Assistant Teacher at Day Care Charged with Abuse, Fox 23, November 10, 2010

Assistant Teacher at Day Care Charged with Abuse

Fox 23
November 10, 2010

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Assistant-Teacher-At-Day-Care-Charged-With-Abuse/V6bUz2NCckeLeNe0FEAsfQ.cspx

[with video]

TULSA, OK -- Meredith Allison Howard, 38. has been charged with child abuse by injury from an alleged offense that happened on November 4 of this year. Police say a 19-month-old girl was injured at John Knox Presbyterian's Child Development Center last week. An affidavit says the girl's private parts were injured, even requiring surgery. Police tell FOX23 a child abuse charge is easier to prove than a sexual abuse charge in this case.

A second child abuse by injury charge is listed, from an alleged offense that happened in December of 2008. Howard worked at Kirk of the Hills' Mother's Day Out program prior to working at John Knox Child Development Center. A complaint was filed during her employment at Kirk of the Hills when a child allegedly had a leg injury; however, no charge was filed until now. At the time, doctors called the injury "extremely concerning as the victim does not have the developmental capability to produce the force necessary to break the femur in this manner." The affidavit says Howard claimed to have "set an 8 month old child down" hard, when he was being fussy.

Howard was arrested Tuesday afternoon and was being held on $100,00 bond.

John Knox Child Development Center says it is doubling the number of staff members in all child care rooms, and looking into a video monitoring system. The preschool says Howard passed all criminal background checks and reference checks. The center will hold a parents' meeting at 6pm Thurs., Nov. 11. Parents, and staff members are being urged to refer all inquiries to the center's director and the church's pastor.