Mother Convicted in Sons’ Deaths
A 40-year-old Simi Valley mother pleaded no contest Thursday to felony child endangerment for leaving her two young sons in a sweltering minivan where they died last summer.
Marlene Heath, who told police she drank a bottle of wine and fell asleep in her bed while the boys were outside, entered the plea during a brief appearance in Ventura County Superior Court.
Heath, who admitted causing great bodily injury and death to her sons when asked a series of questions by the prosecutor, faces up to 12 years in state prison.
But she is also eligible for probation, which defense attorney Louis “Chuck” Samonsky said he will request at a Jan. 8 sentencing hearing.
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