FLORENCE, AZ (6/7/13) – On Friday, Pinal County Attorney Voyles announced that John Alvarez, who severely abused his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son, was sentenced to 40 years of prison.
Alvarez served as primary caregiver for the victim while the mother was at work and on December 21, 2009, he caused the 2 year-old’s lumbar spine to fracture and dislocate. When the child’s mother returned home from work that night, she took the child to an urgent care facility. The victim was later transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where, in addition to the spinal fracture and dislocation, doctors discovered he suffered 16 further fractures and additional serious, unspeakably painful internal injuries.
Pinal County Attorney Voyles’ Office charged Alvarez with one count of aggravated assault, a class 2 felony, Dangerous Crime Against Children, first degree and one count of child abuse, a class 2 felony, Dangerous Crime Against Children, first degree.
Following a 5-day jury trial in April, Alvarez was found guilty on both counts and on Friday, the Honorable Judge Johnson sentenced Alvarez to 20 years of prison on each count, to run consecutively.
Pinal County Attorney Voyles thanked the work of his team and said, “Child abuse remains a far too frequent crime in Pinal County. Voiceless victims, such as children, require, deserve and will receive my tireless dedication ensuring justice for them and I will continue to work hard removing dangerous and violent offenders from our streets and neighborhoods.”
