Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Case No.: 19-7834
Hearing Date: N/A

Case Description: The State of Ohio prosecuted Mr. Soto for the death of his 2 year old son in 2006.  Mr. Soto told the police his son’s death resulted from an accident while riding an ATV.  Mr. Soto faced two counts, child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter.  Mr. Soto pleaded guilty to the child endangerment charge and served his prison term.  The State dismissed the homicide count.  Some significant time after release from prison, Mr. Soto admitted that he had lied earlier and that he had beaten his child to death. The State subsequently prosecuted Mr. Soto for murder and aggravated murder.

Amicus Description: Amicus urges the Court to accept review to resolve two issues: (1) whether settlement through the plea bargain process precludes subsequent prosecution for a crime related to a dismissed charge and (2) whether the doctrine of “merger of offenses” precludes the subsequent prosecution in a felony murder prosecution.

Opinion:
N/A