One of the women found guilty of abusing children while employed at the First United Methodist Church Daycare Center in 2018 and 2019 saw her sentencing delayed Friday, after a jury could not agree to a punishment on the most serious charges.
The six-man, six-woman jury agreed to concurrent one-year sentences on three counts of second-degree criminal abuse, a Class D felony punishable by one to five years in prison for 27-year-old Allison Simpson.
But the jury could not come to an agreement on her punishment for 12 counts of first-degree criminal abuse. Those charges are a Class C felony that carries a 5 to 10-year prison sentence for each. She would also have to serve 85-percent of the sentence for those felonies before parole consideration.
The jury was asked by Judge John Atkins to extend deliberations and return with a unanimous verdict. The jury foreperson said they were deadlocked 11-1.
Simpson’s attorney, Eric Bearden, asked the jury to consider an 8-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Simpson. The jury could not agree on this sentence and left it for the judge to determine. Simpson saw her bond revoked and will return to the Christian County Jail under a $50,000 cash bond until her July 13 sentencing.
Simpson was also found guilty of 12 misdemeanor counts of Third-Degree Criminal Abuse.
During the sentencing phase of the trial Friday afternoon, four parents testified. One said he had a son under the care of the daycare and was a victim of three counts of first-degree criminal abuse.
He was angry when he first saw the video of how his child was treated by Simpson.
click to download audioHe went on to say that Simpson had stolen his trust and peace of mind about entrusting anyone to watch his child in the future, and asked the jury to sentence her to the maximum.
click to download audioAnother parent also testified in the hearing and asked for the maximum sentence, taking offense at what she perceived as Simpson’s apathy to the charges.
click to download audioAnother had a child that was the victim of five first-degree counts and two second-degree counts. She is hoping her child doesn’t suffer from long-term effects of the abuse.
click to download audioA fourth parent was also upset and says she hopes Simpson gets a judgment the courts can’t offer.
click to download audioJames Simpson was the lone witness called to testify on his daughter’s behalf. He said she was a good daughter and would miss her if she served time in jail. Allison Simpson did not take the stand during the sentencing phase. However, during the trial, Simpson testified that she was under stress due to being overworked, which was one of the causes for her to mistreat the children in her care.
