Lincoln man gets 85 years to life for fatal abuse of 22-month-old

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A Lincoln man will spend decades in prison for fatally abusing a 22-month-old child.

Joshua Tackett, 33, was sentenced Tuesday to 85 years to life in prison for intentional child abuse resulting in death and a drug charge.

With credit for about a year and a half already served behind bars, he will be eligible for parole in about 42 years.

Tackett’s sentence was enhanced because he is considered a habitual criminal under state law.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln woman convicted of evidence tampering in child abuse investigation into son

In March 2023, Rudy Requejo Ybarra Jr. died of injuries that police said were consistent with abuse.

Court documents say the 22-month-old had brain bleed, a black eye, a swollen ankle and bruising.

Tackett, who has multiple previous criminal convictions, was found guilty of child abuse in July.

The boy’s mother, Brittany Cook, was convicted in his death in September.

SEE ALSO: Protesters in Lincoln demand justice for 22-month-old boy who died

Tackett has filed two motions requesting a new trial.

Last week, Judge Kevin McManaman denied the first request, which didn’t make any specific claims about why a new trial was warranted.

But Tackett filed a new request on Monday saying there is a new witness.

In an affidavit, the witness says a relative of the boy told her a different account of how he was injured.

But that relative is already listed as a witness in court documents, so it’s not clear if that information is actually new.

McManaman has yet to rule on the new request.

SEE ALSO: Mother arrested in death of 22-month-old child, Lincoln Police say