A family member of a Southern California man charged Tuesday in connection with the death of his 2-year-old son, who died after last month being swept away in floodwaters, is decrying his arrest and describing him as “an amazing father” who would have never intentionally put his child’s life in jeopardy.
Brandon Padilla-Aguilera, of Barstow, a city in the Mojave Desert, was charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and child abuse/endangerment under circumstances or conditions likely to cause death, according to charging documents.
Padilla-Aguilera pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to online court records. A court appointed attorney for Padilla-Aguilera, 26, did not immediately return a request for comment…