Ex-child care owner sentenced to 2 years BROWNSBURG, Ind. (WISH) — A former child care owner on Thursday was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent, a low-level felony, and failure to report, a misdemeanor. Nancy Minton owned Main Street University 4 Kidz from 2 011 until the facility closed in May 2025 amid a child abuse investigation in which Brownsburg police identified eight victims. Hendricks County Judge Mark Smith sentenced Minton to two years in a state prison. After a year, she can apply for home detention, followed by a year of probation. She can’t operate a child care or apply for a child care license. “I take full responsibility for my actions and make no excuses,” Minton said at the sentencing hearing. Hendricks County Judge Mark Smith said Minton had the training to report allegations of child abuse and neglect. “You should have known better. Because you did what you did, more children were victimized.” She was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody. As a result of the plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges. Multiple parents testified that they trusted Minton and she failed to protect their children. The judge did not allow News 8 to record the faces of the parents in the courtroom. One parent told Minton during the sentencing hearing, “What you did was not a mistake, it was a choice.” The parents said Minton should no longer be allowed to profit from a child care, and they asked for the maximum prison sentence of three years. “I think the most important thing is that these families are given not only closure, but it’s sort of a vindication of because this happened, things are going to change,” said Catherine Michael, attorney for the families.  We’re going to see changes. We’re going to see a change with day care. We’re going to see people held accountable, and I think that’s really important, both with these plea agreements and what happens with that property.” As I-Team 8 previously reported, property records show Nancy Minton, through an LLC, owns the building at 325 E. Main St. Graceland Kids Center is expected to open in the coming weeks at that same location. Michael told I-Team 8 it’s concerning Minton owns the building through an LLC. “I think what’s really shocking is that they’re trying to open this up as a new day care facility after the injuries and the permanent damages done to so many children to have to drive past this as a new day care is devastating to parents, and I think that’s the question they have. Our children were injured. Are other children going to go there and be injured as well?” I-Team 8 also contacted Graceland Kids Center. Program Director Mary Gideon released a statement to I-Team 8. “We are currently preparing for the opening of our new childcare center in Brownsburg and are targeting an opening in the coming weeks, pending final preparations. “We understand the concerns surrounding the history of the building. We want to be clear that our organization is entirely independent and has no affiliation with the previous childcare operation or the individuals involved. “Graceland Kids Center has been in operation for the past few years and has consistently remained in full compliance with all state laws and childcare regulations. Our experience operating licensed programs reflects our commitment to maintaining high standards of care, safety, and accountability. “Our focus is on establishing a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for children and families in the community. We are committed to full compliance with all state licensing requirements, safety standards, and best practices in early childhood care. “We are not connected in any way to Main Street University 4 Kids.” Gabriel Garner, a former employee at Main Street University 4 Kidz, is facing 48 counts of child molestation, child exploitation, vicarious sexual gratification, and possession of child pornography. He’s due in court on May 4. His charges stem from an investigation that began in April 2025 when police found over 130 photos of sexually explicit images of children, from age 3 to 5, at the day care, and approximately 125,000 images of child pornography on Garner’s phone. Jennyfer Lingbeck, former director at Main Street University 4 Kidz, is due in court on June 1 to face four low-level felonies: three counts of obstruction of justice and a count of neglect of a dependent. She also faces three misdemeanor counts of failure to report. ...read more read less