Mother, son involved in incestuous relationship agree to plea deal

A mother and son in New Mexico who publicly admitted to being involved in an incestuous relationship have agreed to a plea deal, just before their trial was to begin.

Monica Mares, 37, and Caleb Peterson, 20, accepted the plea deal Wednesday morning, just before jury selection was to begin in their case, KOAT reported. 

Their illegal relationship was revealed in February 2016, when a neighbor confronted them and called police. The case went viral worldwide, and Mares and Peterson told the Daily Mail that they wanted to raise awareness about "Genetic Sexual Attraction."

Mares and Peterson entered a no contest plea to the third-degree felony incest charge and will each serve 18 months of probation. The pair are forbidden to have verbal or physical contact during the probation period. After probation, the two can resume contact that is permitted by state law, petition the state to change the incest law or move to another state, according to The Eastern New Mexico News.

About the Author