Rural Cresco woman may enter plea to child endangerment charges

A Winneshiek County resident accused of child endangerment following an arrest in July will not go on trial on that charge.  Instead, 28-year-old Monica Flores, who lives on Pole Line Road in Winneshiek County, has agreed to have her jury trial cancelled so she can consider entering a plea in the case.
 
Flores is accused of hitting and starving her 3-year-old daughter.  The criminal complaint filed against Flores alleges that the daughter had bruises on both of her legs, her neck, her face and on the right side of her body.  The complaint said the bruises appeared to come from blows over a period of time.  The girl was also found to be malnourished, with the criminal complaint claiming the girl had not been given food or water on a regular basis.
 
Flores was scheduled to go on trial August 29th, but that date has been cancelled.  Instead, a presentence investigation has been ordered in the case.  The results of that investigation will be disclosed during an October 16th hearing in Decorah, when Flores will decide whether to enter a plea.