Defense attorney George Cosenza, center, makes remarks during proceedings at the Washington County Court of Common Pleas before Judge Mark Kerenyi where Michael A. Dawson Jr., left, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of his 2-month-old son in 2020. (Photo by Candice Black)

MARIETTA — Nearly three years after the death of 2-month-old Gannon Dawson, his father Michael A. Dawson Jr. pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Thursday morning on the third day of his trial before Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi.

Via an Alford plea, Dawson maintained his innocence despite the guilty plea and said he made that decision after weighing “risk management.”

“I’ve entered not guilty to everything, just wanted to do a risk management situation here. They’ve stacked so many charges against me that I feel that’s the best outcome,” he said.

Dawson agreed he was pleading guilty to avoid the risk of being convicted by the jury of a more serious charge like murder.

Washington County Prosecutor Nicole Coil then went through the events leading up Dawson’s arrest and the trial.

Dawson called 911 on July 23, 2020 after he said his son was choking during a feeding. First responders were at the home on Longacre Street in Marietta within 15 minutes and Gannon was taken to Marietta Memorial Hospital.

Gannon was then life-flighted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and law enforcement was contacted because of reported bruises on his chin, Coil said.

On July 25, 2020, Gannon succumbed to his injuries.

“The coroner performed an autopsy based on the non-accidental trauma,” Coil said.

Several injuries were reported from the autopsy, including a skull fracture, brain hemorrhaging, rib fractures at different stages of healing and a laceration of the liver. A medical professional gave their expert opinion saying his injuries were consistent with physical abuse “and inflicted injury,” Coil said.

Dawson and Gannon’s mother Megan Wiggins said they were the only two people taking care of him and Dawson told detectives Wiggins would not have harmed her son.

“Mr. Dawson also informed the Washington County Sheriff’s Office detectives that something had happened in the last couple of days before his child went brain dead, but he would not elaborate on what that incident was,” Coil said. “All that he would say was that he never did anything intentional to his child, purposeful to his child or anything with mean intent to his child. Specifically, he said, ‘It’s not like I was beating him, throwing him on the ground and kicking him like a soccer ball.'”

According to Coil, Dawson said he “would have to sit here and deal with this, possibly with court, jail and prison over some crazy (expletive).”

Based on interviews and evidence, Coil said the State of Ohio submitted that Dawson did cause the death of Gannon Dawson.

Dawson’s attorney George Cosenza said he maintains his innocence and he “did not do anything to cause those injuries to the child as set forth by Attorney Coil or her representations of the facts in this case. Michael is not responsible for any of those injuries. The statements Ms. Coil relayed into the court are out of context and that would have come out in the trial.”

Cosenza reiterated Dawson decided to plead guilty instead of taking the risk of a possible murder conviction, which could have meant a life sentence.

Gannon’s mother and maternal grandparents were in the courtroom.

Through a plea agreement, two counts of murder, one count of involuntary manslaughter, one count of felonious assault and two counts of endangering children were dismissed. Kerenyi said a pre-sentence investigation will take place including a victim impact statement.

Dawson faces a sentence of three to 16 1/2 years in prison, Kerenyi said.

Sentencing is scheduled for 8 a.m. May 12 and his bond will be continued at $100,000.

Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com.