Parker pleads not guilty to killing child

James Parker entered a not guilty plea Monday to charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse stemming from the death of 22-month-old Kaedyn Short.

The former Avon Park police officer, appearing before Judge Peter Estrada in a black and gray-striped Highlands County Jail jumpsuit, was also assigned to the office of the public defender for representation.

There was some confusion as to who exactly would be representing Parker in his criminal proceedings. Estrada mentioned that at the defendant's prior court date, the indication was he and his family would hire private attorney William Fletcher.

"As far as I know, he was already hired," Parker said.

The prosecution said they had no paperwork stating Fletcher was involved in the case.

Parker was taken back to the holding area as court officials worked to find Fletcher so he could help shed some light on the defendant's representation status.

About 10 minutes later, the matter was brought back before Estrada.

"I have not been retained," Fletcher announced. "It has been discussed. I anticipate I probably will. I don't think that's sufficient for purposes today."

Fletcher requested that the public defender's office be assigned the case for the time being and he talk with Parker about possibly representing him in the future.

There was no objection to this from the prosecution.

"I've gone ahead and given Mr. Fletcher discovery, even though he's not counsel of record, just so he could have an idea of what's coming," said Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin. "In the meantime, I think Mr. Parker does need to be represented."

Estrada then asked Parker a number of questions to determine if the defendant was indigent and qualified for public defender representation. The questions included whether he was receiving income while in jail and if there was anything left in savings or checking accounts.

Parker responded no.

"Do you own any other type of property such as a car, boat, Jet Ski, jewelry, anything like that?" Estrada asked.

"No sir. I've lost it all," Parker answered.

The defendant was declared indigent, the public defender was immediately given the case and the not guilty plea was entered.

Short died May 27 at a hospice home where she was being cared for in her final days. She had been on life support at All Children's Hospital for some time after being hospitalized for severe injuries she suffered March 29.

Deputies were called to Highlands Regional Medical Center after Short, then 20 months old, was brought into the emergency room with severe injuries. Doctors determined she suffered several skull fractures, according to the sheriff's office.

Parker was reportedly watching the child during the evening of March 29 while her mother, Jennifer Short, 28, was at work.

The elder Short, who was also Parker's former live-in girlfriend, was indicted by a Highlands County grand jury in June for felony counts of failure to report child abuse and neglect of a child causing great bodily harm.

A written not guilty plea was entered Monday by attorney Linda Rodriguez-Torrent and an Oct. 21 pretrial conference was scheduled.

Parker is next due in court on Aug. 20.