CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A former daycare worker in Conover accused of assaulting more than a half dozen children under the age of four appeared in court Monday.
Police said the alleged assault happened at the Woodlawn Baptist Child Development Center.
Channel 9′s Dave Faherty was in court Monday morning and obtained warrants in the case involving Kaleigh Gambill.
Woodlawn Baptist’s pastor told Channel 9 that some of the incidents were captured by cameras inside the building.
The warrants accused Gambill of picking up children by the arm, striking some of the students with an open hand multiple times, and grabbing a victim’s ankle and slamming it against the floor multiple times.
In at least one of the cases, the court documents said she “placed the victim on the ground forcefully.”
The pastor said they fired Gambill in December after the North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education received a complaint about her.
The church said at the time they reviewed surveillance video, which was turned over to investigators, and fired Gambill that day.
The pastor said he was “deeply disturbed and concerned by what he saw and that the daycare is committed to kids being safe.”
We also spoke with parents this weekend about the case.
“Just wanting to know exactly what happened,” one parent told Channel 9. “It’s devastating. That’s your worst fear of hearing that your child was assaulted.”
It’s important to note that these are misdemeanor not felony charges.
Gambill is out of jail after posting a more than $80,000 bond. She declined our request for an interview about the allegations.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
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