On March 10, 2020, a Merced County jury found both defendants, Steve Rea Perez Jr and Chanish Alyse Conrady guilty of felony child abuse.

In 2018, defendant Conrady was mother to her 4-year-old son. Defendant Perez was the boyfriend of defendant Conrady and lived with both her and her son. The child suffered months of child abuse, which ultimately, and tragically, ended in his death. The first sign of abuse was in September of 2018, when the child suffered a bruise stating that defendant Perez was responsible for the injury. Approximately a month later, the child had severe injury to his head that required medical treatment. 

On November 6, 2018, paramedics were called when the child was unresponsive in the late hours of the night. He died hours later. The cause of death was ruled blunt force trauma to the abdomen. Defendants Conrady and Perez were the only adults home with the child at the time of his death.

The People alleged that defendant Perez caused the acts of child abuse against the 4-year-old, including the blow that caused his death. His mother was charged with three counts of felony endangerment for allowing her child to suffer such abuse while in her care and custody. 

Defendant Perez was sentenced to the maximum amount of time allowed under the law. Defendant Conrady faced up to 8 years, 4 months in prison. The Judge found factors in mitigation and sentenced her to a lesser term.

Detective Bonilla of the Merced Sheriff’s Office was the lead investigator on the case. Nicole Silveira, of the District Attorney’s Office, prosecuted the trial. 

Both defendants were sentenced on June 10, 2020. At the hearing, family members spoke about the joy that the child brought to their lives and how greatly he will be missed.

 

PEREZ, STEVE REA JUNIOR

 

CONRADY, CHANISH ALYSE