EVERETT — Daniel Levi Perez Reyes died in his mother’s arms.
He was a healthy, 2-month-old boy when he was left with his father on June 27, 2013, while his mother went to work. The next morning Daniel was brought to a hospital. He wasn’t breathing and didn’t have a pulse. Doctors revived him but Daniel showed no signs of brain activity. He was removed from life support the next day.
Doctors suspected the worst. An autopsy confirmed the violence. The 13-pound baby had been violently shaken, causing injuries to the boy’s brain, neck and the nerves to his diaphragm.
On Monday, a Snohomish County judge convicted the child’s father of first-degree manslaughter. The evidence showed that Brian Perez Reyes was told multiple times that he was too rough with the child, Superior Court Judge Michael Downes said. Perez Reyes’ reckless actions caused his son’s death, the judge concluded.
Downes also ruled that Daniel’s age made him a particularly vulnerable victim.
“This was an infant child, wholly helpless,” the judge said.
That means the defendant could face a much lengthier prison stay when he is sentenced next month. Prosecutors are expected to ask that Perez Reyes be sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Last month, in an unusual move, Perez Reyes, 24, agreed to skip a jury trial and asked Downes to render a verdict after reviewing the investigation.
The judge questioned Perez Reyes at length about his right to a jury trial, even telling him that bench trials often result in guilty verdicts. Perez Reyes maintained that he wanted the judge to decide the case. As part of the agreement, Perez Reyes can appeal his conviction.
Downes received a letter earlier this month that indicated that Perez Reyes had a change of heart. The letter, presumably written by the defendant, contained multiple complaints about his attorney.
“I feel because of my ethnicity and the fact I have no legal knowledge of the law that I’m being roped into some kind of deal that is not justified considering the facts of my case,” the letter said.
He asked Downes to hear him out “because another innocent life is at stake.”
Before he handed down the verdict, Downes questioned Perez Reyes about the letter, asking if he was ready to proceed, or if he wanted the judge to consider the letter.
Perez Reyes told the judge to ignore the letter.
He kept his head bowed through the judge’s soliloquy. The verdict was met with sobs from the defendant’s family.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
