Iowa City man accused in toddler death has new trial date in December

An Iowa City man accused in the death of his girlfriend's son has a new trial date in December.

Jorge Perez, 21, who faces two charges of child endangerment resulting in death, waived his right to speedy trial on Friday. Before that waiver, his case was scheduled to go trial on Sept. 4.

Perez now is scheduled to be tried on Dec. 11 with his co-defendant, Mireya Balderas, 18, who also faces a charge of child endangerment resulting in death in connection with the death of her 20-month-old son, Marcus Balderas.

Perez and Balderas were arrested June 10, weeks after Marcus died of blunt force injuries to the head on April 30. His death was ruled a homicide. Perez's charges relate to a series of assaults that investigators believe led to the toddler's death and to the injuries that authorities say took Marcus' life.

Balderas charge is for allegations that she participated in the abuse that took her son's life and didn't protect the child from Perez.

The Iowa Department of Human Services was called to the home that Perez and Balderas shared at 2018 Waterfront Drive on April 25 on a report that Perez had left Marcus home alone. When a DHS worker arrived, that person noticed bruising on the child's face but didn't feel it was unusual for a toddler, authorities said.

Iowa City police were called to the home five days later on April 30 on a report of the child struggling to breathe. When they arrived, they found Marcus in distress and vomiting, according to court documents.

Paramedics noticed bruises on Marcus' face, court documents show, and the child was rushed to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he was pronounced dead.

Perez, according to investigators, has admitted to hitting Marcus in the face with his knuckles, holding a pillow over the child's head, stepping on his stomach and throwing him up without catching him. Balderas reportedly admitted to hitting her son in the face, holding a pillow over his head to get him to sleep and watching her boyfriend abuse the boy, according to authorities.

If convicted, Perez and Balderas could face up to 50 years in prison for each charge.