By Sctott Zahler & David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
Angeles Westmorland, a teacher at a day care teacher in Paulding County, Georgia, was charged with battery after she allegedly bruised and scratched a 5-year-old boy all over his body.
Westmorland was released on a $1,000 bond, and no longer works at the Georgia day care center. Investigators are now looking for more victims. According to Sgt. Brandon Gurley from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Department, the Crimes Against Children Unit has been contacted for similar cases. Bright from the Start, which gives day care centers in Georgia a license to operate, is now investigating as well.
The boy’s mother, April Nations, said that this was only her son’s third day at the center. She is convinced there must be other victims considering this happened so soon to his arrival. Nations, the boy’s mother, said that Westmorland told her child not to tell anyone what she did to him.
The question now is: how many other children were told not to tell? It is too often that day care centers abuse or neglect the children that they have a duty to supervise and protect. It is also important for day care centers to evaluate their staff on a daily basis. Staff members should be monitored on a consistent basis. Parents should also educate their children on the importance of telling someone if someone is hurting them.
For more information on this subject, see 5-year-old child abused in day care center in Paulding County, GA.