Sunday, June 3, 2001
|
Sunday, June 3, 2001 |
|
Former day care director gets two months in jail for spanking cover-up
By JOHN MUNFORD
The former director of a day care center in south Fayette County has been sentenced to 60 days in jail for interfering with a police investigation into a spanking incident there. State Court Judge Fletcher Sams also sentenced Simone Reddick to an additional 10 months' probation in court Wednesday morning. A jury convicted her last week of obstruction of a police officer. The employee who performed the spanking Jeanette Brown, was sentenced to 12 months probation for her jury conviction on a simple battery charge. Judge Sams also assessed $1,000 fines on both defendants and ordered them to perform 40 hours community service. Reddick's attorney told Sams she planned to appeal the case. The incident occurred at Early Stages Daycare and Academy Nov. 27. The victim, an 8-year-old girl, was not injured by the spanking, but Fayette County Solicitor-General Steve Harris decided to prosecute the cases based on the attempted cover-up. During the trials, three employees testified they heard the "pop" of the spanking throughout the building. Reddick and Brown both denied the allegations. Employees also testified that Reddick coerced them into signing statements indicating the spanking never took place. Georgia child care regulations forbid the use of corporal punishment. After the investigation began, state child care licensing officials banned Reddick from being at the center when children were present. No action was taken against Brown because she was no longer employed by the center at the time, officials said. Before sentencing Wednesday morning, Reddick's attorney asked Sams for leniency since she lost her job because of the publicity the case has received. He also said Reddick allowed investigators from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department on the premises and did not keep them from talking to anyone during the investigation. But Sams said he found it "impossible" to ignore the inconsistency of Reddick's testimony compared to those of employees at the center.
|
||