Infignos Media - Etowah County daycare worker faces two counts of aggravated child abuse

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Etowah County daycare worker faces two counts of aggravated child abuse

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a daycare worker accused of hitting a child on the face with a folder, and slamming another child’s head on a table at Kids Kingdom at the First United Methodist Church of Hokes Bluff.

The incidents were captured on video and happened during the week of Feb. 10.

Karen Lynn Rowland, 41, of Piedmont, faces two counts of aggravated child abuse, which is a Class B felony.

Rowland is also accused of screaming and cursing at two 4-year-old children.

Steve Baccus, the pastor of the church, says they learned of the incidents after a parent who works at the daycare noticed a bruise on her 4-year-old child and then reported it to her boss. Baccus says the daycare's supervisor reviewed the surveillance footage to find out what happened.

"We have security cameras in the classroom and we didn't find evidence of how he got the bruise, but we did find other evidence, and that's evidence for the Etowah County Sheriff's Office that I can't talk about," Rev. Baccus said.

Jessica Moyer's son was in Karen's class. She started asking him questions about his class after she learned about the allegations.

"I asked him, 'Have you been in trouble, have you been yelled at, have you been disciplined?' Three-year-olds will tell you anything you want to know and it was 'No, no I love Ms. Karen,'" Moyer said.

Baccus says the church has strict hiring policies. He doesn't expect any policies will be changed. He plans to hold a meeting with parents whose children attend the daycare. That meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Etowah County Sheriff, Todd Entrekin, released a statement on this matter, saying:

“I can’t begin to imagine how anyone would consider hurting a child who has been entrusted to their care. My office will continue to defend children and adults who are defenseless and will do our best to see that the abuser serves an appropriate sentence.”

Rowland was placed in the Etowah County Detention Center where she was later released on a $10,000 bond.

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Keywords: Kids Kingdom , First United Methodist Church ,Hokes Bluff,daycare worker ,Karen Lynn Rowland,aggravated child abuse,Class B felony,abuser,

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