Minister given maximum sentence for 2020 death of foster child

Schenectady, New York: On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 29-year-old Dequan Greene was sentenced to 25-years to life in prison for the December 20, 2020 death of 4-year-old Charlie Garay.

Even during the sentencing hearing Greene continued to assert his innocence saying. "I'm not a murderer, I'm not a murderer. I'm sorry that all this even happened. This is just a crazy tragedy."

"Not only are you a murderer, but you're a sociopath. That's what you are. An absolute sociopath," Schenectady County Court Judge Matthew Sypniewsky told Greene.

He further told Greene, "You're going to go there and everyone is going to know 'baby killer'- good luck with that."

Greene was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, and two counts of misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child on October 3, 2022.

The prosecution presented evidence that showed that Charlie and his brother, who was 5-years-old at the time, had suffered weeks of abuse in the Greene household where they had been placed by Albany County's Department of Social Services Child Protective Service in September 2020.

Before Charlie and his brother were placed with the Greens who, at the time, were certified foster parents, had only previously fostered a child overnight. They had three children, all girls, all under the age of 5, of their own.

A statement from the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office on January 22, 2021 which announced Greene's arrest, outlined the alleged events surrounding Charlie's death.

"Dequan Greene told the first responders that Charlie had fallen out of a child's chair, began to slur his speech and then passed out. The told others that the child choked. Rather than call 911 he called his wife who was out shopping. When she returned to the home, she made the 911 call for help."

The medical examiner determined that Charlie's manner of death was homicide due to extensive internal injuries to his liver and intestines caused by blunt force trauma.

Charlie's brother was treated at the Albany Medical Center for injuries that he had sustained including bruises, abrasions, and a torn frenulum.

Greene's attorney, James Tyner announced plans to appeal despite Sypniewsky's advisement against doing so.

"This one ain't coming back on appeal, no doubt," he said. "You take whatever appeal you want, the evidence in the case was overwhelming."

Latrisha Green has been charged with a misdemeanor and her case is proceeding to trial according to District Attorney Robert Carney.

Where Greene served as a minister was not disclosed.