Cobb Jury Convicts Man of Murder

A Cobb County jury has convicted Jesus Hernandez Perez of murder, aggravated assault and other charges in connection with the September 2010 robbery and beating death of a 27-year-old Marietta man.

Perez, 31, and co-defendant Jose “Gordo” Marcelino Badillo beat Boydrick Powell to death with a baseball bat and threw him off a balcony at the Autumn View apartment complex on Franklin Road in Marietta on Sept. 18, 2010, said Kim Isaza, the spokeswoman for Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds.

Perez, 31, and co-defendant Jose “Gordo” Marcelino Badillo beat Boydrick Powell to death with a baseball bat and threw him off a balcony at the Autumn View apartment complex on Franklin Road in Marietta on Sept. 18, 2010, said Kim Isaza, the spokeswoman for Cobb County District Attorney Vic Reynolds.

Powell sold them crack cocaine earlier that day. Feeling shorted, they hatched a plan to lure him to the apartment. Once inside, Perez locked the apartment door, held Powell down while Gordo beat him with a baseball bat, went through Powell’s pockets, and helped Gordo toss the body off the apartment balcony, Isaza said. The duo then split the stolen money.

Perez tried to flee to Colorado, but was arrested for DUI in Mississippi. He was released on bond before his arrest warrant for the murder was distributed nationwide, and he returned to Marietta. He was arrested Sept. 20, 2010.

Authorities believe Badillo, who is also charged in the killing of Powell, fled to Mexico, Isaza said.

Perez's trial began March 18 with jury selection and the case went to the jury Friday afternoon. The jury deliberated for two hours before finding Perez guilty of all charges.

“Mr. Perez is guilty of murder because he participated in a plan with his codefendant to commit a felony – aggravated assault and also armed robbery - and under Georgia law he is equally accountable for the death,” said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans, who prosecuted the case.

He is scheduled to be sentenced at 9 a.m. Wednesday. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Currently, he is in custody at the Cobb County Jail. There is also an immigration hold on Perez, a native of Mexico.