Articles Posted in Violent Crimes

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By Steven R. Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Education%20Day%20Care%20Building%20Block%20G.jpgIn New York and other States, parents rely on family members, friends, neighbors, and others to serve as babysitters. While most babysitters are very caring individuals, there are some babysitters out there who lack the training, experience, personality, responsibility, and / or temperament to effectively serve, work, or volunteer as a babysitter. While it is often times helpful to do a background check on a babysitter, this is not always practical and many parents lack the funds or know how in conducting a background search on the babysitter. Some babysitters may have a clean criminal record but still present a danger to the child entrusted to the babysitter’s care. When the actions or inactions of a babysitter results in a the harm or injury to a child, there may be legal ramifications to the incident:

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By Sctott Zahler & David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

day%20cares%2C%20building%20blocks%20.jpgAngeles Westmorland, a teacher at a day care teacher in Paulding County, Georgia, was charged with battery after she allegedly bruised and scratched a 5-year-old boy all over his body.

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By Will Brown, Attorney & David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20Ohio.jpgAn unfortunate incident recently took place at the University of Cincinnati (Ohio). It was reported that Everette Howard, an 18 year old student, died as a result of injuries sustained by a Taser gun used by campus police. It was reported that Everette was attempting to break up a fight at the time. It is expected that a full investigation will be completed and then be summarized in a written report since a death resulted from this incident. There appeared to be several witnesses to the incident. The use of force by a police officer is permitted under certain circumstances. In particular, if the health safety and welfare of the police office and / or others are put at risks – force is often times utilized. There are particular policies and procedures in place for each police department as to the use of force including the use of Taser guns. The incident will be reviewed to determine if protocols and criteria were met with respect to the facts and circumstances of this incident.

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By David Wolf, Attorney Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

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What started out as a childhood prank turned nearly fatal after a man shot at the neighborhood children. Although, the shooter was described by a neighbor as “low key” and “country,” his actions give off a different kind of character. 56-year-old Michael Bishop, has been charged with attempted murder after he aimed his gun into a group of children, pulled the tripper and hit a 12-year-old boy. According to police, the children had been playing a long time prank known as ding-dong-ditch, the kids run up to a home, ring the doorbell or known, and run away. The victim, whose name is not being released, is believed to have suffered a buckshot injury from a shotgun. The boy was taken to Kosair Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Eyewitnesses said they observed Bishop step out on his front porch with a shotgun, pointed his weapon towards the group of children, fired his gun and struck the 12-year-old boy. Dwight Mitchell, a Louisville Metro Police spokesman, said it is unclear whether the boy was the intended victim of Bishop or if he was merely just trying to scare the children off. Other neighbors were questioned by reporters and stated they too have been pranked by the neighborhood children. However, the kids were described as “good kids … not troublemakers” and their actions are not considered bothersome. Doug Dorsey, a nearby resident, is the father of a 13-year-old son who grew up with the victim. Dorsey ran to the group of children after he heard the gun shot and notice the group of kids scattering away. As Dorsey approached, he noticed the victim hunched over, with his back covered in blood. For more read Louisville man charged with attempted murder after firing gun into group of kids, striking 12-year-old boy. Mr. Bishop will be entitled to the services of a Louisville criminal defense attorney or the services of the Public Defender’s office.

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By David M. Baum, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

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In Illinois and other States, children are placed in day care centers by their parents with the hope and expectation that the children are provided a safe and healthy environment to learn, play, and rest. Unfortunately, thousands of children are abused and neglected every year in day care centers across Illinois and other States. Some children suffer lifelong permanent personal injuries and other children even die as a result of negligence, abuse, and / or neglect in a day care center. When a child is seriously injured or dies as a result of poor care or abuse in a day care center, a parent also suffers due to the death or injury of the child. There is no greater pain to a parent than the loss of or injury to a child due to an unexpected accident or because of the negligence of another person or day care center. Children are expected to outlive their parents not die at such a young age for no reason at all. In Springfield, Illinois, it was reported that a day care center operator (Cammie Kelly) was arrested and charged with first degree murder for the death of a child who was under the care of the Kelly and the day care center. The incident took place in January 2011 when Kaiden M. Gullidge (11 months old) was taken to a local hospital (St. John’s Hospital) after being observed to be unresponsive. An autopsy later revealed that the the cause of death of the boy was blunt force trauma. A case of this nature will hinge on witness statements and the forensic evidence uncovered at the autopsy. The timing of the injury will be an important issue to address during the criminal prosecution. The defendant will be entitled to the services of an Illinois criminal defense lawyer or the services of the local public defender’s office. An arrest does not automatically mean that there will be a plea deal or a conviction but it appears that investigators and the prosecutor’s office believe there is enough evidence to pursue this case for the tragic death of this small child. For more information, see Daycare Operator Charged with Murder for Death of Child in Illinois Daycare Center.

