The children got into her car, which was parked in front of the home, and investigators say that for some reason, the two fell asleep and ultimately died from the extreme heat.
Prosecutors charged the then 28-year-old mother with two counts of child abuse resulting in death.
On Sept. 3, Mendieta pleaded no contest to a lesser child-abuse charge. In exchange, prosecutors agreed not to seek prison time. She was sentenced to 300 hours of community service.
