Fresno man convicted of killing toddler with fatal blow to belly sentenced to prison

Convicted killer Aaron Moton was sentenced Monday to 25-years-to life in prison for the brutal death of toddler Xander Villalobos in October 2021.

The 25-year-old Moton sat stoically in court as Judge Jonathan Conklin handed down his sentence. The judge said that while no amount of time in prison will lessen the family’s pain of losing the nearly 3-year-old Xander, he gave Moton the maximum the law allows.

“This has been described as a tragedy and I can’t in any way lessen that description,” Conklin said. “It is the definition of tragedy. There is simply no doubt about that.”

About 20 friends and family members of Xander’s attended the sentencing on Monday, describing for the judge how Xander’s death has impacted their lives.

Xander’s mother, Nikkey Rojas, who had a relationship with Moton in 2021, said she hopes her broken family can heal from this tragedy. Xander was her second child and was just a few days shy of his third birthday. He would have been starting kindergarten this year. Instead she continues to mourn his loss.

“I just want you (the judge) to understand how bad this has hurt everybody,” she said, wiping the tears from her face. ”Sometimes I just want to be with my son again.”

Xander’s paternal grandmother Christina Acosta said the loss of her grandson and the loss of her son, Xander’s father, a year before, has taken an emotional toll on her. There were times, she said, when she no longer wanted to live.

“We had to bury my son when cancer took him and then we lost our grandson, it’s been too hard,” she said as she cried. “People say it it gets easier with time, but I don’t think it does.”

Elaine Rojas, Xander’s maternal grandmother, said she still counts Xander as her 15th grandchild, when people ask how many grandchildren she has.

She chastised Moton for not showing emotion over Xander’s death.

“You will probably never understand the pain you have caused,” Rojas said. “I would love to say that we won, but there are no winners in the courtroom. I just hope you continue to read your Bible and ask God for forgiveness.”

Fresno jurors hear shocking 911 tape in murder trial involving 2-year-old boy

Fatal blow split child’s liver

Moton, who has maintained his innocence, spoke briefly during the hearing, saying he tried to help Xander when he found him having trouble breathing. Moton was helping to take care of the child in Rojas’s west-central Fresno apartment.

“I tried my best to help,” he said.

Detectives testified that Rojas was also in the apartment that day, but stepped out for about 10 minutes to pick up a pair of Xander’s shoes from her sister, Kelli Rojas, who lived in the same complex.

During those few minutes, detectives said, Moton, for unknown reasons, caused the fatal blow to the child.

When Rojas returned to the apartment, she discovered the boy was extremely listless and couldn’t breathe. He was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he later died.

An autopsy later revealed Xander suffered a deadly blow to his midsection. The force was so severe it split his liver.

Detective Ryan Rockwell, the lead investigator in the case, said Xander’s death was one of the most emotional cases he’s worked in his 17 years as a police officer.

“He was an innocent and vulnerable child,” Rockwell said.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Cobb, who prosecuted the case, said she hoped Xander’s family found some closure as a result of Moton’s prison sentence.

“And I hope it will help to protect other children in the future,” she said. “The abuse of children in our community cannot be tolerated. Take a breath or walk away, but never strike or shake a child.”

Moton’s defense attorney Scott Kinney said he will file an appeal.