not be considered in the factor, due to Bown and Betzold’s inexperience as parents and ignorance.

After 15 minutes of deliberation the jury unanimously concluded that there were aggravated factors in the two counts of abuse of a child. The sentencing date for Antonio Brown Sr. October 25th at 10:00 a.m. In Saline County.

Brown Sr. The prosecution and the defense each got 45 minutes for their closing arguments. The defendant is charged with 1st degree felony murder, two counts of child abuse, and obstruction of justice. The first account of child abuse is from the period of September 26 through October 4th, 2011, and the second charge would be for the day of October 4th, when Clayden received his fatal wounds.

State prosecutor (Trocheck) started the closing arguments, giving a history of Clayden’s life up to his death. Trocheck told the jury that during the first six month’s of Clayden’s life he lived with Brittney Betzold, Jordan Urbanek, and Jordan’s mother. Once Clayden moved into 612 W. Prescott in Salina, he still saw Jordan every weekend. The defense claimed it was only once Brown was the sole care provider for Clayden that the bruises started showing up, a week and a half before his death.

The closing statements for the defense by (Julie Effenbach) followed. Effenbach told the jury that the evidence could not prove that Brown caused the life threatening injuries to Clayden on the morning of October 4, 2011. Brown adamantly denied doing anything but spanking Clayden even thoughout several hours of being interviewed by the Salina Police Department. There was never a witness of Brown ever hurting the child by his friends or family, and that Betzold was responsible for Clayden as well as Brown.