Plea deal possible for Ceres mom accused in drowning

MODESTO -- Attorneys are still negotiating a possible plea deal as a scheduled preliminary hearing approaches for a Ceres mother accused of murder in her 2-year-old son's drowning.

Florcita Valdez, 36, appeared briefly Monday morning in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Judge Linda McFadden confirmed Valdez's Dec. 18 preliminary hearing. Stephen Foley, Valdez's defense attorney, told the judge that he and Deputy District Attorney Marlisa Ferreira are still discussing a possible plea deal.

If the prosecutor and the defense attorney have not reached an agreement on a plea deal Dec. 18, they could proceed with the scheduled preliminary hearing for Valdez. Valdez's son, Aureliano Joel Valdez, was found dead in the family's pool on Larson Lane in Ceres minutes after his mother reported the boy missing July 18, 2010.

The defendant remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.