The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A former pre-kindergarten teacher in Las Cruces, New Mexico, was recently arrested after the authorities investigated allegations that she physically harmed a young child while working at a daycare.
According to reports, the investigation began in late February after the parents of a child contacted law enforcement and claimed their son had been abused while at the daycare. Deputies with the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office reviewed the initial complaint but determined that the child involved lived outside their jurisdiction. The case was then referred to the Las Cruces Police Department.
A detective obtained surveillance footage from the daycare facility, and investigators reviewed the video. It was alleged that it showed several incidents involving a boy under the age of 10, and sources reported that investigators believe the footage showed the former teacher striking the child with multiple objects and, at one point, slapping him with an open hand. Police also reported that the video appeared to show the woman using items such as a chair and a pointer while hitting the child.