Probable cause is found to put La Crosse man on trial for child neglect in infant’s drug-related death

A La Crosse man will be scheduled for trial on a fatal charge of child neglect.

Judge Scott Horne found probable cause Friday to determine that 43-year-old Lavon Liggins may be partly responsible for the death of an infant last September.

Liggins is the boy’s father, and the mother, Brittany Basley, also is charged in the death.

Liggins is suspected of bringing fentanyl into his home, where the child may have ingested the drug, according to a Mayo doctor who performed an autopsy in the case.

Fentanyl has been cited as the cause of death, and prosecutor Emily Ruud said Liggins has a history of delivering fentanyl, and knew that his children might be at risk with drugs in the home.

Liggins will be back in court next week. He’s in jail on a $50,000 cash bond.