Salida couple charged with torturing 11-year-old for about a year, prosecutors say
A Salida couple have been charged with torturing an 11-year-old girl over the course of a year, according to Stanislaus County authorities.
Investigators say the child was subjected to repeated physical abuse, forced exercise to exhaustion and degrading treatment, including being made to live primarily in a garage without heat or bedding.
Priscilla Michelle Mestaz, 37, and Anthony Rudy Machuca, 36, were arraigned Monday in Stanislaus County Superior Court on a 27-count criminal complaint alleging torture, conspiracy to commit torture and multiple child abuse offenses. Mestaz was employed as a caseworker with Sierra Vista Child and Family Services, but the alleged victim is her niece.
Both defendants remain in custody at the Stanislaus County Jail with bail set at $1 million each. Judge David Hood continued the arraignment hearing to March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Court records identify the alleged victim as an 11-year-old girl, referred to as “Jane Doe.”
How the investigation began
According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to investigate on Jan. 31 after receiving a report that a child was refusing to return home, saying her aunt had been physically abusing her.
Deputies and detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit responded to the residence and contacted Mestaz and Machuca.
Investigators learned the girl had been living in their custody since the summer of 2024.
During a forensic interview, the child disclosed long-term physical abuse, authorities said.
Evidence found at the home
Detectives later served a search warrant at the residence.
Investigators discovered interior and exterior surveillance cameras, and authorities said video footage from the cameras corroborated statements made by the victim.
Detectives also determined the girl had been living primarily in the garage and backyard of the home.
The garage had been converted into a living space but lacked insulation, heating and air conditioning, exposing the child to unsafe temperatures year-round, according to the sheriff’s office.
Machuca was arrested during the initial contact with deputies at the home on Jan. 31, authorities said.
Mestaz was not taken into custody at that time because she was in the late stages of pregnancy.
She was arrested March 12 after giving birth, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the newborn baby and a 4-year-old child who was living in the home were taken into protective custody by Stanislaus County Child Protective Services.
Prosecutors say the criminal case involves alleged abuse of the 11-year-old victim only.
Abuse allegations
According to the complaint filed by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, the alleged abuse occurred between January 2025 and January 2026.
Prosecutors allege the defendants intentionally inflicted extreme physical and psychological suffering on the child.
The complaint outlines numerous alleged acts, including:
- Forcing the girl to hold urine and feces for days at a time
- Making her sleep in an uninsulated garage without blankets during winter months
- Forcing her to wear a diaper despite being potty trained
- Requiring strenuous exercises such as burpees, squats and wall sits to the point of exhaustion
- Forcing her to eat outside or on the floor
- Forcing her to remain outside during cold or inclement weather
- Failing to provide adequate food, causing malnourishment
The complaint also alleges repeated physical assaults.
Machuca is accused of striking the child with a hammer on the hand and strangling her using a dog leash.
Mestaz is accused of choking the child, hitting and slapping her and striking her with a bathroom door.
Prosecutors also allege the defendants forced the child to perform strenuous exercise outside in cold and rainy weather until she vomited.
Another allegation is that the child was restrained with a dog leash and dragged.
Charges filed
The complaint includes charges of:
- Torture
- Conspiracy to commit torture
- Multiple counts of child abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death
- Inflicting injury on a child
- Assault likely to produce great bodily injury
- Criminal threats
One misdemeanor child abuse charge was also filed.
Relationship to the victim
The alleged victim is Mestaz’s niece, according to Wendell Emerson, deputy district attorney and spokesperson for the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
Machuca is not biologically related to the child. “He’s the boyfriend,” Emerson said.
Mestaz also has an older child who lives with the child’s biological father.
Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Veronica Esquivez confirmed Mestaz was an employee of Sierra Vista Child and Family Services. How long she worked there, whether she was terminated and what her exact role was could not be confirmed as of Monday evening. A press release from the Sheriff’s Office stated Mestaz was a “caseworker.”
Sierra Vista CEO Andrew Timbie said he did not have a comment on behalf of the organization. Timbie also said he could not confirm or deny Mestaz’s employment or its length.
During Monday’s hearing, the judge issued a criminal protective order requiring the defendants to have no contact with the alleged victim, who is identified in court documents only by initials.
The order requires the defendants to remain at least 100 yards away from the protected party and prohibits them from attempting to influence the victim or witnesses.
Machuca is expected to be represented by private defense attorney Joseph J. Cox, who appeared in court Monday. The court continued the arraignment to allow time for Mestaz’s legal representation issues to be resolved.
The case is scheduled to return to Stanislaus County Superior Court on March 26.
Investigators said the case remains under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Fuentes at 209-525-7117 or submit anonymous tips through Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers.
Bee staff writer Trevor Morgan contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 16, 2026 at 4:58 PM.
