Clovis News Journal: Judge denies motion to dismiss mother-son incest case

A district judge has denied a motion to dismiss incest charges against a Clovis woman accused of having an incestuous relationship with her 19-year-old son, the Clovis News Journal Reports.

Judge Drew Tatum made the decision Thursday in the case of 36-year-old Monica Mares.

The Associated Press reports the woman appeared in court Wednesday, with her attorney arguing it was a consensual relationship and Mares should be able to make her own choices without government interference.

If Tatum did not grant the dismissal, Mares would stand trial next week, the AP reports.

Mares and her son, Caleb Peterson, made international headlines earlier this year following an interview with the British paper the Daily Mail.

They told the newspaper they made their relationship public to raise awareness about “Genetic Sexual Attraction.”

In the Daily Mail article, Mares said she was just 16 when she gave birth to Peterson, whose pre-adoption name was Carlos. The boy was adopted as a baby.

Mares told the Daily Mail she first met her son last Christmas when she picked him up at his adoptive father’s house after the pair got in touch over Facebook.