Picture by Abdul Goni/Drik/Getty Photographs and Courtroom TV
What witnesses mentioned modifications all the pieces right here.
A California father is now dealing with severe prison expenses after his 2-year-old son died in a flooding incident that has left many individuals with questions on what actually occurred.
In accordance with Courtroom TV, Brandon Aguilera-Padilla, 26, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and little one abuse following the loss of life of his younger son, Xavier Padilla. The incident occurred on September 18, 2025, when emergency responders in Barstow acquired a name a few car that had been swept away by floodwaters.
The Barstow Police Division mentioned each Brandon and Xavier have been within the automobile when floodwater took over the car. They each acquired out of the automobile, however the father and son acquired separated within the water. What witnesses advised police reveals one thing disturbing, as investigators spent the following month speaking to individuals who noticed what occurred and amassing proof. Emergency crews began searching for the lacking toddler straight away, however Xavier’s physique was not discovered till the following day, September 19.
The Expenses Modified Fairly Dramatically After His Arrest
Issues took a flip after Brandon was arrested on October 17, 2025. Police first arrested him on homicide expenses primarily based on what they discovered throughout their investigation. However then the district legal professional’s workplace modified that cost to vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and added a toddler abuse cost on prime of it.
Brandon went to courtroom for his arraignment and mentioned he was not responsible to each expenses. The choose set his bail at $200,000 and advised him to return again to courtroom on October 27. Police haven’t mentioned what precisely the witnesses advised them, however no matter they mentioned was apparently severe sufficient for prosecutors to file prison expenses towards the daddy.
This case reveals how severe the authorized issues will be when youngsters find yourself in harmful conditions, even when unhealthy climate or pure disasters are concerned. Comparable questions on following the correct guidelines have come up in different latest circumstances, like an Illinois police officer who was just lately arrested by ICE after working for over a decade.
The vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence cost means prosecutors assume Brandon was driving in a method that put his son in actual hazard. The kid abuse cost means they imagine what he did was unhealthy sufficient to rely as prison neglect or placing his little one in hurt’s method.
The investigation continues to be occurring because the case strikes by means of courtroom. Identical to harmful car issues on highways can result in unhealthy outcomes, this case is a reminder that drivers have to preserve their passengers protected. Brandon continues to be in custody whereas he waits for his subsequent courtroom listening to later this month.


