A Marana man accused of murder in his 2-year-old daughter's death after police say he left her in the family's sweltering car for hours last July has rejected a plea offer.
At a hearing Thursday morning in Pima County Superior Court, Christopher Scholtes rejected a plea offer that would have reduced his charge from first-degree to second-degree murder in the death of his daughter, Parker. The plea offer amended his prison sentencing range to between 10 and 25 years, with a presumptive term of a flat 16 years, prosecutors said.
A jury trial is now scheduled for October.
Parker was left behind in the family's parked car in front of the Scholtes home for up to 3 hours on a day when the temperature reach 109 degrees.
Scholtes said little during Thursday's hearing, speaking only to confirm his rejection of the plea offer.
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Prior to Parker’s death, Scholtes wife, Erika, had admonished him about his behavior and drinking around the couple's three children, text messages between the couple showed.
Scholtes was released from jail on his own recognizance immediately after his arrest.
