SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The Friday arraignment for a Santa Clara couple arrested on suspicion of torturing and abusing a 22-month-old child was postponed.

The hearing has been rescheduled for Aug. 24.

South Bay Couple Accused Of Torturing Child

Authorities said 20-year-old Julia Acosta, of San Jose, and 26-year-old Baltazar Martinez, of Milpitas, face possible life sentences.

Acosta was charged with one count of torture with great bodily injury and one count of child abuse and endangerment with great bodily injury. Acosta, the biological mother of the child, was being held on $1 million bail, according to a news release.

Acosta's boyfriend, Martinez, was also charged with one count of torture with great bodily injury and one count of child abuse and endangerment with great bodily injury. Martinez was also charged with one count of domestic violence, according to the release. Martinez's bail was set at $2.5 million.

Detectives said the case is one of the worst of its kind they have seen, NBC11's Christie Smith reported.

South Bay Couple Charged With Torturing Toddler

"Some of the pictures I saw were heart-wrenching, because you never expect a child to be treated this way," said Dalia Rodriguez of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.

Deputy District Attorney Dan Nishigaya said the bruises and burns on the toddler's body are evidence that he had been abused for "weeks if not months," before being taken to the hospital Aug. 6.

The extent of the abuse justifies the possible life sentence, according to Nishigaya.

"The type of injuries can only be the result of significant child abuse," Nishigaya said.

Authorities said both were arrested after a family member took the child to a local hospital with numerous and extensive bruises and burns throughout his body. The child, authorities added, is currently in protective custody.

Martinez's attorney, Tanya Levinson said that the blame in the case was on Acosta, NBC11's Marianne Favro reported.

The toddler is recovering from his injuries.

"It does not look like there are any life-threatening injuries or any that would cause permanent disfigurement," Nishigaya said.

Anyone with information regarding the case was asked to call the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office or the Fremont Police Department.