Owner of day care could face additional charges
RUSSELLVILLE — The owner of Tiny Tigers Day Care in Red Bay could face more charges, and possibly more serious charges, related to the 2022 death of a 4-month-old girl at the day care.
Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Joseph R. Rushing filed a motion last week not to prosecute Angelene Chamblee so the case could be presented to a future grand jury.
In preparations for this week’s scheduled trial against one of the day care’s workers, Payton Nicole Gann, the district attorney’s office uncovered more evidence that may result in “additional and/or more serious charges” against Chamblee, according to Rushing’s motion.
Chamblee was initially charged with two counts of second-degree forgery related to falsified employee records; and six counts of violating the Child Care Act pertaining to failing to keep records and make reports, failing to keep required health and safety training records for employees and verification of education records, allowing a 17-year-old aide to be improperly counted as a staff member, failing to require the day care to operate with the required child-tostaff ratio at all times in the 7 days to 24 month old classroom, and allowing the day care’s 7 days to 24 month old classroom to operate not fully staffed as required by law, according to the indictment.
Gann, 26, was scheduled to appear for jury selection on Monday leading up to her trial regarding the death of Autumn Wells.
The Golden, Mississippi, resident was charged with one count of reckless manslaughter and false reporting to law enforcement. She is accused of putting the 4-month-old on her stomach to sleep, which is considered a violation of safety standards, at the day care.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources reportedly found safety violations at the day care, including improper sleeping practices for children and staffing issues.
The department also discovered the 4-monthold was covered by a blanket when she was put to sleep on her stomach, which violated a state standard and likely made it harder to see the baby having breathing problems.
The department indicated that day care employees initially lied to Red Bay Police about how the baby was put to sleep, according to court records.
A plea offer was extended to Gann, but she refused it by the noon deadline on Friday.
District Attorney Jeffrey Barksdale filed a request for a protective order Friday morning prior to Gann’s trial pertaining to the disclosure of any non-public record plea agreements of cooperating witnesses and/or co-defendants, according to court records.
One former employee has already pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of tampering with a witness.
She was initially sentenced to six months in the Franklin County Jail, but her sentence was suspended for two years on the conditions “of good behavior, no new arrest, provide truthful testimony at trial of any codefendants” and to pay a $200 fine plus court costs, according to court records.
Another former employee entered into a plea agreement on Thursday. She pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of tampering with physical evidence.
She was initially sentenced to six months in the Franklin County Jail, but her sentence was suspended for two years on the conditions “of good behavior, no new arrest, provide truthful testimony in trial of State v. Peyton Gann” and to pay a $200 fine plus court costs, according to court documents.
Another employee, Madison Jade McCalpin, was originally charged by a grand jury with one count each of reckless manslaughter, and false reporting to law enforcement.
She reportedly was granted youthful offender status, so her case now is no longer public record.
