Scott strips Ayala of child beating-death case

Two women accused of beating a toddler to death will not be prosecuted by Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala, Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday.

The governor reassigned the murder cases to Ocala-based State Attorney Brad King, who is currently prosecuting 24 other cases from Ayala’s office.

The cases against Lakesha Lewis and her mother, Callene Marcia Barton, are are the latest reassignments since Ayala’s announcement in March that she does not intend to seek the death penalty while she is the region’s top prosecutor.

Ayala and Scott are embroiled in a legal battle over Scott’s authority to take away Ayala’s cases. The Florida Supreme Court is mulling a decision after listening to arguments in June.

Ayala’s spokeswoman, Eryka Washington, said Ayala did not have an immediate comment.

Lewis, 28, and Barton, 58, are facing charges of aggravated child abuse and first-degree felony murder in the July 7 death of 3-year-old Xavier Terrill Mokarzel-Satchel. The charges could warrant the death penalty.

King said he would review the cases against Lewis and Barton before deciding how to proceed.

Xavier had suffered numerous beatings for months before his death, according to court documents. Xavier’s mother, Brandi Marie Mokarzel, was living with Lewis, who was her girlfriend, and Barton in their Pine Hills apartment.

Mokarzel, who was arrested on a charge of child neglect, told investigators the final beating was punishment because Xavier drank milk out of a jug, according to a police report.

Lewis beat the child with a wand used to open and close window blinds until the plastic broke, Mokarzel told investigators. Then Barton grabbed him by the arm and leg and flung him down a hallway in their apartment, she said. Barton threatened Mokarzel when the child’s mother tried to call police, according to the police report.