HAWTHORNE POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
August 29, 2013
A Hawthorne man was charged today with murder in the death of his girlfriend’s 14-month-old baby, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Linda Loftfield said Julio Mejia, 44 (dob 6/18/69), is also charged with one count of assault on a child causing death. Mejia is expected to be arraigned this afternoon in Department 144 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Airport Branch.
The child, identified as Bryan C. in the criminal complaint, allegedly was killed by blunt force trauma on Aug. 25 in a Hawthorne apartment shared by the defendant, the baby’s mother and two older siblings. Mejia is not the baby’s biological father.
Mejia is charged in case SA085101. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Hawthorne Police Department.
Prosecutors recommended that bail be set at $1 million. If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a maximum state prison sentence of 25 years to life.
About the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey leads the largest local prosecutorial office in the nation. Her staff of nearly 1,000 attorneys, 300 investigators and 800 support staff members is dedicated to seeking justice for victims of crime and enhancing public safety. Annually, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office prosecutes more than 60,000 felonies and 140,000 misdemeanor crimes.
Contact: Lieutenant Scott Swain
Detective Bureau Commander / Public Information Officer
(310) 349-2835