Father Ordered to Stand Trial in 4-Year-Old Son's Beating Death

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A Los Angeles man facing a murder charge in the beating death of his 4-year-old son is set to be arraigned on Sept. 1.

During a preliminary hearing Monday for Hirwin Calderon-Ordonez, 25, the prosecution called nine witnesses, according to Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami. After hearing the evidence, a judge ordered the defendant to stand trial for one felony count each of murder and assault on a child causing death.

Hatami told the court at Calderon-Ordonez's original arraignment that he turned over discovery to the defense that included two reports of suspected child abuse, a recording of the 911 call that brought paramedics to the family's home and photos of the boy's injuries.

Calderon-Ordonez' son, Justin Sontay-Oxlaj, died at County-USC Medical Center after being brought there about 3 a.m. June 6, 2019, from his family's residence in the 4600 block of Honduras Street in the southeast Los Angeles area, according to the coroner's office and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The coroner completed an autopsy the following day and ruled the death a homicide by blunt force trauma.

Asked for additional details of Justin's injuries, Hatami said they amounted to ``massive blunt force trauma.''

Police had quickly classified the death as suspicious. An LAPD detective told reporters at the scene that the boy's body showed evidence of physical trauma. Calderon-Ordonez was arrested later that day.

According to media reports, it was the father who called 911. The child's mother was not home at the time. The boy was not breathing when paramedics arrived.

Calderon-Ordonez faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted as charged. He is jailed in lieu of $2 million bail.


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