Former Tulsa Church Child-Care Worker Enters Plea in Abuse Case
By Bill Braun
A former Tulsa church child-care worker pleaded no contest Monday to charges of abusing two young children, with the offenses separated by almost two years in time. Meredith Allison Howard, 40, will be sentenced Jan. 29 on two felony charges of child abuse by injury.
Howard, who waived her right to a trial, has no agreement with the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office regarding her sentence. District Judge William Kellough will decide the sentence.
One case is linked to an injury that prosecutors contend was inflicted on an 8-month-old boy on Dec. 8, 2008, at a day care affiliated with Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian, 4102 E. 61st St.
In that case, Howard is charged with using unreasonable force and breaking that baby's thigh bone.
A police detective testified previously that when questioned, Howard said she was frustrated because that baby "would not stop crying."
According to the detective, Howard indicated that she thought she had broken the child's leg when she forcefully put him down.
The other case involves an accusation that Howard inserted her finger into the vagina of a 19-month-old girl in November 2010 at the John Knox Child Development Center.
Howard was a teacher's assistant at the center, operated by the John Knox Presbyterian Church, 2929 E. 31st St.
A police officer testified at a preliminary hearing that when questioned, Howard said she accidentally inserted a finger into the girl's vagina while in the process of changing her diaper.
A pediatrician determined that the girl's extensive injury required surgery and was "likely inflicted trauma and consistent with child sexual abuse," a police affidavit says.
Assistant District Attorney Sarah McAmis indicated that the victims' families will provide information to the judge at the sentencing hearing.
At that proceeding, defense lawyer Allen Smallwood will have an opportunity to present mitigating evidence on behalf of Howard.
Smallwood has previously argued that according to psychological evaluations, Howard is very open to suggestion and that statements she made to law enforcement are unreliable and should be suppressed as evidence.
Kellough ruled in September that recorded police interviews with Howard were admissible as evidence.
In the case involving the Kirk of the Hills' Mothers' Day Out program, the District Attorney's Office decided in 2009 not to file a charge.
But prosecutors filed both charges of child abuse by injury on Nov. 9, 2010, after allegations related to the John Knox center surfaced.
Howard had worked at that center for about a year as of November 2010.
In applying for the job, she reported that she had a slight learning disability, according to testimony at a hearing last year.
Howard has been free on bond.
Kellough on Monday allowed her to stay out of jail on a personal recognizance bond while she awaits sentencing.
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