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Former day care worker faces assault, endangering charges
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
FAIRBORN — A former day care center worker faces misdemeanor assault and child endangering charges for allegedly physically disciplining children between the ages of three and five.
Laura Patterson, 51, of Clifton, is accused of slapping, pinching and pulling the hair of four children in her care at the Creative World of Child Care, 12 W. Goodman Drive, said Sgt. Matt Ricketts, Fairborn police. She is charged with five counts each of assault and child endangering in Fairborn Municipal Court.
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An aide at the school, who is the mother of one of the alleged victims, reported Patterson's conduct to the day care's management and police, Ricketts said.
The assaults allegedly occurred between November 2007 and February, he said.
Patterson pleaded not guilty Wednesday, June 11, in Fairborn Municipal Court. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 7.
Patterson's attorney, David L. Pendry, could not be reach for comment late Monday.
Pat Mikos, a vice president for Creative World of Child Care, said Patterson was removed as soon as the allegations of physical discipline surfaced.
"What we did was immediately suspend the worker and begin an investigation," Mikos said. Patterson no longer works for the center.
Ricketts said the center cooperated with local police and state investigators.
Management has since reviewed the day care's discipline policy with other workers and is installing a video surveillance system, Mikos said. "We are putting things in place to make sure this doesn't happen again," she said.
Contact the reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com
