Oklahoma Daycare Worker Charged After Surveillance Exposes Child Abuse

Police reports indicate that a home daycare worker was caught on surveillance footage allegedly physically abusing two minors. The disturbing video reportedly showed the employee forcing wet wipes into the children's mouths and violently placing one of them onto a changing table.

According to an affidavit obtained by KOCO-TV, Samantha Pearson, 25, reportedly inserted wet wipes into the mouths of the children she was changing, purportedly to silence their crying. This incident took place on June 26 at a private residence operating as a daycare in Moore, Oklahoma, where Pearson was caring for several children.

The District 21 District Attorney's Office, which serves Cleveland, Garland, and McClain counties, announced on Tuesday, August 25, that Pearson has been charged with three counts of child abuse. The probable cause affidavit revealed that investigators reviewed video evidence depicting Pearson's alleged physical mistreatment of the children.

Further details from the affidavit, as reported by KOCO-TV, describe Pearson placing a second wet wipe into one child's mouth while they were attempting to spit out the first. The surveillance footage also captured her 'slamming' one of the two children onto a changing table as the child tried to crawl away. Police added that the video additionally showed Pearson delivering an 'open-hand' slap to the child.

As of August 25, prosecutors confirmed that Pearson is being held on a $300,000 bond. The specific ownership of the home daycare where the alleged abuse occurred was not disclosed by prosecutors. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has confirmed it is investigating the matter and stated that Pearson does not possess a childcare license.

In their official statement regarding the charges, the District 21 District Attorney's Office emphasized: "Charges are based on probable cause that a person has committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law."