Videotapes of alleged child abuse played for Prattville jury

PRATTVILLE — Prosecutors on Tuesday afternoon played 18 videos, some lasting a few seconds and others lasting more than a minute, for an Autauga County jury in a high-profile Prattville child abuse case.

The footage, the prosecutors contend, proves that child abuse occurred in the toddler room at Journey Church’s daycare center. Defense attorneys contended that the physical contact shown in the videos did not meet the state law requirements to prove child abuse.

The abuse allegedly occurred over a period of time at the daycare. The investigation began in March and the arrests came in May. The co-defendants face a total of 44 charges, according to District Attorney C.J. Robinson and court records. The non-denominational church is located along the 400 block of Sheila Boulevard.

Charged are:

• Susan Baker of Prattville, faces 13 counts of child abuse and six counts of failure to report child abuse.

• Leah Livingston of Deatsville, is charged with eight counts of child abuse and five counts of failure to report child abuse.

• Alice Sorrells of Deatsville, is charged with seven counts of child abuse and five counts of failure to report child abuse.

Under Alabama law, daycare workers are among those considered “mandatory reporters,” meaning they must report evidence or suspicion of child abuse to law enforcement.

Livingston and Sorrells are being tried now. Baker requested a bench trial, where the judge will render a verdict. Baker’s trial date has not been set.

The footage from the classroom security camera showed Livingston and Baker together in some clips, while others showed either Livingston and Sorrells separately in the clips with Baker.

Leeann Amason, director of the daycare, was on the stand while the footage played, identifying who the teachers and children were in the clips.

The alleged victims are seven children who were between the ages of 10 and 15 months at the time.

The footage showed the women striking the children and skin-to-skin contact can be heard in some clips. In other clips dull thuds can be heard. The children are heard crying loudly and sometimes screaming.

“I want it to sting,” Livingston said in one clip.

In another Sorrells said, “That’ll get their attention.”

The alleged abuse occurred during the two-hour naptime when the children were placed in their cribs. The footage covered a 30-day period. Sometimes there were seven children in the room and sometimes there were eight. Prosecutors told the jury the women used the physical strikes as a way to calm the children or force them to settle down for their naps.

During the cross-examination of Amason, Richard Lively, who represents Livingston, asked if any parents ever made a complaint to the daycare center about treatment of their children. Amason said no.

The three women were hired by Journey Church after another daycare center in Prattville closed. The co-defendants all worked at the closed daycare center.

“The former director of the daycare center that closed gave a glowing recommendation for Mrs. Livingston?” Lively asked.

“Yes,” Amason said.

“And Mrs. Sorrells?” Lively continued.

“Yes,” Amason said.

The prosecutors rested their case on Tuesday afternoon. The trials will resume Thursday morning. The defense is not expected to call any witnesses during their portion of the trials. It appears that attorneys will give their closing statements to the jury Thursday morning and the jury will begin deliberations after Circuit Judge Ben Fuller informs them how the law applies in the cases.

The alleged abuse came to light in March when a newly hired teacher was assigned to the toddler room. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Speaks said in her opening statement to the jury that the new teacher saw “disturbing behavior,” at naptime relating to how the children were treated and “immediately,” went to the daycare’s director to report her concerns.

That’s how the investigations began.

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Prattville jury views video of alleged child abuse at Journey Church