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By Ryan E. Alekman, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20Massachusetts.jpgA 4-year-old boy from New Bedford, Massachusetts was beaten so badly that the mere sight of the child brought tears to a hospital nurse. Police have arrested and charged the the mother’s boyfriend for the horrific beating of the child. 31-year-old Elvis Garcia has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Officials stated the little boy’s body was covered in bruises and cuts and had dried blood in his ear. Detective Alberto B. Silva described the crime committed against the victim to the New Bedford Times as “heinous.” 33-year-old Sandra Augusto, the child’s mother, was also arrested and charged with substantial injury to a child and and reckless endangerment to a child under 18; she is accused of allowing the abuse to happen. For more see 4-year-old New Bedford boy sustains “heinous” beating, mother and boyfriend arrested.

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By Robert Chaiken, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

US%20State%20Flag%20Texas.jpgA 32-year-old director of an Austin, Texas, day care center has been indicted on a capital murder charge. Christina Suzanne Lyons was charged after a 10-week-old child left in her care died. The Hays County (Texas) Grand Jury returned the count against Lyons; the indictment accuses her of intentionally causing blunt force trauma to the infant’s head on November 18, 2010. Sherri Tibbe, Hays County District Attorney, told a local paper that her office will not seek the death penalty, meaning Lyons could face a life sentence without parole if convicted. For more see Austin, Texas day care director indicted on capital murder charge of 10-week-old infant.

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By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

broken%20arm.jpgA day care center has been shut down and its owner arrested in Omaha, Nebraska. Sandra Johnson, also known as Sandra Minor, was arrested for felony child abuse. An emergency order was issued to Johnson (Minor), which immediately suspended her license as a child care provider and, ultimately, shut down her day care center. The emergency order was issued after police were called to Creighton University Medical Center. After the officers arrived, hospital staff advised them that an 11-month-old was being treated for a broken arm. Police then talked with the child’s mother who told police that she believed the incident could have happened at her child’s day care center.

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By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20West%20Virginia.jpgA woman of Huntington, West Virginia, was arrested on a charge of child neglect resulting in injury. The arrest came after a 10-month-old child was allegedly struck in the face at a day care center. The woman was identified as Pamela Faye Taylor, 63. The incident occurred sometime in October and involved a child who had a red mark on his face in the shape of a hand and a bruise on his forehead. It is believed that the toddler sustained his injuries at Pam’s Kids Daycare in Huntington. Taylor will be entitled to legal representation by a West Virginia criminal defense attorney or public defender. If you would like to read more on this story please see Woman arrested after child allegedly struck in face at day care facility.

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By David Wolf, Attorney

Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

State%20Map%20Oregon.jpgA former director of an Oregon, Wisconsin day care center was recently charged with three counts of child abuse and one count of suffocation for allegedly abusing children in her care. Heather M. Hook, 34, of Madison, Wisconsin, was director of the Foxboro Child Care Center. According to the criminal complaint, Hook allegedly tried to force a 15-month-girl to drink her milk and after the child refused, Hook allegedly shoved the toddler’s face in a pile of pillows. The girl’s mother told police she noticed bruises on her child’s body, that included a possible bruise to the child’s head and broken blood vessels on her side. Another mother also told authorities she noticed bruises on her 10-month-old son that were not present the day before. A Foxboro worker informed police of an incident where Hook grabbed the 10-month-old boy and carried him like a ball to an area after the boy was playing near a slide he was not suppose to be. The boy’s bruises were examined by Dr. Barbara Knox, a child abuse expert at UW Children’s Hospital, and described them as abusive in nature.

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