Jonathan Thompson gets 15 years to life in fatal beating of 4-year-old Adonis Reed

Jonathan Thompson apologized in a Riverhead courtroom Monday for the brutal beating death of 4-year-old Adonis Reed, but the boy's family said they would never accept his words. Instead, they called him a "monster" and vowed to ensure he'd never be free again.

"I'm sorry for the events that took place," said Thompson, 34, of Amityville, in a brief statement. "I'm sorry for the family's loss."

Thompson was sentenced Monday morning in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead to 15 years to life on a charge of second-degree murder as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

Thompson, a family friend whom Adonis was living with, pleaded guilty last month to beating his girlfriend's godson to death in January 2013 because he wouldn't take a nap.

Thompson, who initially sought to represent himself at trial, ultimately admitted he had badly beaten the boy, prosecutors said. Adonis was left with a torn liver, and bruising on his heart, kidneys and lungs, they said.

Assistant District Attorney Raphael Pearl told the court Monday that Adonis suffered "77 impacts" on the day he died.

"Adonis took a brutal beating that day," Pearl said.

In her victim impact statement in court, Adonis' aunt lashed out, calling Thompson a "monster."

"You not only took a child away, you took a family away," said the boy's paternal aunt, La-Shon Reed, 45, of Holbrook. "You broke us down. You made us suffer. You still have not come clean with the things you have done to him . . . You are a coward and you took him away."

LaShon Reed said afterward the family doesn't accept Thompson's apology and that they'd attend every parole hearing to protest his potential release.

"I will fight it to the death of me," she said. "We're not just gonna write letters, we'll be there."

Thompson will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years, said Linda Foglia, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Suffolk County Court Judge Barbara Kahn spoke briefly to Thompson in court: "My hope, Mr. Thompson, is that Adonis can now spend his eternity in joy, safety and peace that was denied to him during his short time on earth."

Adonis loved Superman, his family said. He was energetic and was frequently dancing and singing. "My nephew was a wonderful child," said Norma Delgado, another aunt.

Adonis' mother, Kiara Daniels, 23, of Wyandanch, did not speak in court. Afterward, tears ran down her face and she declined an interview. Adonis' father, Adam Reed, also declined to comment.

Joseph Hansche, a Sayville attorney who was Thompson's legal adviser, said his client was "very cooperative."

By Nicole Fuller

nicole.fuller@newsday.com@NicoleFuller

Nicole Fuller is Newsday's senior criminal justice reporter. She began working at Newsday in 2012 and previously covered local government.