MARTINEZ – A former Antioch nanny has pleaded guilty to molesting slightly girl with the understanding that she could face life in prison with a likelihood for parole after 15 years, authorities said.
Michelle Nicole Hidalgo, 29, entered her guilty plea Friday morning in a Martinez court, bringing resolution to a very egregious child abuse case involving a really young victim and a breach of trust. Hidalgo is alleged to have abused the girl, filmed it and shared the evidence online.
Hidalgo's plea deal required prosecutors to drop distribution of kid pornography and other child abuse charges. But the charge to which she pleaded guilty carries a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, which a judge is anticipated to impose in July, in accordance with court records.
During the police investigation, authorities were unable to seek out evidence of a couple of victim, but discovered that Hidalgo had written to at least one person when she shared the photographs of the girl she was abusing, saying it was the primary time she had filmed her . When questioned by police, Hidalgo reportedly said it was a “stupid” one-time mistake and referred police to the newborn's parents, authorities said.
Hidalgo had been hired as a babysitter by the victim's parents. A search of her phone revealed evidence that she had abused the little girl on the direction of a person who encouraged her to do “worse and worse” things and documented it, a police investigator said in court papers.
She was charged last September and initially faced as much as 60 years to life in prison.
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