LA man sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for beating 4-year-old son to death

Hirwin Calderon-Ordonez, 29, has remained behind bars since he was arrested June 6, 2019.

City News Service
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
LA man sentenced in beating death of 4-year-old son
A Los Angeles man who pleaded no contest to second-degree murder for fatally beating his 4-year-old son was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in state prison.

LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- A Los Angeles man who pleaded no contest to second-degree murder for fatally beating his 4-year-old son was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in state prison.

Hirwin Calderon-Ordonez, 29, "admitted to the crime very early'' and "showed remorse,'' Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami said outside court after the sentencing.

Calderon-Ordonez has remained behind bars since he was arrested June 6, 2019, by the Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile Division.

Calderon-Ordonez' son, Justin Sontay-Oxlaj, was pronounced dead at the hospital that day after being rushed to a hospital from his family's residence in the 4600 block of Honduras Street in the southeast Los Angeles area, according to the medical examiner's office and the Los Angeles Police Department.

An autopsy determined that the boy had died from blunt force trauma. The prosecutor said the child's injuries amounted to "massive blunt force trauma.''

Media reports indicated that the boy's father called 911. The child's mother -- who chose not to attend the sentencing -- was not home at the time, according to the prosecutor. Neighbors at the time said they had heard fighting and saw signs of abuse between the parents.

Calderon-Ordonez pleaded no contest Sept. 12.

A second charge -- assault on a child causing death -- was dismissed as a result of his plea.

"I think we have a just result,'' Hatami added. He said the boy was the mother's only child.

Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.

ABC7 contributed to this report.