AUBURN – The parents of a severely undernourished infant were arraigned Thursday in Placer Superior Court on a single count of child endangerment.
Monica Sue Mark, 38, and Abraham David Mark, 49, appeared before Judge Robert P. Mc- Elhany and entered not-guilty pleas to the charge of "cruelty to a child by abuse, neglect or endangering health."
They were arrested Tuesday by Auburn police after a three-week investigation.
A doctor had notified Child Protective Services of the baby's condition after the mother took the baby for a routine six-week checkup on Dec. 26. Police reported the girl had lost a third of her birth weight.
During the arraignment, it was revealed that Monica Mark had violated probation on a conviction of fraudulent use of a bank access card in 2006. The judge continued bail for each defendant at $150,000.
Outside court, Scott Owens, a spokesman for the District Attorney's Office, said the Marks each face up to 12 years in prison if found guilty on the child endangerment charge.
If convicted of a special allegation of great bodily injury on a child under age 5, they could face an additional six years, he said.
– Art Campos
