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Mom who left kids alone to visit Germany offered plea deal

Sioux City Journal - 2/12/2018

DES MOINES | An Iowa mother accused of leaving her four children home alone to travel to Europe could avoid a prison sentence.

Prosecutors have offered to drop a gun charge against 31-year-old Erin Macke and give her a deferred judgment if she pleads guilty to four counts of child endangerment.

Macke is currently charged with the four counts plus one count of making a firearm available to a person under 21.

Police were called to her home in September by the children's father, who said the kids - two age 12, one 7, one 6 - had been left alone. Police say Macke tried but failed to make child care arrangements before leaving Sept. 20 for a 10-day vacation in Germany.

A plea hearing is scheduled for Feb. 23.