OAKLAND, CA — Michelle Nicole Hidalgo, previously charged with seven felony counts of producing and distributing child pornography, now faces an additional charge of molesting an 8-month-old baby girl in her care, according to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.
Hidalgo, 28, was initially arrested in late September after a search warrant was executed at her residence. Law enforcement officials seized equipment used for producing and distributing pornographic images of minors, following a tip from a social media company that child sexual abuse materials were being shared on its platform.
Court records show that Hidalgo admitted to sharing the images, describing it to investigators as a one-time mistake. At the time of her arrest, she told investigators that she had sent images of the infant to a man who had requested them.
Prosecutors now say they have obtained evidence indicating that Hidalgo sexually abused the 8-month-old child. The additional charge adds to the mounting legal challenges Hidalgo faces as she awaits trial.