Offense carries a prison sentence of 25 years to life

Mario Juan De Dios Tomas, 26, was arraigned Monday afternoon in Linn County Circuit Court on a charge of murder by abuse in the death of a 2-year-old boy.

The boy, Samuel Martinez-Castaneda, died Saturday at his family’s home in Scio of “blunt force trauma to the abdomen,” according to investigators.

The boy’s mother has been described by investigators as De Dios Tomas’ girlfriend.

Neither the Linn County Sheriff’s Office nor the Linn County District Attorney’s Office is talking about the details the boy’s death.

The offense of murder by abuse, upon conviction, carries a prison sentence of 25 years to life.

De Dios Tomas is also facing charges of criminal mistreatment and assault.

Investigators have alleged that De Dios Tomas assaulted the boy’s mother but have not provided further details.

During Monday’s arraignment, which was by video from the Linn County Jail, Judge Carl Brumund asked De Dios Tomas if he could read English.

“A little bit,” he answered.

The judge then read out loud the charges and ordered De Dios Tomas to be held in the Linn County Jail without bail.

De Dios Tomas answered “yes” to the judge’s other questions such as did he have a paper with the charges written on them and did he want a court-appointed attorney.

When given the option of setting another court date or speaking with an attorney first, De Dios Tomas said, “I want to talk to a lawyer, please.”

De Dios Tomas was expected to appear in court via video again today to learn who his attorney would be.

De Dios Tomas, a Mexican national, is being held as an illegal alien for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the sheriff’s office.