MARTINEZ – A Contra Costa County Superior Court judge on Thursday sentenced an Antioch woman to fifteen years to life in prison for sexually abusing a young child, authorities said.
Judge David Goldstein imposed the sentence after Michelle Nicole Hidalgo, 29, admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with a baby 10 years or younger, in response to a press release from Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office spokesman Ted Asregadoo.
According to Asregadoo, Hidaldo was working as a part-time nanny for a family when the attacks occurred. The Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force became aware of sexually explicit images of a young child shared on the social media site X on September 21, 2023, and executed a search warrant for an Antioch residence the subsequent day.
Asregadoo said Hidalgo admitted to the abuse in her confession. Evidence showed Hidalgo created images of the abuse and shared them with other X users. Asregadoo said authorities also found text messages from Hidalgo to others that showed her intent to do much more.
Investigators worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to make sure the victim's images were labeled in the event that they were ever shared online.
She was charged last September and initially faced a jail sentence of as much as 60 years to life.
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