Former day care worker charged in child abuse case
A former employee of the Weston County Children’s Center has been arrested on a charge of felony aggravated child abuse related to an incident at the local daycare on Nov. 16, 2021.
Felony information documents filed on April 6 in the Sixth Judicial District Court for Weston County allege that the employee, Megan Martin, inflicted serious injuries on a child that was under her care at WCCC.
“On or about November 16, 2021, in Weston County, Wyoming, a person responsible for the child’s welfare as defined by Wyoming statute §14-3-202(a)(i), intentionally or recklessly inflicted upon a child under the age of 18 years physical injury as defined in W.S. Section 14-3-302(a)(ii)(B), excluding reasonable corporal punishment, and in the course of committing the crime of child abuse, defined by Wyoming Statute §6-2-503(b)(i), did intentionally or recklessly inflict serious bodily injury upon the victim, Aggravated Child Abuse, in violation of Wyoming Statutes §6-2-503(b)(i)(c) and 6-10-102,” the document states.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, an infant at the Weston County Children’s Center suffered a subdural hematoma and retinal hemorrhage injuries as a result of actions taken by Martin. Doctors at the Colorado Children’s Hospital classified the injuries sustained as non-accident trauma (NAT), also known as shaken baby syndrome.
As previously reported, Martin and another employee had their employment terminated in March 2022, after misdemeanor charges were filed on March 8 against both former employees. Those charges were later dropped.
Weston County Children’s Center Director Francie Gregory declined to comment on the matter. She told the News Letter Journal that the board had also indicated to her at their meeting on Monday, April 18, that they did not wish to provide a statement or any public comment on the incident or investigation either.
Martin’s age is not listed in the court documents, but they indicate she was born in 1985. She has not yet been bound over to district court, and according to the notice of setting document, a preliminary hearing is set for May 1 with Judge Lynda R. Bush.
Martin has posted bail and was released. The court approved that bond was set at $5,000 cash or surety, according to the order setting bail.
The felony information document notes that aggravated child abuse is a violation of statutes §6-2-503(b)(i)(c) and 6-10-102. If found guilty, Martin faces up to 25 years in prison and maximum of $10,000 in fines can be assessed as well.
