MODESTO, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California mother has pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter for the death of her 2-year-old son, who drowned in the family's algae-covered swimming pool.
The Modesto Bee reports that Florcita Valdez of Ceres entered the plea Monday, and was sentenced to more than four years in prison.
Valdez, originally charged with murder, also pleaded no contest to child endangerment for not providing adequate care to her other, 9-year-old son when the drowning occurred.
Valdez said she was baking a cake inside the house when she realized her son was missing.
Stanislaus County prosecutors said Valdez had left the 2-year-old Aureliano without proper supervision, which ultimately led to his drowning.
Prosecutors dropped the rest of the charges as part of the plea agreement.
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Information from: The Modesto Bee, http://www.modbee.com
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