Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By Will Brown, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In Ohio and other States, day care workers have the responsibility to supervise children. It is vital that day care workers stay calm and think of the best interests of the children when performing their duties. In Dayton, Ohio, it was reported that a day care worker punched a four year old boy in the chest causing him to fall down. In many instances, it comes down to the word of the day care worker versus the word of the child. A 4 year old boy’s testimony is not always reliable or accurate. In this case, another teacher witnessed the incident. As a result of this evidence, misdemeanor assault charges were filed against Sherra Howard, a 25 year old day care worker who apparently lost her composure punched the child and then proceeded to spank him as well. The day care center was operated by the YMCA. The CEO of the YMCA issued a statement about the incident. You can read this statement and more about this story at Ohio Day Care Center – Day Care Worker Punches and Spanks Child.
In Richmond, Virginia, Keishawn L. Whitfield, age 23, was recently convicted on charges of Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Neglect. In the Summer of 2009, Mr. Whitfield left a 13 month old child unattended in a day care center van. Whitfield’s attorneys argued that it was a mistake and inattention rather than a crime to leave the child in the day care center van. Tragically, the child died as a result of being left in a hot vehicle in the Virginia summer heat. The child was enrolled in the Yellow Brick Road Day Care and Learning Center which was owned and operated by Whitfield’s mother.
A former Wyandotte school teacher is facing criminal molestation charges. In Ottawa County (Oklahoma), District Attorney Eddie Wyant stated that the charges stem from molestation allegations against two former students of Brian Matthew Rash, now age 38. Mr. Rash was arrested in Missouri and will be extradited back to Oklahoma to face these charges. According to a news story posted at the 
In Fresno County, California, CNN reported the horrible circumstances of the death of a 4 year old boy who ultimately was found in a dryer of a nearby apartment. Alex Christopher Mercato, who was only 4 at the time, was molested, sodomized, and drowned in a bathtub by a 14 year old California boy. The 14 year old (Raul Renato Castro) has been charged as an adult. Raul told police that he killed Alex because Christopher said that he was going to tell on Raul for molesting Alex. Raul faces a criminal sentence of up to 32 years if convicted due to his age and California penal / sentencing laws.
Nancy Owens and Vanessa Ramirez were at a birthday party together, where both have admitted to drinking. Ms. Owens reportedly allowed Ms. Lopez to drive her three children home, even though she admitted to police that she was aware Ms. Lopez was “drunk.”
Daycare owner, Shannon Veradt, of Taunton, Massachusetts, was allegedly found passed out on the second floor of her home while the children she was supposed to be caring for were unattended downstairs. Her own mother had called the police because she believed her daughter was drunk and she was worried about the children. Ms. Veradt admitted that she had been drinking, saying she was stressed from her marriage. This day care owner showed “poor judgment” but is being allowed to reopen the daycare center.