ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- It was an emotional day in court Friday for Sharisa Vazquez. The 22-year-old cried as she accepted a plea deal for leaving her 1- and 3-year-old girls alone in a dirty apartment in the middle of winter.

The kids were found by police dehydrated, malnourished, and covered in feces.

“These are her children. She does love them. Her family even agrees with that. I think she understands that she made a grave mistake and wanted to own up to it and take responsibility for her actions,” said Vazquez’s attorney, Michael Pattison. 

Vazquez could spend up to six years in state prison for leaving the two girls alone in their Ridgeway Avenue apartment in January. She pleaded guilty to felony reckless endangerment charges Friday.

As part of the plea deal, the 22-year-old mom has been ordered to stay away from her children for up to 10 years. The orders of protection that have been placed for her children will go into effect at sentencing. 

“The two children in this case, I am happy to report if there is any silver lining in a case like this, is that they are thriving and in the care of relatives,” said Monroe County Chief of the Child Abuse Bureau Sara VanStrydonck. 

Sharisa Vazquez will be sentenced on September 19. She will be eligible for parole after two years.