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Calif. Man Christian Perez Convicted of Baby's Scalding Death

Calif. Man Convicted in Baby's Scalding Death
(AP Photo, file)

(CBS/AP) A 22-year-old California man is facing 25 years to life in prison after a jury convicted him of torture, second-degree murder and child abuse in the scalding death of his girlfriend's baby.

Prosecutors say Christian Perez, of Hayward, was arrested in April 2008 after placing 18-month-old Eli Rojas in 150-degree water, causing the baby's skin to come off.

Perez, his sister, Patricia, and her husband, Jose Gamez, then allegedly drove to a Walgreen's to get burn ointment. Prosecutors say they only sought medical help when the baby had a seizure.

Eli died two months later.

Patricia Perez and Gamez were convicted last year of being accessories and received probation.

Reports say Christian Perez had been angry at the child for soiling himself.

The Oakland Tribune reports that Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25. He was convicted by an Alameda County jury on Jan. 27.

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