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LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A mother of two children stabbed in a mobile home outside a Mesquite casino pleaded innocent this morning to child neglect charges.
35-year-old Tamara Ann Schmidt appeared in Clark County District Court with her husband, 36-year-old Robert John Schmidt -- who also pleaded innocent.
Both were indicted last week on 14 felony charges including child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm.
They're being held at Clark County jail on a 810-thousand dollars bail each -- awaiting trial in April.
But they're asking to have their bail reduced. A hearing's set for next Tuesday.
Authorities say Tamara Schmidt's daughters -- ten-year-old Brittany Bergeron and three-year-old Kristyanna Cowan -- were left alone early January 22nd, 2003, while Tamara and Robert Schmidt went to the nearby Casablanca hotel-casino.
Two siblings from Utah -- Beau and Monique Maestas -- are accused of breaking in and stabbing the girls in retaliation of a drug deal rip-off.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
