Civil complaint filed against staff at former Marina daycare after child abuse conviction, court documents show
MARINA, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The mother of a child found to have been abused at a former Marina daycare has filed a civil complaint against Miss Barbara's Child Development Center staff for negligence and is seeking a damage claim of more than $35,000.
The document references a child abuse case involving Christine Aiello. Aiello plead no contest on the child abuse charge after the D.A. found Aiello threw a child repeatedly onto a sleeping mat and was also seen attempting to hold down a child on the mat using a chair.
New developments from the complaint indicate Aiello was witnessed by the child physically striking another student and dragging another student by the arm.
The document also claims Aiello "physically and emotionally abuse[d], intimidate, maltreat and humiliate other students who attended MBCDC (Miss Barbara's Child Development Center)."
The facility has been closed since the allegations surfaced against Aiello back in May 2023.
You can read the full document provided below (The name of the juvenile defendant is redacted from the original document):
Aiello isn't the only defendant named in the court document.
The civil suit also names Mims Enterprises, Inc. and John Mims, along with Barbara Moore.
Moore and Mims are accused of breaching "their duties of care to the minor plaintiff by failing to adequately monitor and supervise Aiello."
It also claims the inaction of all defendants resulted in the victim suffering emotional distress.
KION is attempting to reach out to the attorneys representing the defendants in this case, however an attorney hasn't been assigned at this time.
This is a developing story
Marina daycare employee sentenced to 180 days in county jail, given four years of felony probation in child abuse case
A 61-year-old daycare employee has been sentenced to 180 days in county jail on a child abuse charge
Berkley Brannon of The Monterey County District Attorney's Office confirmed to KION that Christine Aiello has been sentenced to six months in jail for a felony child abuse charge on Wednesday afternoon.
Brannon said that Aiello was given four years of felony probation and will have to undergo therapy for at least a year. She was initially out of jail custody but has since been transported to the Monterey County Jail to begin her sentence.
On Sept. 22, 2023, Aiello plead no contest for a felony child abuse charge.
According to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, Aiello was an employee at Miss Barbara's Child Development Center on May 25, 2023 when she inflicted injury upon a 2-year-old boy under her care.
The District Attorney's Office said Aiello threw the child repeatedly on a sleeping mat. The DA's office added that Aiello was also seen attempting to hold down the child onto the mat using a chair.
According to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office, The boy was not taken to a local hospital but the boy's injuries were noticeable and the parents immediately reported the incident to Marina Police
Since then, Miss Barbara's Child Development Center closed their doors back in July after being in operation for 55 years.
Marina daycare employee takes plea deal in child abuse case, sentencing scheduled for October
Update September 22, 2023: A 61-year-old employee at a Marina daycare pled no contest to a felony child abuse charge.
The Monterey County District Attorney said Christine Aiello was an employee of Miss Barbara's Child Development Center in Marina at the time she inflicted injury upon a 2-year-old boy under her care. She's expected to be sentenced to three years of felony probation and up to a year in jail in connection to a child abuse case stemming from an incident on May 25, 2023.
According to the D.A.'s report, her arrest came after a child under her care told his parents that Aiello hurt him and had noticeable scratches and scrapes.
The D.A. said surveillance video showed Aiello dragging the two-year-old into a classroom and repeatedly throwing him down onto a sleeping mat. They add that Aiello was also seen attempting to hold down the child onto the mat using a chair.
Aiello initially entered a not-guilty plea but later pled no contest.
Her sentencing is scheduled for October 25, 2023.
Child development center in Marina to close permanently month after employee child abuse case
Update July 19, 2023, at 5:04 p.m.- A child development center in Marina will close its doors permanently after 55 years of service.
A notice posted and signed by John Mims, the administrator of Miss Barbara’s, read in part:
"It is with great sadness to write that we have made the very difficult decision to close Miss Barbara's Child Development Center permanently. While the recent event in May was isolated to one individual who I immediately removed, it gave me tremendous pause and naturally the need to reevaluate."
