State investigating day care center; lawsuit claims day care worker abused 4-year-old

A day care worker is accused of grabbing a 4-year-old boy’s arm, twisting it and shaking him as a means of corporal punishment.

The worker, 30-year-old Karina Bonner, was arrested Monday, the same day the boy’s mother filed a lawsuit against Bonner and her employer, Coliseum Child’s Play Inc.

Bibb County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Randy Gonzalez said Bonner is charged with eight counts of cruelty to children stemming from incidents involving six children.

An arrest warrant alleges Bonner grabbed the 4-year-old boy on June 29 and “yanked and shoved him towards his seat.” The boy’s arm had a large bruise and scratches.

A second warrant also alleges she slapped a child and pulled on children’s ears.

All the children were under age 6, according to the warrant.

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning confirmed Tuesday that the agency has opened an investigation into a complaint about discipline at the center, located adjacent to Coliseum Medical Centers at 324 Coliseum Drive. A Coliseum spokeswoman said the day care is not affiliated with the hospital.

A woman who answered the phone at the day care center declined to comment Tuesday.

Reg Griffin, spokesman for Bright from the Start, said a complaint was filed July 1, but he would not confirm that it was filed by the 4-year-old’s mother, Nancy Haney, who also filed a lawsuit in Bibb County State Court on Monday.

It’s unclear how long it may take to complete the state investigation, Griffin said.

“Our job is basically to substantiate or unsubstantiate the specific complaints made concerning discipline at the center,” he said. “We are doing extensive interviews with teachers, parents, and even children to gather the facts. We will also work with local law enforcement.”

A complete inspection of the center also will be conducted, Griffin said.

If the complaint is substantiated, the center could face a fine or a license revocation.

In the lawsuit filed Monday, Nancy Haney alleges her son, identified in the suit as J.M., was “abused and injured.”

Ronald Daniels, one of two lawyers representing Haney, declined to comment further about the boy’s injuries, but said he received treatment and still is recovering from “issues relating to that incident.”

“Anytime you have allegations of things like this going on it’s bothersome because children can’t protect themselves,” Daniels said. “They’re going to day cares and facilities like this because they need somewhere to be where they’ll be safe.”

Haney contends the day care center was negligent in a number of ways, including the hiring and training of employees, according to the suit.

She alleges Bonner had a history of mistreating other children and the day care center was aware that she was unfit to supervise children and of her tendency to inflict corporal punishment.

Haney is seeking punitive and compensatory damages along with attorney’s fees.

“We’re trying to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” Daniels said.

Bonner is being held at the Bibb County jail on a $22,200 bond, according to jail records.

This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 5:43 PM with the headline "State investigating day care center; lawsuit claims day care worker abused 4-year-old."