SANTA ANA : Husband to Be Tried in Child Abuse Case Too

An Orange man was ordered Monday to stand trial on three child abuse charges for failing to intervene as his wife allegedly tortured and sexually abused their 10-year-old nephew.

Edward Medina, 45, has pleaded not guilty. He reportedly told police he did not abuse the boy but admitted once holding his nephew’s arms as his wife was beating the boy with a miniature baseball bat, according to testimony during a two-day preliminary hearing in Municipal Court in Santa Ana.

Medina’s wife, Cynthia, 31, claims she was insane during the September attack in which police say she also used the bat to sexually abuse the boy as punishment for touching an ashtray.

Cynthia Medina also is accused of punishing the boy by searing his tongue with a heated butter knife. She has pleaded not guilty to three counts of felony child abuse and one count of torture, marking the first time in Orange County history someone has been charged with torturing a child.

The Medinas were caring for their nephew because his mother could no longer do so. The boy has since been placed in foster care and the Medinas’ son is now living with his grandparents.