The Commonwealth rested its case Tuesday in the Christian County Circuit Court trial involving two former church daycare employees charged in connection to the alleged abuse of several children at First United Methodist Church.
Allison Simpson is facing thirty counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 and Nina Morgan is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12. The alleged abuse involves at least eight children under their care at the church daycare in early 2019.
Tuesday afternoon, special prosecutor Blake Chambers called two women to testify who were employed at the daycare when the alleged acts occurred. Both said they observed what they called actions that could be considered abuse with the smaller children.
Courtney McCombs is one of the former employees and told the court what she observed.
click to download audioMcCombs described what she saw as ‘hard to watch.’
click to download audioBoth former employees said they reported what they saw to daycare director Abby Leach and both felt like nothing was done.
Leach and former pastor Paige Williams are each charged with eight counts of first-degree complicity of criminal abuse of a child under 12. Their jury trial is scheduled to begin on August 1st.
Earlier in the day, a parent testified to what she observed in the church surveillance video which equated to her small child being shaken. Her testimony brought an instruction from Judge John Atkins to the jury.
click to download audioThe Commonwealth rested its case before lunch Tuesday. Judge Atkins dismissed the jury Tuesday afternoon around 2:15 with the defense to present its case starting Wednesday morning.
