Published: October 15, 2008 09:27 am      

Daycare worker arrested

Woman accused of biting 17-month-old as form of discipline

A 54-year-old Athens day care worker was arrested Monday after she allegedly bit a 17-month-old boy as a form of discipline, according to an Athens Police Department report.

Bonita Stout was booked into the Henderson County Jail, where she stayed overnight. She was arraigned Tuesday afternoon on a third-degree felony charge of injury to a child.

At about 5:20 p.m. Monday, APD was notified of the offense at the Appletree Academy at 226 South Prairieville Street. Officer Ron McCurry spoke with the child’s mother, who said there was a spot on her son’s arm that appeared to be a human bitemark.

Lt. Bill Gurley said the officer found probable cause to believe that Stout had bitten the boy. She was arrested at the scene and transported to the Henderson County Justice Center.

Appletree owner Misty Ewald said Stout’s employment was terminated as soon as she learned of the bite.

“I came down there immediately. We hate that it happened, but we did what we could do and reported her to Child Protective Services,” said Ewald, who has owned the center since 2006.

Stout had been employed there for about a year and had been a good employee prior to the incident, Ewald said. She was well liked by the children at the center, she added.

“They all worshiped her, and the staff liked her as well,” Ewald said. “Everyone was attached to her. This is very disappointing.”