A Stanislaus County woman and her boyfriend have been charged with 27 felony and misdemeanor counts of torture and child abuse after investigators say they subjected the woman's 11-year-old niece to months of brutal treatment that included strangulation, dragging her around on a dog leash, and forcing her to sleep in an uninsulated garage.
Background
The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office launched its investigation on January 31 after receiving a report that the young girl was refusing to go home, telling someone that 'her aunt had been physically abusing her.'
When investigators interviewed the child, she 'disclosed physical abuse spanning an extended period of time,' according to the sheriff's office. A search warrant executed at the home uncovered surveillance footage that corroborated the victim's statements.
Investigators determined that the child had been living primarily in the garage and backyard of the residence. The garage was described as 'not a converted living space, lacking heating and air conditioning, and insulation, leaving the child exposed to unsafe temperatures year-round.'
The aunt, 37-year-old Priscilla Mestaz, and her boyfriend, 36-year-old Anthony Machuca, told detectives they had legal custody of the girl since 2024. Upon initial contact with the couple at their home, investigators arrested Machuca on January 31.
Mestaz's arrest was delayed because she was pregnant and near term. She was taken into custody on March 12, shortly after giving birth. The newborn and a 4-year-old child were taken into protective custody by Stanislaus County Child Protective Services.
The Charges
The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint against the pair on Monday, charging them with 27 felony and misdemeanor counts. The most serious charges include torture, conspiracy to commit torture, child endangerment, injury to a child, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats.
According to the sheriff's office, the acts referenced in the complaint include 'repeated physical abuse including strangulation, punching, and slapping; forcing the child to sleep in an uninsulated, unfinished garage without bedding or heat during winter months; withholding adequate nutrition causing the child to become malnourished; forcing the child to perform strenuous physical exercise to the point of exhaustion under threat of assault; restraining and dragging the child with a dog leash; and subjecting the child to sustained verbal abuse and threats of injury.'
Both suspects are being held on $1 million bonds. Investigators say additional charges are possible as they continue to analyze evidence.
Key Takeaways
- Priscilla Mestaz, 37, and Anthony Machuca, 36, charged with 27 counts including torture and child endangerment
- Alleged abuse included strangulation, dragging victim on dog leash, forcing sleep in uninsulated garage
- Child was allegedly malnourished and subjected to physical abuse 'spanning an extended period of time'
- Machuca arrested January 31; Mestaz arrested March 12 after giving birth
- Newborn and 4-year-old taken into protective custody; 11-year-old's current status not disclosed
What's Next
Mestaz and Machuca remain in custody at the Stanislaus County Jail on $1 million bonds each. The investigation continues as authorities sift through evidence, and prosecutors have indicated additional charges are possible. No court dates have been set as of this reporting.