Accused mom, boyfriend in court

Pair charged in death of 6-year-old Middletown boy scheduled to be in court today for hearing.

A Middletown mother and her boyfriend charged in the death of her 6-year-old son and throwing his body in the Ohio River are scheduled to be in court this morning.

Brittany Gosney, 29, and her boyfriend, James Hamilton, 43, were indicted March 5 on a combined 31-count indictment for the slaying of 6-year-old James Hutchinson on Feb. 26 in rural Preble County and the disposal of his body days later in the river near Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

Court-appointed attorneys David Washington for Gosney and Jeremy Evans for Hamilton entered not guilty pleas on behalf of the defendants, and Judge Noah Powers II set bond at $2 million for Gosney and $750,000 for Hamilton.

They are scheduled to be back in Power’s courtroom today. Gosney’s plea could change to not guilty by reason of insanity during the hearing.

Washington filed a motion last week indicating his intention to pursue a not guilty by reason of insanity plea and a question of competency for Gosney to stand trial.

“(Gosney) struggles to assist in her defense and counsel has serious concerns regarding defendant’s mental health,” Washington wrote in the brief motion.

Washington told the Journal-News he is concerned about Gosney’s mental health and her circumstances at the time “the alleged offenses occurred, that is the (not guilty by reason of insanity plea).”

He added that the competency question is based primarily on the statement she made at arraignment in Middletown Municipal

Brittany Gosney, 29, and her boyfriend, James Hamilton, 43, were indicted March 5 on a combined 31-count indictment for the slaying of 6-year-old James Hutchinson on Feb. 26 in rural Preble County and the disposal of his body days later.