O.C. man could get life in beating death of niece, 2
A Cypress man who was awarded custody of his 2-year-old niece has been charged with beating her to death with a belt and his hand, authorities said Wednesday.
Michael David Balderas, 33, is also accused of raping Baby Jo Jade after he became the girl's caretaker when her mother was preparing to serve a federal prison sentence in Texas, the Orange County district attorney's office said.
Balderas faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Opening statements in his trial were scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon at the courthouse in Santa Ana, the district attorney's office said.
Prosecutors said the girl was repeatedly beaten and sexually abused between January and March 2006.
On March 30, Balderas allegedly beat the girl to death after he became angry because she was crying and having bladder accidents, the district attorney's office said. Rescuers were unable to revive the girl, who died from internal bleeding caused by blunt-force trauma and repeated injuries.
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-- Robert J. Lopez
Photo: Michael David Balderas. Credit: Orange County district attorney's office
EDITOR'S PICKS:
so he gets to live and enjoy the california air and healthcare for the next 40-50 years that sounds fair
Posted by: rene | January 12, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Death penalty should be executed for someone like him.
Posted by: mjkv | January 12, 2011 at 04:53 PM
The Founding Fathers would laugh dismissively at anyone who would suggest that lethal injection would be "cruel and unusual punishment" for this crime. Balderas, if you did this evil thing, beg for the mercy of God, because otherwise there is a special place in Hell for people who do such evil.
Posted by: PlayfulWalrus | January 12, 2011 at 04:54 PM
LIFE??? How about death. Anyone who doesn't want the death penalty for this man should be forced to let him babysit their kids. It's unfortunate that states are not allowed to cause massive and prolonged pain along with death. But I'd imagine there are ways....
Posted by: Michele | January 12, 2011 at 05:38 PM
Fry this freak!!
Posted by: Major Wood | January 12, 2011 at 05:59 PM
I can't understand evil like this. It makes me sick to my stomach!!
Posted by: Wendy | January 12, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Kamala Harris doesn't believe this animal desrves the death penalty.
Posted by: u know | January 12, 2011 at 07:48 PM
I Agree with the actions that are being taken upon a man like this. Why should he be allowed to do something of this sort, especially to a little innocent two year old that has never done nothing bad. I also believe that other than jail this man need to go through another process that will help him have a clean mind. What difference does it make being in jail he is not going to learn nothing there other than gaining more hate towards people. He should get counselling to prevent these thoughts.
Posted by: Kimberly | January 12, 2011 at 10:30 PM
It's sad how people can do such things to anyone let alone a family member. He beat and raped a 2 year old girl who had no way of defending herself or letting anyone know what this man was doing to her. Sick minded people like him deserve more punishment than just life imprisonment.
Posted by: Maritza Guardado | January 12, 2011 at 10:43 PM
What a monster, let him rot behind bars for the rest of his miserable life!!!
Posted by: khalid asumairi | January 13, 2011 at 08:08 AM
This literally makes me sick to my stomach. God bless this baby girl's soul. The monster should be taken out of this world.
Posted by: Mother of 5... | January 13, 2011 at 09:40 AM
WOW reading this really made my stomache hurt, was he really the only option the little girl had to have custody of her? He should be giving the death penalty! Why should he be given LIFE if the little girl didnt?
Posted by: Maryjane | January 13, 2011 at 12:02 PM
DEATH PENALTY!!!
Posted by: ACALIGIRL38 | January 13, 2011 at 12:23 PM
And this scum was the best person to be given custody?? I hope he never sees the light of day again.
Rest in peace little one.
Posted by: kgoddess | January 13, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Im a bit confused. Did the little girl just die? Who is Baby Jo Jade? The article states that he is also accused of raping Baby Jo Jade between January and March 2006. If Baby Jo Jade is another child he was taking care of, and they knew that he abused her, then why in the hell did they place another child with him??!!! Child Protective Services should be shut down. They break up families, place children in unsafe conditions, where they are raped, beaten, tortured, and killed. I'm so tired of hearing about stuff like this. What the heck is wrong with people. How could anyone get off raping a child?! A baby?!
Sick POS needs to die.
Posted by: Akaneke | January 13, 2011 at 04:17 PM
Oh, my gosh! He deserves to die. Poor little kids...This man is the devil himself. No pitty what so ever for some one as cruel as this man.
Posted by: Nora | January 14, 2011 at 06:32 PM
death penalty !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: armine | January 18, 2011 at 10:42 AM
He Deserves The Death Penalty. No Child Should Ever Deserve To Go Threw The Pain & Suffering Like Baby Jo Jade Did.
-- She Will Always Be In Our Heart, Thoughts & Prayers.
Love Always Her Family.
She's A Angel In The Heavens Up Above. & May Her Soul Rest In Peace.
Posted by: Austin Texas | January 20, 2011 at 07:59 PM