GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The mother of a murdered 4-year-old boy from Kent County is now facing a felony charge in connection to the case.
Sonja Hernandez, 29, is facing one count of perjury for her testimony in the case of Elis Nelson Ortiz-Nieves.
A jury last month convicted Ortiz-Nieves of murdering4-year-old Giovanni Meijas. During his Jan. 11 sentencing, Ortiz-Nieves got into a struggle with courtroom officers as Judge Mark Trusock described the boy’s injuries. Ortiz-Nieves is now serving a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
Ortiz-Nieves was Hernandez’ boyfriend at the time of Giovanni’s June 13 death. He was watching seven children at the Gaines Township mobile home were authorities discovered the unconscious boy. Giovanni was rushed to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital where he died. The medical examiner determined the boy died from blunt force to his abdomen, but also found older injuries on the boy.
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