Waukesha Day Care Child Abuse; 3 Charged
WAUKESHA, Wis. – Three former day care workers charged in connection to a child abuse investigation are set to go to trial early next year, as one of the defendants rejected a plea deal with prosecutors.
Charges and Defendants
- Kathryn Ascher, 52, and Annemarie Fraker, 27, are both charged with failing to prevent child abuse.
- Heather Miller, 49, is charged with four counts of child abuse and recklessly endangering safety.
The three worked at the now-shuttered Lawrence School.
Rejected Plea Deal
On Monday, Miller’s defense attorney told the court that Miller rejected a plea deal with prosecutors.
“I have received an offer, as of last week,” said Miller’s defense attorney Pablo Galaviz. “Declined that offer, ready to set this case for trial.”
Trial Date
Judge Lloyd Carter set the trial for January 9, as well as for Ascher and Fraker.
Plea Deal Negotiations
“Negotiations are ongoing,” Fraker’s attorney Eric Raskopf said regarding a plea deal with prosecutors. “I’m still in discussions with Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Kristina Gordon and still working towards a resolution.”
“We don’t have an offer, at the moment,” said Ascher’s attorney Peter Wolff.
Other Acts of Evidence
Both Wolff and Raskopf told Judge Carter that if the cases were to go to trial, they would be seeking to sever the cases from Miller. Gordon said they intend to present other acts of evidence in Miller’s case. Carter set a deadline for the state to file its other acts motion next month, with an October hearing on that and the severance motions.
Background of the Case
Police raided the Lawrence School in Sept. 2022, as a part of a child abuse investigation. Prosecutors charged Miller the day after the raid with child abuse.
Records show Waukesha police learned of the possible abuse at The Lawrence School on Aug. 29 when a boy’s mother notified the department of Miller’s conduct, after speaking with another teacher.
In an interview with police, the teacher said the boy has “medical needs that cause some difficulties with feeding,” and Miller allegedly told the boy he was “physically disgusting” and that “how he eats is disgusting.”
On Aug. 17, 2022, the teacher said the boy stood up in his crib. Prosecutors say the teacher witnessed Miller put mattresses in front of the boy’s crib to block it from security cameras, picked up the boy and “slammed him face down into the crib” so hard the boy’s body bounced up and down, and held the boy into the mattress to the point he struggled to breathe.
Prosecutors say witnesses complained to managers about Miller’s actions but did nothing. Ascher and Fraker were charged in January of this year with failing to prevent child abuse. Investigators say one witness even documented what she saw in writing, but Miller continued to work at the daycare.
All three women have pleaded not guilty in their cases.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they involve child abuse, failing to prevent child abuse, and recklessly endangering safety. These issues impact the health, well-being, education, and safety of children, as well as the need for justice and strong institutions to address and prevent such abuses.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio
- Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
The article highlights the need to address child abuse and ensure the safety and well-being of children. These targets specifically address reducing maternal mortality, providing quality early childhood development and education, eliminating violence against women and girls, and ending abuse and violence against children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio
- Indicator 4.2.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age who are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
- Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation
The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but they can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators provide measurable data on maternal mortality, developmental outcomes for children, violence against women and girls, and human trafficking.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio | Indicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education | Indicator 4.2.1: Proportion of children under 5 years of age who are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation |
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Source: fox6now.com
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