Left to right: Priscilla Mestaz, Anthony Machuca (Stanislaus County Sheriff”s Office).
A California couple faces serious allegations involving the mistreatment of an 11-year-old girl, who is the niece of one of the accused. The pair allegedly subjected the child to harsh treatment, including dragging her by a dog leash, strangulation, and forcing her to endure cold nights in a garage without proper bedding.
Priscilla Mestaz, aged 37, and her partner Anthony Machuca, aged 36, have each been charged with 27 offenses, as announced by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. Among the most severe accusations are torture, conspiracy to commit torture, child endangerment likely to result in significant harm or death, inflicting injury on a child, assault with a deadly weapon, and making criminal threats.
Authorities report that the young girl had been living with Mestaz and Machuca since the summer of 2024. The alleged abuse reportedly began in January 2025 and persisted for at least a year, according to the sheriff’s office.
During this time, the couple is accused of strangling, punching, and slapping the child. They allegedly forced her to sleep in an unfinished, unheated garage during the winter months, depriving her of a proper bed. Additionally, the child reportedly suffered from malnutrition due to inadequate nutrition provided by her caretakers.
The sheriff’s office further claims that Mestaz and Machuca compelled the girl to perform exhausting physical exercises under the threat of violence. They allegedly dragged her with a dog leash and subjected her to verbal abuse and threats of harm.
The situation came to light on January 31, when deputies were informed of the girl’s refusal to return home, citing physical abuse by her aunt. Officers, including detectives from the sheriff’s office’s special victims unit, responded to the call and conducted interviews with the aunt at the residence.
Mestaz was in an “advanced stage of pregnancy,” and a 4-year-old child was also at the home. Officers continued to investigate, and ultimately identified Mestaz and Machuca as suspects.
Investigators carried out a search warrant on the home and found surveillance cameras both inside and outside the home. The cameras reportedly showed footage that backed up the 11-year-old’s statements and showed that she had been “living primarily” in the garage and backyard.
“The garage was not a converted living space, lacking heating and air conditioning, and insulation, leaving the child exposed to unsafe temperatures year-round,” the sheriff’s office said.
Machuca was arrested at the home, but Mestaz was not taken into custody given her pregnancy, the sheriff’s office said. After giving birth about six weeks later, Mestaz was arrested on March 12. During their investigation, detectives also learned that Mestaz “served as a child and family services case manager with a local organization.”
Both the baby and the 4-year-old were “taken into protective custody by Stanislaus County Child Protective Services.” The sheriff’s office did not say what happened to the 11-year-old girl.
At the time of the sheriff’s office’s announcement on Monday, Mestaz and Machuca were each being held on $1 million bail. The agency suggested more charges could be forthcoming.
Stanislaus County is located east of the San Francisco Bay area.
