Ceres man makes first court appearance on charge of killing mother of his children
Daniel Gracia Mendoza made his first court appearance Wednesday on a charge of killing the mother of his children in Ceres last week.
Mendoza, 29, did not enter a plea before Judge Carrie Stephens in Stanislaus Superior Court. She postponed the arraignment to Sept. 2 at the request of the defense.
The defendant faces first-degree murder and other charges in the Aug. 13 death of Yessica Mendoza, 29, of Patterson outside a home in south Ceres.
Several of the victim’s loved ones attended the session, some of them wearing T-shirts bearing her photo and the words “Justice for Yessica.” They did not comment on the case afterward.
Bail remains at $3.15 million
Stephens kept the bail at $3.15 million. The defendant has been in Stanislaus County Jail since his arrest at the scene of the shooting. He wore a striped jail uniform and shackles on his hands and feet for the brief hearing.
The shooting was reported at 9:17 p.m. Aug. 13 on the 3900 block of Suncrest Drive. It is just northwest of the intersection of Service and Blaker roads.
The Ceres Police Department said Daniel Gracia Mendoza was found kneeling next to the victim and was quickly arrested. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Police have not provided details on the status of their relationship, nor on what led to the shooting.
Other charges for defendant
Along with murder, Daniel Gracia Mendoza is accused of corporal injury to a spouse, violation of a court order in a previous domestic violence case, and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm. Court records show a 2018 conviction for corporal injury to a spouse and a 2019 conviction for assault.
Supporters of Yessica Mendoza are raising money for her family via a GoFundMe page.
“Yessica was only 29 and leaves 3 children behind,” the appeal says in part. “We weren’t prepared for such a tragedy.”
