Boyfriend of Slain Toddler’s Mother Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison

In connection with the tragic death of two-year-old Maliyah Bass, the boyfriend of her mother pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, announced Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Wednesday.

“The disappearance of this little girl shocked and alarmed our community and we all mourn her,” said Ogg. “No one ever wants tragedies like this to happen, but when they do, our prosecutors work to make sure that we get justice for the family.”

Trevion Thompson, 25, pleaded guilty to three felonies, including injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, in exchange for the 40-year prison sentence. Maliyah’s body was discovered in Brays Bayou a day after her mother and Thompson reported her missing. Initially, they claimed she vanished from a playground outside their southwest Houston apartment while they were cooking inside.

Houston Police Department responded to the call of a missing child and issued an Amber Alert on August 22, 2020. Following the discovery of Maliyah’s body, both Thompson and Maliyah’s mother, Sahara Ervin, were arrested.

While the details surrounding Maliyah’s death remain unclear, Thompson admitted to disposing of her body in a storm drain leading to the bayou where she was found. Ervin, aged 24, has already pleaded guilty and was expected to testify against Thompson. She is set to be sentenced on Thursday.

Lacy Johnson, the chief overseeing the DA’s Child Fatality Division, along with ADA Edward Appelbaum, prosecuted the case. Johnson highlighted that Thompson cannot appeal the convictions or the sentence and must serve at least half before being eligible for parole.

“After three and a half years, we were glad to reach a resolution in this case that let the family avoid a trial and ensure that Thompson will be in prison for decades,” said Johnson. “He confessed to putting her body down a storm drain, and that really sealed his fate.”