A judge sentenced the former director of a church-run day-care center to six months in jail after she was found guilty of drugging children by putting a sleep aid inside Tootsie Rolls and infant formula so that they would sleep throughout the day.
Pamela Hartley’s attorney, Michael Welsh, said he plans to appeal the convictions on multiple child-endangering charges. He was given 30 days to do so or Hartley goes to jail, the judge said.
Judge Melissa Powers also revoked Hartley’s day-care license Wednesday and ordered her never again to work in a job that involved caring for children.
Hartley, 56, was director of the Covenant Apostolic Church Day Care in Springfield Township. She was fired after the allegations surfaced last year.
Melatonin, which is generally used as a sleep aid or to regulate sleep patterns, can have some negative side affects that include dizziness, confusion, abdominal pain, sleepwalking and nightmares.
Powers found Hartley guilty in May of six counts of child endangering for drugging the children between July and part of December.
Many children, Powers said, would not only sleep through the day, but they would go home and sleep through the night. Others, she said, suffered nightmares and would wake in the middle of the night screaming.
She also said the supplement had negative side effects with medication that at least one child was taking.
“The parents thought that this would be a safe place because it is faith-based and here it turns out like this,” Powers said. “Rather than nurturing them, she is putting these children to sleep so that she doesn’t have to provide any type of care, and she is making her job easier.”
Barring an appeal that would impact the sentence, Powers also placed Hartley on probation for three years after her release from jail.
Powers told Hartley in court Wednesday morning that she betrayed many people.
Donna Scott, 41, of Elmwood Place, who worked under Hartley, was also arrested on the child-endangering charges. She is scheduled for a jury trial next month in Judge Brad Greenberg’s courtroom.
The pair was charged after a young woman who also worked there told authorities about the children being given the sleep aid.
“They basically knocked these children out so that they would fall asleep and then they wouldn’t have to deal with them,” Powers said after the sentencing.
Springfield Township police sent letters to the parents last winter informing them of the investigation and encouraging them to seek medical attention.
Also in December, a class-action suit was filed against the church, alleging that it was negligent and the children suffered dizziness, headaches, grogginess, abdominal discomfort and great physical and mental pain and anguish.
The suit was filed on behalf of Joseph and Andrea Coleman, whose daughter attended the day-care center. Andrea Coleman said because of the suit she was not allowed to comment.
The suit also alleged charges of battery, malice and gross negligence and negligent supervision. The suit says children had to seek medical treatment at hospitals and doctors’ offices. It also alleges that there could be more than 100 plaintiffs, and it seeks $25,000 for each plaintiff.
Efforts to reach the attorney representing the parents and the church were not successful Wednesday.
From: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20100715/NEWS010701/307140022/
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