HOPKINSVILLE (KY)
WHOP-AM [Hopkinsville KY]
July 7, 2021
By Adam May
It’s possible a special prosecutor could be appointed before trial for the four women charged in connection with alleged child abuse at the First United Methodist Church day care.
Former day care director Abby Leach appeared in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday with attorney Ben Fletcher and Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling said the Attorney General’s Office is presently considering whether there should be a special prosecutor.
Trial is set for November 15 for Leach, former day care employees Nina Morgan and Allison Simpson and former pastor Paige Williams.
Superseding indictments for eight counts each of complicity to criminal child abuse against children under the age 12 were returned in April against Williams and Leach.
The indictments allege they “breached their legal duty to protect the minor children by failing to prevent Simpson and Morgan from intentionally abusing children. In each count, the victim is described as being under the age of 13 months old.
Simpson is indicted on 30 counts of criminal child abuse. All 30 counts are alleged to have happened between December 19 of 2018 and January 18 of 2019. Eleven of the counts are against the same infant and a total of eight children are listed as victims in all of the allegations.
Morgan is indicted for two counts of criminal child abuse.