A trial is set to begin Monday for a Turlock woman accused of second-degree murder and felony child endangerment in the drowning death of her 2-year-old daughter.

If convicted, 45-year-old Kelle Anne Brassart faces 15 years to life in prison.

A 995 PC motion will be heard at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 8 by Superior Court Judge Robert Westbrook to determine whether the trial court judge — Superior Court Judge Dawna Reeves — had probable cause to bind the defendant over for a felony jury trial.

Brassart was arraigned on the charges Sept. 16 by Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Kellee C. Westbrook, and entered a plea of not guilty. Bail was set at $2 million; she remains in custody at the Stanislaus County Public Safety Facility.

Officers responded to a 911 call at 3:28 p.m. on Sept. 12 in the 4500 block of Fireside Drive, where they found the child, identified as Daniellé Pires, unresponsive in the water. Police immediately began CPR, joined by fire and medical personnel, but the child was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to video footage, the child got into the pool at 3:08 p.m., and began attempting to tread water, according to Assistant District Attorney Sara Sousa.

At one point, the child — who would have turned 3 days after her death — was seen grabbing onto the side of the pool in the deep end, attempting to get out. At 3:18 p.m., the child was on her back and no longer moving. Fifteen minutes later, Turlock Police Officer Nick Gutierrez pulled her body out of the pool and immediately began life-saving efforts.

Detectives determined that Brassart, who was in a wheelchair, had been responsible for the child’s care at the time of the incident. Sousa also told the court that officers suspected Brassart was intoxicated, and noticed several prescription bottles around the residence. 

California Highway Patrol Officer Matthew Haines, a drug recognition expert, was called to the scene to perform an evaluation.

At 6:41 p.m., three hours after the incident, Brassart registered a blood-alcohol level of .17, Sousa said. Three minutes later, she recorded a .16 — .08 is considered impaired.

Because Brassart was in a wheelchair, a modified sobriety test was administered at 7:18 p.m. In addition to alcohol, Haines determined she was on a central nervous stimulant, Sousa said.

Brassart pleaded guilty to misdemeanor child abuse in January 2023 (involving a different child), and was ordered to participate in 52 weeks of parenting courses and given a four-year probation

term. She completed the courses in March of this year.

In May 2023, when Daniellé was seven months old, Brassart threw a drink tumbler at the child’s father while he was holding her, Sousa said. Brassart was required to participate in 20 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.