ARDMORE, OK -- After allegations of abuse at a prominent local daycare operated by a church, the former employee accused in that case will not be facing charges. Robin Beal reports.
A community was shocked when the allegations began to circulate on the Internet back in April through MySpace bulletins and emails. A parent's cries for help, after she was allegedly shown a cell phone video depicting her young daughter being mistreated by an employee of the Kiddie Kollege on 12th Avenue in Ardmore. Now after months of investigation, the district attorney Emily Redmond says no charges will be filed.
Ardmore police detectives conducted multiple interviews of employees of the Kiddie Kollege, and the employee who was accused of mistreating the child resigned after the facility came under scrutiny the case was eventually turned over to Bryan County District Attorney Emily Redman after the Carter County District Attorney asked to be removed from the case.
In a statement provided to First News, District Attorney Redman says:
"The police investigation revealed what I believe is inappropriate behavior of the daycare worker -- especially in relation to the discipline of a two-year-old child. Grabbing a two-year old by the face and yelling at her is simply not appropriate, especially in a daycare setting…”
"However, inappropriate or bad behavior does not always equal criminal behavior. In this case, the child was not injured in any way. While I would not choose to discipline a child in this manner, I cannot find any criminal intent..."
-Emily Redman, District Attorney
Church Spokesman, Dustin Rowe says, "One should commend Ms. Redman, who is an outstanding district attorney. She was very thourough in her investigation, she sent off for more information in fact from that which was originally sent to her, I don't believe she's left any stone uncovered."
We are not privy to any of the evidence in the case, and we have not seen a copy of the videotape at the center of the controversy. So far that tape has not been released to the public, despite our repeated requests. Whether or not the recording will now be made available is not yet clear.