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Bond denied for driver accused of killing child

Posted at 4:05 PM, Feb 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-15 19:05:33-05

A judge has denied bond for the man accused of running over a 5 -year-old boy Saturday.

Investigators say Lex Eugene was trying to escape police when his car struck and killed Jayden Readon.

One attorney tells NewsChannel 5 Eugene's long list of arrests could impact sentencing in this case, if he's convicted.

The boy’s family was in court Monday at a hearing for Eugene.

The victim’s family was upset Eugene didn't seem apologetic in the courtroom.

“Very difficult to be in there with him and to see him with no action and no remorse, no nothing,” said Jayden’s grandfather Henry Readon.

NewsChannel 5 asked attorney Jeff Vivo to review the case. Eugene has been arrested 11 times since July 2013 for drug, gun and traffic violations.

He spent time in prison from July 2015 to December 2015, according to the state Department of Corrections website.

 "This is a case where it's hard not to root for justice," said Vivo, adding cases where a victim dies are the hardest for families and lawyers.

Eugene is facing a long list of charges including murder.

Vivo said because Eugene was recently released from prison, certain charges carry harsher minimum sentences. The murder charge could be punishable by death, or life in prison.

"He could be looking at multiple sentences which ensure he's incarcerated for the rest of his natural born life," Vivo said, even excluding the murder charge.

Jayden's grandfather said the child had dreams of being an engineer and was very creative.

"He would take aluminum foil and make dragons and everything you can imagine," Henry remembered.

He added the boy loved to be outside.

Jayden's great-grandmother, Lucille Graham, expressed gratitude after the judge denied Eugene a bond, but she says the case is far from over for Jayden's mother.

"She's having a pain that will never go away," Graham said.

Friends and family have been adding to a memorial at the site of the crash on Miner and Summit Roads, near the border of Boynton Beach and Hypoluxo.