Child Injury Lawyer Blog
By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network
In July 2010, Raymond L. Messinger, 47, was charged with molesting 3 girls at the day care center where he volunteered, Bonnie Bretzman Day Care Services. The victims of the alleged abuse were two 8-year-old girls and one 7-year-old girl. Recently, Messinger was charged with more counts molestation. Messinger has now been charged with one count of aggravated indecent assault of a child and two counts of indecent assault of a person under 13-years-old. Messinger is entitled to an attorney. If you would like to read more on this story please see More Child Molestation Charges Filed – Day Care Center Incidents.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it was reported that a 5 year old boy enrolled in a Milwaukee day care center was left in a van for 9 hours. There are dangers in leaving a child in a van. If the incident takes place during hot weather, the child is at risk for hyperthermia. If the incident takes place during cold weather, there is a risk of hypothermia. No matter the weather, there are also other risks when leaving a child unattended in a vehicle. These risks include those related to strangulation and choking. In addition, if a child is left unattended in a vehicle, there is also a risk of abduction and risk of injury if the child wanders away into traffic or or into other dangerous situations.
A woman of Huntington, West Virginia, was arrested on a charge of child neglect resulting in injury. The arrest came after a 10-month-old child was allegedly struck in the face at a day care center. The woman was identified as Pamela Faye Taylor, 63. The incident occurred sometime in October and involved a child who had a red mark on his face in the shape of a hand and a bruise on his forehead. It is believed that the toddler sustained his injuries at Pam’s Kids Daycare in Huntington. Taylor will be entitled to legal representation by a West Virginia criminal defense attorney or public defender. If you would like to read more on this story please see 
A woman of an unlicensed day care in Yacolt, Washington, was arrested after she was found passed out in her minivan with two children inside. The woman was identified as Sheia Mikolos, 45. According to authorities Mikolos was drunk and passed out behind the wheel. Along with the two children inside the minivan were empty and half-empty cans of beer. Mikolos was arrested on two counts of Reckless Endangerment. The children were inspected by medics then turned over to Child Protective Services, they were later returned to their parents. Mikolos is entitled to representation by a Washington criminal law attorney or a public defender. To read more on this story please see 
A former director of an Oregon, Wisconsin day care center was recently charged with three counts of child abuse and one count of suffocation for allegedly abusing children in her care. Heather M. Hook, 34, of Madison, Wisconsin, was director of the Foxboro Child Care Center. According to the criminal complaint, Hook allegedly tried to force a 15-month-girl to drink her milk and after the child refused, Hook allegedly shoved the toddler’s face in a pile of pillows. The girl’s mother told police she noticed bruises on her child’s body, that included a possible bruise to the child’s head and broken blood vessels on her side. Another mother also told authorities she noticed bruises on her 10-month-old son that were not present the day before. A Foxboro worker informed police of an incident where Hook grabbed the 10-month-old boy and carried him like a ball to an area after the boy was playing near a slide he was not suppose to be. The boy’s bruises were examined by Dr. Barbara Knox, a child abuse expert at UW Children’s Hospital, and described them as abusive in nature.
Bobby Maurice Tillman tragically died from injuries related to a senseless beating that took place near a home where a party was being held. The Douglas County County Coroner reported that Bobby died as a result of a lacerated heart that was directly related to the beating injuries. It was reported that Bobby was attacked by four individuals. Standing at only 5 Feet 6 Inches tall and only weighing 125 pounds, Bobby had no way to defend himself from these criminal and viscous acts of others.
Irene Martin, a 37-year-old woman and day care provider, made her first appearance in Hendricks County Court after she was charged with child abuse. Martin was formally charged with 3 felonies of battery and neglect of a child due to an incident that happened at her home, which she runs at a day care.
In Texas and other States, children, especially those with special needs like autistic children, should get supervision and care from responsible and patient adults who provide day care, child care, or babysitting services. In Texas, a baby sitter was in the midst of a criminal trial when he decided to plead guilty of child abuse charges. The incident involved the scalding / burning of a an autistic child that was under her care.
Bullying has become a huge problem, especially for children between grade school and college. The State of New Jersey has announced what it called the State’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights designates a chain of command at New Jersey schools to crack down on the bullying the very moment it is reporting. The bill of rights will be presented to New Jersey legislators of both major political parties.
Although parents should protect their children from being bullied, one Connecticut mother did not address the issue correctly. Sylvia Mojica of Hartford, Connecticut was arrested and has been charged with risk of injury to a minor after she sent her son to school with a BB gun and knife. Apparently, Mojica gave her son the weapons to fend off bullies at school. Now, not only is Mojica facing criminal charges but her son may be expelled or suspended for bringing the gun and blade to school.