Big Isle boxer sentenced in beating death of toddler
HAWAII COUNTY POLICE
Xavier “Pee Wee” Cortez Jr.
A former Big Island professional boxer has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for the beating death of the 18-month daughter of his girlfriend, the Hawaii Tribune Herald reported today.
Kona Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra also ordered 42-year-old Xavier “Pee Wee” Cortez Jr., 42, on Friday to make $54,197 restitution to the state Department of Human Services and Crime Victim Compensation Commission.
In a plea deal, Cortez pleaded no contest on June 9 to first-degree assault, the newspaper reported.
The beating of the girl, Pomaikai Ferreira, occurred Jan. 2, 2011, in Hilo. She died at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu nine days later.
Big Island Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville said the plea bargain was made because of the death of one witness and the refusal of another to testify.
Court records indicate that Keith Shigetomi, Cortez’s court-appointed attorney, asked the judge to sentence his client to probation and time already served. Cortez has been in custody since his arrest Jan. 28, 2014, following a murder indictment. Shigetomi disagreed with a pre-sentencing report by a probation officer who said the circumstances that led to the toddler’s death and the strangulation death of the girl’s 20-year-old mother, Sommer Ferreira, were likely to recur, records state.
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Records state the judge said during sentencing he found no grounds to justify Cortez’s actions and that Cortez’s character, attitude and prior history of abuse made him a poor candidate for probation.
The newspaper reported that Cortez was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault on the day of the incident but was released from custody pending further investigation. He was indicted on a second-degree murder charge on Jan. 22, 2014, for the girl’s death.
On Feb. 24, Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara dismissed a second-degree murder charge against Cortez for the Sept. 20, 2011, strangulation death of his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sommer Ferreira, in a Wainaku home where they lived.
That charge was dismissed without prejudice, which means prosecutors are free to refile it at a later date. There is no statute of limitations for murder.
26 responses to “Big Isle boxer sentenced in beating death of toddler”
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“Big Island Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville said the plea bargain was made because of the death of one witness and the refusal of another to testify.” The surviving witness must be terrified that this criminal will be out and about.
Criminal’s former family all died violently? The poor baby and her mother?
Good job prosecutors. Sad.
Stay classy, Big Island
Hilo used to be a nice town. Now a guy can kill his “girlfriend” and her daughter , a witness dead , another witness intimidated , and the perp gets 10 years and will probably get out in 5.
At least Ibarra got some of the State’s money back .
Sick .
agree…crime stats for Puna are just horrible. scary area and getting worse.
Hilo is not in Puna. You know nothing but keep yapping.
I could bet that allie has never been to the big Island, being that she is poor and only has a bike. So much for her useless education. This guy is the scum of the earth though. They can live anywhere.
No worry the boys in prison will take care of him.
Huh? Send pee wee to Nanakuli.
He’ll fit right in.
Send pee wee up cheeseballs. He’ll fit in,lol.
Send him to Arizona. The Aryan Brotherhood will take care of business.
Exactly! He has no Aloha and it is inappropriate for him to enjoy the great weather, TV, exercise equipment and good food (Kalua pig at least once a month) at Halawa.
What’s in Nanakuli? NankuliBoss?
Oh Puhlease ole foggy,by the time you throw you first punch,Bradah “Pee Wee” will in Waianae…… Finishing his big gulp soda at the 7 Eleven.
Moi moi Lee. Go moi moi.
10 years! You got to be kidding me,
Agree, what a light sentence for the murder of an innocent child.
Bad news–the SOH and County judiciary systems are really bad / Bad dude will be out on the streets in no time and still creating fear and violence. But Hawaii is the ALOHA state and we just keep letting this stuff happen. Nothings going to change unless we get the government and laws change–sad–but what can you do when the laws and courts are so lax?–you just got to EAT it and hope that this kind of stuff doesn’t happen to you or your family–but I really would like to see this person serve a long sentence
agree and as we heard last night on TV the prosecutors Office in Honolulu is totally incompetent with accused people walking due to the lack of speedy trials or phony evidence, etc. Very sad.
If the judicial system cannot hand down longer sentences for these kinds of crimes, we have no choice but to arm ourselves and take care of business if we’re victims.
So should the 18 month old have had a weapon? You comment makes little sense.
And how much restitution was awarded to the girlfriend? None, but the government got a windfall.
This is tragic and a darn shame this happened to this young child. I know he realizes that he( Pee Wee Cortez) didn’t mean to do this and now regrets it! But it’s too late.
Maybe someone close to him saw the signs of an uncontrollable temper and never spoke up? This too is Sad. There is help out there, help like counseling and Anger Management courses,but Anger Management classes alone CAN help only if it’s caught in time…..Sad!Peace and rest be upon this young innocent child.
Many young men are aggressive with poor self-control This is the case the world-over. They should be kept away from defenseless infants and toddlers. Everyone involved suffers when an instant of violence causes severe injury, permanent brain damage or death.
The perp is a real pig and will get what her deserves 10x’s over.
Doesn’t seem like a violent murderer of a child should only get 10 years in jail. I don’t like boxing all that much because some people need it for an outlet for who they are. How about hitting another fighter or punching bag you coward ?!!!
It seems, that everyone was either very scared of him or turned up dead. The Prosecutor did the best that he could, under the circumstances. You can only get a plea bargain, with what you have. The toddler, was lost in this mess.
In prison, he will either be treated well, or, he will have a very rough time. Not too many people in prison, like baby killers. Since he already has violent tendencies, he will be surrounded by violent inmates.
Hopefully, the inmates will give him, the traditional prison testosterone. Only his walking, will give it away.