| For Immediate Release Case # 12CF3489 December 28, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
|
MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDERING GIRLFRIEND’S 18-MONTH-OLD BABY BY PHYSICALLY ABUSING HIM
SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for murdering his girlfriend’s 18-month-old baby boy by physically abusing him. Cheyenne Mateo Fuimaono, 21, Buena Park, is charged with one felony count each of first degree murder and assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Fuimaono is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment today, Dec. 28, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2012, Fuimaono is accused of babysitting his girlfriend’s 18-month-old son, Malik Perez, at the home they shared with the defendant’s parents in Buena Park. The defendant is accused of murdering the victim by assaulting him with force likely to produce great bodily injury. At approximately 1:23 p.m., the defendant is accused of calling 911 to report that the baby was not breathing. Paramedics arrived at the scene and found Perez lying unconscious and performed CPR on him. The baby remained non-responsive and he was immediately taken to Western Medical Center. Physicians at Western Medical Center could not revive the baby and transported him to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
Doctors at CHOC noticed unusual marks and discolorations on the baby, including bite marks on the arm and bruising on his neck. Doctors contacted Buena Park Police Department who investigated this case.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
###