Four women facing child abuse related charges that occurred at the First United Methodist Church daycare will be tried together, according to Christian County Circuit Court Judge John Atkins.
The former pastor of the church, Paige Williams along with her attorney William Deatherage and special prosecutor Blake Chambers appeared virtually for a motion hearing Friday morning.
Williams and daycare director Abby Leach are each charged with eight counts of first-degree complicity of criminal abuse of a child under 12. The indictment alleges the two women “breached their legal duty to protect eight minors less than 13-months old from a situation that might cause serious physical injury, torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment at the hands of Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan”.
After Judge Atkins said he was going to grant the prosecutors motion to join the indictments and the defendants to be tried in a single proceeding in February, Deatherage expressed concerns the counts of abuse that Simpson faces would be prejudicial to his client.
Chambers explained Simpson is facing 30 counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12-years old of eight children while Williams and Leach are facing eight counts of complicity.
Judge Atkins said he was going to stand by his decision to try all four defendants together.
Deatherage also filed a motion to prevent any participation in the trial by parents who want to invoke Marsey’s law.
Judge Atkins said he would not allow the parents to participate in the trial.
Deatherage also requested any medical records of the children who may have suffered any injuries from the alleged abuse with Chambers explaining the case is more about the alleged cruel confinement and punishment than injuries.
The four women are scheduled to go to trial on February 14.
Morgan is facing two counts of criminal abuse of a child under 12 years. Investigators reported the alleged child abuse of the children occurred at the church’s daycare between December 2018 and January 2019.