LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A Lancaster County teacher was charged Wednesday after being accused of injuring a girl’s leg.
The girl was allegedly injured when Shining Stars Childcare teacher Kathryn Taska, 27, of New Providence, put them in a child safety chair on Nov. 3, according to the charges filed by Quarryville Borough Police.
Police said when the girl was picked up by their mother, she was reportedly “inconsolable” and not acting normally. Believing that the girl was suffering from a fever, the mother took her to Penn State Hershey.
Although it was discovered that the girl had a “non-displaced fracture” on her left leg and that she could not have been accidentally hurt, court documents show.
Taska allegedly changed her story multiple times when questioned, police said. Before she was even asked, Taska brought up the girl’s injuries, saying, “I know I was on break; she was napping when I was on break, after nap she seemed fine but just a little fussy,” charging documents show.
Taska claimed she notified the mother and the Shining Stars Childcare assistant director; however, police said she never spoke to them about the injury.
Police said a staff member said about how the girl was crying constantly and distraught after Taska tried putting her in a child safety seat.
“During the course of the investigation, it became clear that the injury had occurred at the childcare center,” the charging officer said in the criminal complaint. “All the staff, as well as the parents, stated that when the victim was dropped off at daycare, she appeared fine. It was at some point during her interaction with Ms. Taska that the injury occurred.”
Taska faces felony charges of endangering the welfare of children and aggravated assault – victim less than 6 and defendant older than 18.
She was placed on unsecured bail set at $25,000 after being arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge William Mankin II. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 19.
A request for comment was left with Shining Stars Childcare, but abc27 News has yet to hear back.