Mission woman sentenced to 40 years for child sexual assault

MISSION, Texas (ValleyCentral) —  A Mission woman was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 40 years in prison, according to a news release from the Hidalgo County District Attorney.

Patricia Mendez, 50, was found guilty on one count of indecency with a child and two counts of sexual assault of a child.

Patricia Mendez (Source Hidalgo County Jail Records)

Julio Jacob Iglesias (Source Hidalgo County Jail Records)

On Sept. 21, 2020, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office responded to the Palmview Police Department regarding a sexual assault report involving Mendez, 38-year-old Julio Jacob Iglesias and a 14-year-old child.

While in court, the jury heard that in May 2020, the teen went to Mendez's home to spend the night with Mendez's child.

According to the release, on that same night, Mendez and Iglesias sexually assaulted the teen.

The report was made three months later, after the teen was admitted to the hospital for suicidal ideations caused by the abuse, according to the news release.

A judge sentenced Mendez to 40 years in prison on Monday.

Iglesias is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing in the 389^th District Court of Hidalgo County on Nov. 3, 2025.