Perez to plead guilty in toddler’s death in 2012

IOWA CITY - An Iowa City man accused in the death of his girlfriend's toddler in 2012 will plead guilty next month in Johnson County District Court.

Jorge Perez, 23, will make an Alford plea to one count of child endangerment resulting in death and be sentenced June 9, according to court documents filed Tuesday. An Alford plea is when a defendant claims innocence but admits the prosecution has enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Perez faces up to 50 years in prison. His trial was set to start next week but the plea agreement was reached late Monday, according to court documents.

Perez admitted to investigators that he hit 20-month-old Marcus in the face with his knuckles, held a pillow over his head, stepped on his stomach and threw him up in the air without catching him. Perez said he didn't intend to harm the child. According to a medical exam, Marcus had broken ribs, bruises on his head, face, back and stomach, internal injuries and subdural bleeding in his head. He died from blunt force injuries to the head on April 30, 2012.

Investigators believed Perez committed a series of assaults on the toddler, causing injuries that led to his death.

Marcus' mother, Mireya Balderas, 21, also is charged with child endangerment resulting in death. She admitted to investigators that she hit the toddler in the face, held a pillow over his head to get him to sleep, and also watched Perez abuse the child, according to court documents.

Perez and Balderas were not arrested until weeks after Marcus' death on June 10, 2012.

The Iowa Department of Human Services was called to the couple's home April 25, 2012 regarding a report that Perez left Marcus home alone. The DHS worker noticed bruising on the Marcus' face but didn't feel it was unusual for a toddler.

Police came to the home five days later on April 30 on a report that the toddler was struggling to breathe. When they arrived, Marcus was in 'distress” and vomiting, according to court documents.

The documents also indicate emergency personnel noticed bruises on Marcus' face and he was taken to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He died a short time later.

A new trial date hasn't been set for Balderas. At one time in 2013, Mark Meyer, Balderas' attorney, indicated a plea agreement might be made but her trial was reset and there was a suppression hearing last month regarding evidence retrieved from a cell phone and statements Balderas made during a police interview. The judge hasn't yet ruled on that issue.

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