A Sedgwick County jury convicted Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia, 38, of first-degree murder Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the 2019 death of 2-year-old Jacob Aviles.

Gonzalez-Mejia was also found guilty of child abuse and aggravated child endangerment. Jurors deliberated about three hours after a seven-day trial before District Judge Eric Williams, the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

He faces life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 14, before Judge Williams, and Gonzalez-Mejia remains in custody, according to the Wichita Eagle.

Gonzalez-Mejia is the second person convicted in the case. Jacob's mother, Stephanie Aviles, was convicted of first-degree felony murder by a jury in July 2025 and sentenced in September 2025 to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years, plus an additional 41 months.

On Sept. 29, 2019, Wichita police and emergency medical crews responded to a report of a child not breathing at a home near Kellogg Avenue and Seneca Street. Jacob was pronounced dead at the scene, KAKE News reported.

Gonzalez-Mejia, then the boyfriend of Stephanie Aviles, had been caring for Jacob while she met with a relative, the Eagle reported. He told her the boy had choked on a meatball and fainted.

An autopsy determined Jacob died of blunt force trauma, KSN reported. The examination found extensive bruising on his head, back, stomach, arms and legs, along with internal injuries including a rib fracture and lacerations around his intestines.

Police and prosecutors said Stephanie Aviles knew her boyfriend was abusing her son but left the child alone with him anyway, according to the Eagle. She told investigators Jacob would come back with new injuries each time Gonzalez-Mejia watched him.

Gonzalez-Mejia had pleaded not guilty. He denied harming Jacob beyond spanking when the boy refused to eat, the Eagle reported.

Two other children were taken into protective custody after both adults were arrested, KAKE reported.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Alice Osburn and Assistant District Attorney Atticus Disney prosecuted the case. The district attorney's office credited Wichita Police Department Detective Addie Perkins for her work on the investigation over the past seven years, according to KSN.