JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man who pleaded guilty to running over and killing his 8-month-old son was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday.
Justin Golden’s attorney had asked that his sentence be limited to 12 months in county jail, while prosecutors asked for 25 years — exceeding the maximum recommended punishment of 13 years.
However, after reviewing the pre-sentence investigation report, video evidence, letters from family members, and considering other mitigating factors, Judge London Kite decided to sentence Golden to 30 years, with credit for 328 days served.
In September, Justin Golden pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with the death of his son, Pablo Golden.
Before he was sentenced, Golden addressed the courtroom for the first time.
“While I did not intend to kill my son and had no criminal intent, I know that is not enough. I failed as his protector, as his father,” Golden said.
Press play below to watch Golden addressing the courtroom:
Tony Harden, Golden’s grandfather, testified on his behalf during his sentencing hearing.
“How can you punish somebody for an accident?” Harden said. “If I accidentally step on somebody’s feet, I wouldn’t want you to punish me.”
But Judge Kite said that what Golden does not qualify as an accident.
“Your grandfather coming up here and saying that you shouldn’t be punished because it’s like stepping on someone’s foot. That is not before this court. You legally cannot be before this court. You may be in a different court, but you wouldn’t be in front of me,” she said.
Warning: There may be possible graphic details about this incident.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the tragic event unfolded during an argument between Golden and the mother of his child in January near Lenox and McDuff avenues.
“The driver (Justin Golden) stopped the vehicle at the intersection, opened the door, and placed the child on the ground,” JSO reported in January. “The driver then began to leave the area, and the vehicle struck the child.”
In February, Golden’s mother Rose Harden told News4JAX’s Briana Brownlee that the incident was not intentional but a tragic accident. Both families said they have been grieving together over the loss of baby Pablo.
Pablo’s death has not only devastated his family but also impacted the Jacksonville community. Described by his maternal grandmother as a bright and happy baby with the prettiest smile, Pablo’s life was tragically cut short before he could reach his first birthday.
At a sentencing hearing in November, Detective Justin Brown spoke about Golden’s reaction after learning his son died.
“He became very animated. Several times, he asked, ‘Am I going to get in trouble for this?’”
During the hearing, Golden’s mother and sister also spoke, describing him as someone who is honest, caring and who stays up at night because he knows his son is gone.
“He wasn’t in trouble. He didn’t hang out in the streets. He was a momma’s boy. He was about family,” the sister said.
In a letter obtained by News4JAX, Golden pleaded with the judge to help him avoid a prison sentence, saying he knows he’s still young and doesn’t want to spend the next chapter of his life in a system that his mother fought hard to keep him from.
The full letter can be read below:
The tragic incident that happened in January with my son was an accident. Never in life would I have ever expected that I was going to take my own son’s life. I still can’t believe it. The harsh reality that I won’t get to hold him, kiss him, play with him, or ever watch him grow up makes me wish I could change placos with him. I wish I could go back to that day and do it differently. People have passed Judgement on me, not knowing what the circumstances were. Either way, they don’t know the burden that I carry each and every day that resides on my soul. I wouldn’t wish this on no one.. The only person who’s really in my corner is my mother. Even then, her sorrow reflects how much pain this loss has cast upon us all. I know how my mother feels. The same way she might not ever accept this, I won’t accept it either. I just pray and ask for forgiveness From her. Only me and God know that I’m truly sorry. I believe we both made a mistakes that day. What I won’s accept is people believing we both failed as parents. I know now the responsibility that comes with being a parent. Not only do I have a duty to my children, I have a duty to protect everyone else’s children from unexpected dangers that’s preventable.
Your honor, the last time I wrote a letter to you, I mentioned some of my mom’s struggles. As my mother’s last born child, I have to admit that I hate knowing that my mother’s struggles are only becoming worse. As a black woman, especially being a middle-aged woman (She has tried all her life to do the right thing- All the hardship that is being placed upon her is something that she doesn’t deserve. She needs as much help as she can get. I’m one of the people who made sure, no matter what. That’s something that I know she’d do for me. my mother needs me more than ever right now. Not only that, I don’t want to go to prison. I have never been in trouble a day in my life. Prison is for hard criminals who knows that their intent is to commit a crime. If I’m guilty of anything, it’s being guilty of an accident, that was caused by a mistake that I made. I feel putting me in prison is only going to endanger my life more, being that my case is globally known around the world. If I can ask you for anything, it would be me asking you for help. I know that I‘m still young and I don’t want to spend the next chapter of my life in a system that my mother has fought hard to keep me away from. I know my life hangs in the balance of your hands. I’m asking you to help me. Help me succeed in life as if I were your son and you were my mother. I’d want to be successful just like you.
Letter written by Justin Golden
An impact statement from Pablo’s mother was read as well.
“Now every day, I have to wake up and relive this event from January 25, 2025. It’s going to mess with my social life, work, and even being around family because I have to hear what everyone remembers doing with Pablo Golden.”
Golden was also originally charged with vehicular homicide and faced a maximum of 60 years for both charges combined, but that charge was dropped.