MARTINEZ, Calif. (TCD) — A 28-year-old nanny facing child pornography charges is now being accused of sexually abusing an 8-month-old girl in her care.
According to a news release from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, on Sept. 21, a social media company notified the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force about child sexual abuse materials being shared on their platform. The next day, officers arrested Michelle Hidalgo and executed a search warrant at her home.
The District Attorney’s Office said officers confiscated equipment at Hidalgo’s home that was used to produce and distribute child pornography.
According to KTVU-TV, Hidalgo reportedly offered to send sexually explicit photos of the baby to a social media user. The affidavit obtained by the news source alleges that Hidalgo also orally sexually abused the child.
During an interview with detectives, Hidalgo reportedly denied the allegations, but investigators reportedly found evidence of the crimes on her iCloud account. When confronted with the evidence, KTVU reports that Hidalgo confessed to taking sexually explicit photos of the baby and sharing them online.
According to the East Bay Times, Hidalgo described sending the images as a “stupid” one-time mistake. A male social media user allegedly urged her to do “worse and worse” things to the child while documenting the abuse.
Hidalgo was booked into the Contra Costa County Jail on an initial bond of $700,000, but according to records, it was increased to $3.4 million. She faces charges of molestation of a victim younger than 10, using a minor for sex acts, and distribution of child pornography, the East Bay Times reports. Hidalgo could spend 60 years to life in prison if convicted.
At the time of her arrest, Hidalgo had reportedly been working as a part-time nanny for the victim’s family for about a month.
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