Texas man sentenced for baby's coke death

Associated Press 

HOUSTON -- A Texas man has been sentenced to life in prison for felony murder in the death of his teething infant.

The baby died after apparently sucking on his father's cocaine-tainted fingers.

Twenty-6-year-old Dennis Ray Driver was convicted yesterday in the overdose death of his eight-month-old son, Dennis Junior. The jury also fined Driver $10,000.

Driver had told investigators that he had chopped up cocaine and the baby later sucked on his fingers while he was asleep.

Prosecutor Murray Newman says he doesn't believe Driver fed the cocaine to his son intentionally. He says medical testimony showed that a trace amount of cocaine could have caused acute cocaine toxicity in the baby.

Driver maintained his innocence throughout the trial.

The prosecutor says Driver had at least eight previous convictions, including six that were related to cocaine.