Colorado day care owner gets six years in prison after dozens of toddlers found hidden behind fake wall in basement
The owner of a Colorado day care was sentenced to six years behind bars, two years after authorities discovered 26 toddlers stashed behind a fake wall in the basement of her business.
Carla Faith, owner of Mountain Play Place, was found guilty in August of 26 counts of child abuse, one count of attempting to influence a peace officer, and three counts of operating a day care without a license.
Authorities responded to her business in November 2019 after receiving reports that Faith had been caring for more children than legally allowed. When they arrived on the scene, there were no children immediately visible and the owner insisted that there was no one else present.
Amid a quick search of the building, an officer spotted a row of kids’ backpacks and then a seam separating a false wall from the actual wall, according to an arrest affidavit. Behind the partition, were 26 children, many of them sweaty and thirsty and some with dirty diapers.
Faith was only licensed to care for up to six children at her Colorado Springs private day care and only two of them were allowed to be under the age of 2. Her lawyer argued that she did not have malicious intentions, only that she found it difficult to say no to parents in need of her assistance.
Faith’s business was growing because she was good at her job, and her failure to apply for the appropriate license was an “egregious mistake,” the defense contended.
During Faith’s sentencing on Thursday, several of the victims’ parents detailed how their time at Mountain Play Place still affects their families years later, according to KOAA-TV reported.
Parent Kim Marshall said that both of her children still receive counseling.
“We sleep with the lights on in our house,” she said. “My kids are anxious. They are fearful of the world.”
Three employees at Faith’s day care were also charged in the case, KKTV reported.
One, Valerie Fresquez, took a plea deal and testified at Faith’s hearing. Another, Christina Swauger, was found guilty of the same charges as Faith but has not been yet been sentenced.
A third, Katelynn Nelson, never showed up to court and a warrant has been issued for her.
With News Wire Services
