Justice Prevails: Man Found Guilty in Tragic Hit-and-Run Death of 10-Year-Old Jordan Avalos

A Fresno courtroom delivered a moment of profound relief and bittersweet justice for a grieving family this week, as Anthony John Balderama was found guilty on all counts in the devastating 2021 hit-and-run that claimed the life of 10-year-old Jordan Avalos.

The verdict, reached after a five-day trial, brings a long-awaited sense of closure to Jordan's loved ones, who have relentlessly pursued justice since the tragic incident.

Balderama was convicted of felony hit-and-run causing death and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence – charges that reflect the callousness of his actions on that fateful day.

The heartbreaking event unfolded on April 21, 2021, when young Jordan was enjoying a bicycle ride with his father near Olive and Valentine avenues in Fresno.

What should have been an innocent afternoon turned into a nightmare when Balderama, driving recklessly, struck Jordan and then, in an unthinkable act, fled the scene, leaving the boy critically injured.

Jordan was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center, but despite all efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.

The community was rocked by the senseless loss of a vibrant young life, and a widespread plea for information about the fleeing driver immediately followed. Authorities moved swiftly, and Balderama was apprehended later that same day, facing the full weight of the law for his egregious conduct.

For more than three years, Jordan's family has endured immense pain, advocating tirelessly for accountability.

His mother, Brenda Avalos, expressed the depth of their struggle and their ultimate solace in the verdict. "I finally feel some peace," she shared, her words echoing the anguish and the eventual glimmer of hope felt by a family shattered by loss. This verdict, for them, represents not just a legal outcome, but a validation of Jordan's life and the fight for justice he deserved.

Anthony John Balderama now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

His sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2024, a date that will mark another significant step in this sorrowful journey towards full justice. While no legal outcome can ever truly heal the wound of losing a child, this verdict sends a clear message that fleeing the scene of such a horrific act will not go unpunished.