03/17/2026
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Detective Fuentes at (209) 525- 7117 or anonymous tips may be submitted to Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at stancrimetip.org or by calling 1-866-60-CRIME.
Salida Couple Charged with Torture and Multiple Counts of Child Abuse
On January 31, 2026, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of an 11-year-old who was refusing to return home, stating that her aunt had been physically abusing her. Deputies and detectives with the Special Victims Unit responded to the residence and contacted the aunt, 37-year-old Priscilla Mestaz, and her partner, 36-year-old Anthony Machuca. They identified that the child had been in the custody of Mestaz and Machuca since the summer of 2024. The initial investigation led to the identification of both individuals as suspects and ultimately resulted in their arrest and the filing of criminal charges.
An interview of the female victim was conducted, during which she disclosed physical abuse spanning an extended period of time. As part of the investigation, a search warrant and arrest warrant were authored and served at the residence. During the ex*****on of the warrant, investigators located both interior and exterior surveillance cameras. The footage obtained from those cameras corroborated statements made by the victim. Investigators also found evidence indicating that the child 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.
Anthony Machuca was arrested at the time of the initial contact at the residence. Priscilla Mestaz was not taken into custody at the time due to her advanced stage of pregnancy. She was arrested March 12th following the birth of her child. The newborn, and a 4-year-old child who was present in the residence at the time of the response were taken into protective custody by Stanislaus County Child Protective Services, who was actively assisting with the investigation.
On March 16, 2026, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint in Stanislaus County Superior Court charging both defendants with 27 felony and misdemeanor counts. The most serious charges include Torture (Penal Code §206), Conspiracy to Commit Torture (Penal Code §182(a)(1)/206), multiple counts of Child Endangerment under Circumstances Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury or Death (Penal Code §273a(a)), Inflict Injury Upon a Child (Penal Code §273d(a)), Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Penal Code §245(a)(1)), Assault Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury (Penal Code §245(a)(4)), and Criminal Threats (Penal Code §422(a)).
The complaint alleges that the abuse took place between January 2025 and January 2026. Among the acts referenced are 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.
At time of Mestaz’s and Machuca’s arrest, detectives completed a bail enhancement, holding both defendants in custody in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.
Due to amount of digital evidence and any other evidence that may be identified, further investigation is being conducted to determine if further charges will be filed.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Mestaz served as a child and family services case manager with a local organization.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Detective Fuentes at (209) 525- 7117 or anonymous tips may be submitted to Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at stancrimetips.org or by calling 1-866-60-CRIME.
