In a case that has gripped the View Park community, Edwin Wallace Johnson pleaded no contest Thursday to a felony count of child abuse resulting in the death of his nearly 2-year-old daughter, Maeve Blakeley-Johnson. A Los Angeles judge sentenced Johnson to 364 days in county jail, followed by four years of felony probation. Maeve was found unresponsive inside a vehicle in the View Park neighborhood last September, and the Los Angeles County coroner later ruled her cause of death was hyperthermia.
As reported by MyNewsLA, Johnson was taken into custody in the courtroom immediately after entering his plea. The judge imposed a series of treatment and supervision conditions, including 52 weeks of child-abuse classes and an order that Johnson abstain from alcohol. The sentence also includes a 10-year protective order involving another child and limits Johnson to monitored visitation.
What Happened In September
Deputies from the Marina del Rey station responded around 3:10 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2025, to the 300 block of Chanson Drive after a report of a child not breathing, and Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel pronounced the child dead at the scene, local reporting says. The county medical examiner identified the child as Maeve Blakeley-Johnson and listed hyperthermia as the cause of death, according to Hollywood LA News.
Prosecutors Say Substance Abuse Played A Role
Deputy District Attorney Kelly Kraetsch told the court that substance abuse "definitely played a role" in Maeve's death, and prosecutors say the child had been left in a car seat for approximately six hours, according to MyNewsLA. Johnson was initially arrested on the day of his daughter's death, posted bond, then was re-arrested several days later, according to court and jail records.
Johnson’s attorney, Jacob Glucksman, described Maeve's death as "a really tragic accident" and said his client is grieving. Family members and supporters were present in court during the hearing, the attorney added.
Sentence Terms And Treatment
Along with the jail term and four years of felony probation, the court ordered Johnson to complete 52 weeks of child-abuse education and to follow a court-supervised treatment plan. Court documents indicate he may be transferred to a residential treatment program of at least 180 days, followed by outpatient care. Visits with the protected child are limited to monitored sessions of up to three hours, three times a week.
Broader Context
Pediatric vehicular heatstroke remains a leading and preventable cause of non-crash vehicle deaths for children in the United States, with federal safety officials and child-safety groups documenting dozens of such fatalities each year. National campaigns stress that caregivers should always check the back seat and never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a short time. The NHTSA and Kids and Cars offer detailed safety guidance and data on hot-car risks.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. The family did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
