On Labor Day this year, the decaying body of 5 year old Sierra Patino was found in her mother's closet. Both the girl's mother, Priscilla Torres, and her boyfriend, Santiago Esparza, Jr., have been arrested and charged with tampering with evidence. Saturday morning , Esparza appeared before a judge to learn his sentencing.
Esparza has a record of violence against children and adults and the prosecution plead that because he was a habitual offender, he should not be given bond. After the defense attorneys made their plea, prosecutors changed their request for bond to be set for $100,000. That is where the judge set the bond.
Prosecutors said Torres may have lied in her initial statement saying her boyfriend wasn't involved because she feared retaliation from Esparza given his past. The investigation continues.