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.

Back

to News Home Page |