LAS VEGAS >> A judge set a Jan. 7 court date for a woman accused of shooting her husband dead in front of a 9-year-old boy on Christmas Eve in a downtown Las Vegas hotel room.

Maria Andrea Escalante wasn’t asked to enter a plea Tuesday to murder and child abuse charges in the slaying of 48-year-old David Timothy Cordova of North Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Pro Tem Michael Federico named the Clark County public defender’s office to represent her.

The 34-year-old Escalante was arrested late Thursday at the Plaza Hotel and Casino. She’s being held without bail at the Clark County jail.

Police say the boy was opening holiday presents when Cordova was shot in the chest. The boy wasn’t hurt

A motive in the slaying wasn’t clear.