New Attorney Appointed For Former Hopkinsville Daycare Worker

One of the four women facing alleged child abuse charges that occurred at a daycare at First United Methodist Church in Hopkinsville appeared in Christian Circuit Court Wednesday morning and was appointed a public defender.

Allison Simpson is facing 30 counts of first-degree criminal abuse – child under 12 years. Simpson is accused of placing children in the daycare, according to police “in a situation that may cause serious physical injury, causing torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment”. Police said the incidents occurred between December 2018 and January 2019.

Simpson appeared before Judge John Atkins for a motion filed by Matt Schalk to withdraw as her attorney. Judge Atkins granted the motion and assigned Simpson’s case to the Public Advocacy Office.

There are also three co-defendants charged in connection to the case. Former church pastor Paige Williams, and former daycare worker and Abby Leach are charged with one count each of first-degree complicity criminal abuse – child under 12 years, and Nina Morgan is charged with two counts of first-degree criminal abuse – child under 12 years.

All four are scheduled to appear for a pretrial conference on Wednesday morning, August 12 at 8:30.