Delay in plea deal for Ceres mom accused of murder

MODESTO -- A defense attorney said Monday that he and a prosecutor are completing details on a possible plea deal for his client, 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 scheduled Valdez to return to court Jan. 14 for another pretrial hearing.

Stephen Foley, Valdez's defense attorney, told the judge that he and Deputy District Attorney Marlisa Ferreira needed more time to work out the final details of the plea deal.

Valdez's son, Aureliano Joel Valdez, was found dead in the family's pool on Larson Lane minutes after his mother reported the boy missing July 18, 2010.

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