Home » Home » Joshua Manns Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder of 3-Year-Old Jameson Nance, Receives 60-Year Prison Sentence

Joshua Manns Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder of 3-Year-Old Jameson Nance, Receives 60-Year Prison Sentence

By  //  June 17, 2026

Manns entered the guilty plea on Wednesday morning in Brevard County Circuit Court in Viera

Joshua Manns has admitted responsibility in the 2021 death of 3-year-old Jameson Nance, pleading guilty to second-degree murder and several related abuse charges just as his murder trial was set to begin.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Joshua Manns has admitted responsibility in the 2021 death of 3-year-old Jameson Nance, pleading guilty to second-degree murder and several related abuse charges just as his murder trial was set to begin.

Manns entered the guilty plea on Wednesday morning in Brevard County Circuit Court in Viera, bringing an end to a criminal case that had been pending for nearly five years.

The plea came as jury selection was underway for what had been scheduled as a first-degree murder trial.

Manns had originally been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in connection with the death of Nance. Prosecutors alleged the child suffered fatal injuries as a result of abuse.

Under an agreement reached with the State Attorney’s Office, Manns pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, child neglect causing great bodily harm, and child abuse.

In exchange, prosecutors agreed to a sentence that would avoid a lengthy trial and eliminate the possibility of a death sentence.

The plea agreement calls for Manns to receive a 60-year prison sentence for the second-degree murder conviction. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced on Monday.

Court records indicate Manns will also receive concurrent sentences on the remaining charges, including a 30-year sentence for aggravated child abuse. Because the sentences will run concurrently, they will be served at the same time as the 60-year sentence.

Joshua Manns has admitted responsibility in the 2021 death of 3-year-old Jameson Nance, above, pleading guilty to second-degree murder and several related abuse charges just as his murder trial was set to begin.

The case stems from the death of Nance in 2021, a tragedy that drew significant attention due to the young age of the victim and the serious nature of the allegations.

During Monday’s sentencing hearing, family members and others affected by the child’s death are expected to have an opportunity to address the court through victim impact statements.

Such statements allow survivors and loved ones to describe how the crime has affected their lives before a sentence is formally imposed.

By entering the guilty plea, Manns waived his right to a jury trial, bringing the criminal proceedings to a close without the need for jurors to hear evidence and determine a verdict.

The sentencing hearing on Monday is expected to finalize the terms of the plea agreement and officially conclude one of Brevard County’s most serious child-abuse homicide cases in recent years.