A Bend, Oregon, daycare manager is facing 114 charges for allegedly leaving children—ages 6 months to 7 years—home alone to go tanning.
On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted January Irene Livsey (who also goes by January Neatherlin), 31, on 76 counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment and 38 counts of recklessly endangering another person. Livsey is accused of leaving the two to seven kids in her care unattended on multiple occasions while she went to the gym and tanning salon, according to My Central Oregon.
“Nothing is more precious than the safety and security of our children,” Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said, according to The Bulletin. “If the allegations against Ms. Neatherlin are proven in court, I will seek the maximum penalty authorized by law.”
The Oregonian reported that the Little Giggles Daycare manager was arrested on March 15 after police witnessed her leaving her home two hours after parents dropped their children off.
“Detectives contacted January at a local tanning salon and noticed she did not have the children,” a news release detailed.
Bend police Lt. Jason Maniscalco claimed the children were home alone for less than an hour on Wednesday. The children were taken to a local hospital for evaluation as a precautionary measure. He also mentioned that detectives contacted the state Department of Human Services.
Numerous former roommates and parents who utilized Little Giggles Daycare’s services reported other instances of abuse and neglect. State records obtained by KOIN revealed the 31-year-old’s business was investigated twice by child welfare advocates since 2014.
Livsey’s bail was set at $200,000. She remains in the Deschutes County Adult Jail.
[Feature Photo: Deschutes County Adult Jail]
