A 2-year-old boy whose death in a wash in Barstow during a September rainstorm appeared to be a tragic accident is actually the victim of a crime, authorities say, after Xavier Padilla-Aguilera’s father was charged Tuesday, Oct. 21, with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

Brandon Padilla-Aguilera, 26, of Barstow, was scheduled to enter pleas in Superior Court in Victorville on Tuesday afternoon to that charge as well as one count of willful child endangerment likely to cause injury or death.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office also filed a special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death, said Jacquelyn Rodriguez, a DA’s spokeswoman.

A charge of gross negligence requires prosecutors to prove that a driver acted recklessly with a disregard for h

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