PORTALES, N.M. (KFDA) - A judge in Portales accepted a plea deal that sentences two daycare workers to 12 years in prison for leaving two children in a hot car in 2017.

As the Eastern New Mexico News reports , the plea deal avoids a second trial.

Prosecutor Quentin Ray said Mary and Sandi Taylor will have to serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole because the judge found the crimes were “serious violent offenses.”

This means they could be out in eight and a half years, with credit for the 19 months they already served.

However, their defense attorney said he believes they could be out of prison in four and a half years since he says the crime was not a serious violent offense.

The issue will likely be determined by the courts in the coming months.

Mary a

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