A man accused of killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old son pleaded not guilty Monday in Erie County Court.Justin Crouse, 30, of Salamanca is facing a charge of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of Gage Seneca.
Prosecutors say Crouse fatally struck Seneca on the head in the early morning of March 5 when he found the child out of his bed. The boy's mother, Crouse's girlfriend, found him unresponsive in his bed later that morning. An autopsy revealed Seneca died from blunt force trauma.
Crouse is being held at the Erie County Holding Center without bail. He will be back in court next month.
