Alberto Solis Guzman Convicted in 4-Year-Old's Death; His Girlfriend Up on Murder of Her Son

Read update with Guzman's sentence here.

Alberto Solis Guzman has been convicted of assaulting his
girlfriend's 4-year-old son with great bodily injury to the child's head
resulting in his death, but the 30-year-old's lover faces not only that charge but a murder rap and other felony counts at her trial.

Like Guzman, who is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 14, 2011, Gabriela Mariana
Morales, 28, of Santa Ana, could receive up to 34 years to life in state prison with a conviction.
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Morales' son Brandon lived a nightmarish short life. His 9-year-old brother testified during Guzman's trial that the mother's boyfriend repeatedly hit the younger child with his hands and a belt, and that the couple forced Brandon to sleep on the floor, refused to
feed him and made him stand in a corner with his hands above
his head for extended periods.

Guzman's conviction was largely based on evidence that showed on April 30, 2008, he repeatedly hit and punched the 4-year-old.

A month to the day later, Morales allegedly caused her pride and joy to fall unconscious from several blows to his head, according to prosecutors.

However, the mother waited several hours before calling 9-1-1, authorities allege.

Paramedics had Brandon rushed to Children's Hospital of Orange County in Orange, where he was pronounced dead from blunt-force trauma to the head.

At the time of his arrest, police say, Guzman admitted to having hit Brandon before but claimed that it was never very hard and that Morales murdered her baby.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office statement on Guzman's conviction follows on the next page.
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November 23, 2010

BOYFRIEND CONVICTED OF ASSAULTING GIRLFRIEND'S 4-YEAR-OLD SON BY CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY TO HEAD RESULTING IN CHILD'S DEATH
*Girlfriend charged with murdering her child

SANTA ANA – A boyfriend was convicted yesterday of assaulting his
girlfriend's 4-year-old son with great bodily injury to the child's head
resulting in his death. Alberto Solis Guzman, 30, was convicted by a
jury Nov. 22, 2010, of one felony count each of assault on a child with
force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death, corporal
injury on a child, and child abuse. He was acquitted of the murder
charge. He faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in state prison
at his sentencing on Jan. 14, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-29,
Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

 Guzman's girlfriend and mother of the child, is facing charges for
murdering her 4-year-old son by inflicting several blunt force trauma
injuries to the child's head in her Santa Ana home. Gabriela Mariana
Morales, 28, is charged with one felony count each of murder, assault on
a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in
death, child abuse, and a sentencing enhancement for child abuse
resulting in death. She faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life if
convicted. Morales is in custody and has a trial setting conference
hearing Jan. 21, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice
Center, Santa Ana.

Morales and her boyfriend Guzman were living together in Santa Ana with
Morales' 4-year-old son Brandon. On April 30, 2008, Guzman is accused of
abusing Brandon by punching and hitting the victim.

On May 30, 2008, Morales is accused of assaulting her son, causing
several blunt force trauma injuries to the victim's head and rendering
Brandon unconscious. Morales is accused of waiting several hours before
calling 911. Paramedics arrived and transported the unresponsive victim
to the Children's Hospital of Orange County, where he was pronounced
dead due to blunt force trauma injuries to his head.

During the trial, Brandon's 9-year-old brother testified that during the
months leading up to his little brother's death, the defendant
repeatedly hit the baby with his hands and a belt. He also testified
that Guzman and Morales forced Brandon to sleep on the floor, refused to
feed the boy, and made Brandon stand in the corner with his hands above
his head for long periods of time. The defendant's statements given to
the police were admitted. Guzman claimed to the police that although he
had hit the baby, it was never very hard and the boy's mother, his
girlfriend, was the one who murdered the baby.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Larry Yellin of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.