VISTA - A man who fatally beat and tortured his girlfriend's 2-year-old son, causing bruises from head to toe, was convicted Tuesday of first-degree murder and other charges that could lead to the death penalty.
After deliberating for parts of three days, jurors found true a special circumstance allegation that Jose Maurice Castenada tortured Cesar Razo, using hangers, cable wire, belts and a yellow cord.
Castenada, 24, was also convicted of assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury or death, torture and felony child abuse.
After a monthlong trial, jurors also found the defendant guilty of misdemeanor child abuse for beating the victim's then-5-year-old sister.
Castenada was acquitted of charges that he tortured the girl.
The penalty phase of trial is scheduled to begin tomorrow, after which jurors will recommend the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Cesar was rushed to a hospital where he died June 25, 2005.
Castenada and the child's mother, Maria Razo, told emergency room doctors that the victim had fallen from a swing set.
An emergency room doctor who treated the victim said his injuries were so severe she thought he had been run over by a car.
Prosecutors said Castenada tortured the 23-pound victim for up to 10 months before his death and that the toddler was forced to live in a small, dark closet.
Cesar had 304 injuries on his 34-inch-long body and lacerations to his liver and penis when he died.
Defense attorney Allen Bloom alleged the victim's real killer was his mother.
The mother pleaded guilty two years ago to voluntary manslaughter and child abuse and testified against Castenada. Judge Joan Weber is expected to sentence her to 16 years and eight months in state prison on Aug. 21.
