SPRINGFIELD — This was a mother’s message to a judge Thursday, as the man who killed her son faced sentencing:
“I feel like someone put my heart in a blender, pureed it and shoved it down my throat,” said Sabrina Moran. “I ask you today from the depths of my shattered heart to please impose the maximum sentence possible.”
Her son, Jahvante Perez, tried for years to quell tension with his wife’s ex, Jordan Cabrera. But on March 10, 2023, Perez died after he was shot seven times by Cabrera in the parking lot of a children’s basketball gym.
Cabrera, was sentenced Thursday to 12-15 years in prison, less time than the prosecutor suggested.
Hampden Superior Court Judge James Manitsas handed down the sentence after 11 family members of Perez, also known as “Pooki,” poured their hearts out in lengthy victim impact statements.
Cabrera and Perez got into a fistfight that March day outside the gym on Cadwell Drive. Cabrera then went to his car and retrieved a gun because he was embarrassed over losing the battle, a prosecutor argued.
The defense countered that the shooting occurred in the heat of passion and after Cabrera suffered a concussion.
Perez was 25 when he was killed.
After a two-week trial in Hampden Superior Court, jurors on May 14 acquitted Cabrera of first-degree murder and instead convicted him of voluntary manslaughter. As a result, Cabrera, 28, avoided a mandatory life sentence.
The verdict drew outrage from Perez’s family, some of whom wailed in the hall outside the courtroom. Concerned about a similar reaction after sentencing, 10 court officers lined Courtroom 2 Thursday afternoon. Though emotional, the proceeding ended up being peaceful.
Assistant District Attorney Katharine Johnston led the prosecution of Jordan Cabrera in Hampden Superior Court. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Assistant Hampden District Attorney Katharine Johnston asked Manitsas to sentence Cabrera to 19 to 20 years behind bars, the maximum sentence under the law. She pointed to what she called the cruelty of the crime.
“Obviously we stand here today stuck with the jury’s verdict, but I ask you — what is more cruel than killing a man in front of his wife; in front of a young child?” Johnston asked, referring to the young boy who was being co-parented by Cabrera and Perez.
Several of Perez’s family members expressed disappointment that a life sentence for Cabrera had eluded them, but pleaded for the harshest penalty available.
During her statement, Perez’s mother said her son tried to keep the peace with Cabrera before the fight, despite antagonistic behavior by Cabrera.
“His mercy was never returned,” she said through tears.
Defense attorney Daniel D. Kelly represented Jordan Cabrera. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Defense attorney Daniel D. Kelly asked the judge for a sentence of eight to 10 years, citing the state’s sentencing guidelines, his client’s steady work history and lack of a criminal record.
“He is not happy that anyone died. He told me that downstairs in the lock-up after the verdict,” Kelly said. “The guidelines are supposed to be even-handed.”
In addition to his mother, Perez’s aunt, siblings, stepson, wife and father either recited statements or they were read into the record. Through their remarks, a picture of Perez emerged: a popular youth coach and a devoted husband, big brother, son and father.
“He was going to coach me in basketball. I have his shirt in my room,” his 11-year-old brother wrote in a statement. “It’s just … my heart hurts sometimes.”
