Westfield daycare worker abused 3yearold, police say
Nov 20, 2024
WESTFIELD, Ind. — A daycare worker has been charged with multiple felonies after a video was shared with police officers that reportedly showed the worker abusing a young child.
Teisha L. Graham, 28, is charged with battery of a person under the age of 14, a Level 6 felony, and neglect of a dependent, a Level 6 felony. She is also charged with a misdemeanor count of reckless supervision.
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According to court documents, a Westfield police officer was shown a video that captured the abuse in early October. The video was from Dec. 22, 2023, and allegedly depicted Graham abusing a 3-year-old child at a Kindercare on Gunther Blvd.
Police said Graham can be seen pushing the child over as the child stands in a crib. Graham also can be seen lifting the child up by the arm and holding the child above her head for 20 seconds before then dropping the child back in the crib.
Another employee told officers that Graham sometimes got verbal with children in the past but claimed they had never seen Graham do anything physical to a child until that day.
When police spoke to Graham on Oct. 7, the former daycare worker said the 3-year-old had been throwing things and hitting and kicking Graham. She said she lifted the child into the air because it was the only way to calm the child down, due to their fear of heights.
Charges were officially filed against Graham on Monday. She was arrested the next day on a warrant.
In Indiana, a Level 6 felony conviction can come with a prison sentence between six months and two and a half years.