Christine Marie Aiello of Marina, an employee at Miss Barbara's Child Development Center, was charged with a felony count for corporal injury to a child and a misdemeanor for child endangerment. This incident allegedly occurred on May 25, 2023.
Allegedly threw the child "repeatedly on a mattress," said the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. While the victim was not taken to the hospital, injuries were noticeable and the child's parents reported to police on the day the incident occurred.
While this case was not stated as the sole reason for the daycare closing, it is noteworthy due to the close proximity to Aiello's case.
Child development center employee in Marina pleads not guilty to child abuse charges
Update June 29, 2023, at 2:13 p.m.- An employee of Miss Barbara's Child Development Center in Marina pleaded not guilty to a felony and misdemeanor charge in a Salinas courtroom Thursday.
Christine Marie Aiello was notably sobbing when she made her court appearance after being arrested on June 12. Marina Police said she allegedly abused a 2-year-old boy under her care.
Aiello allegedly threw the child "repeatedly on a mattress," said the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. While the victim was not taken to the hospital, injuries were noticeable and the child's parents reported to police on the day the incident occurred.
Aiello was appointed a public defender and remains out on bond. Under the conditions, she has no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 10, stays 100 yards away from the victim, has no direct or indirect contact with the victim and is prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition.
She faces a felony count for corporal injury to a child and a misdemeanor for child endangerment, per the Monterey County District Attorney's Office.
She will next be in court on July 26.
Aiello is still listed as the director and pre-kindergarten teacher for Miss Barbara's Child Development Center. When we called to ask the center if Aiello was still employed they did not answer the phone.
DA: Child development center employee in Marina threw child repeatedly on mattress
Update June 22, 2023, at 5:49 p.m.- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office has charged a Marina child development center employee with one felony charge for allegedly abusing a 2-year-old boy under her care.
Christine Marie Aiello of Marina, an employee at Miss Barbara's Child Development Center, was charged with a felony count for corporal injury to a child and a misdemeanor for child endangerment. This incident allegedly occurred on May 25, 2023.
Aiello allegedly threw the child "repeatedly on a mattress," said the Monterey County District Attorney's Office. Aiello will be arraigned in criminal court on June 29.
Aiello remains out of jail on bond.
While the injuries didn't require the child to go to the hospital, they were noticeable, said Marina Police. They were notified the day the alleged incident occurred by the child's parents.
Update June 14, 2023, at 5:14 p.m.- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said a woman accused of 10 counts of child abuse is scheduled for arraignment later in June.
Christine Marie Aiello of Marina, an employee at Miss Barbara's Child Development Center, was arrested Monday after allegedly abusing a 2-year-old child under her care, per Marina Police.
The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said Aiello will be arraigned in criminal court on June 29. They have yet to file the exact charges against her.
ORIGINAL STORY
Marina Police confirmed with KION that an employee at a child development center in Marina was charged with 10 counts of child abuse and 10 counts of child endangerment on Monday.
Marina Police Sgt. Andy Rosas said at 11:39 a.m., 60-year-old Christine Marie Aiello of Marina was arrested and then booked into Monterey County Jail. She faces 10 counts of child abuse resulting in injury and 10 counts of child endangerment, per police.
Police confirmed to KION that the child who was allegedly physically abused was a two-year-old.
They add that the incident happened on Memorial Day weekend and police say the multiple charges are for that specific incident.
Police say Aiello is an employee at Miss Barbara's Child Development Center located at 226 Beach Drive. Miss Barbara's Child Development Center said they are unable to comment at this time.
Police are also telling KION that Aiello has been placed on administrative leave.
"Officers were made aware of allegations of physical abuse against a child that was under her care. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Beach Road and the child sustained non-life-threatening injuries as a result of the incident," said Marina Police.
Police say this investigation is ongoing and they are unsure if there are additional victims. Her bail was set at $50,000 and she is currently out on bail, per the Monterey County Jail.
"What I can say is it's very important for the public to know that this incident was investigating a single individual at this daycare facility. There is no investigation into the daycare facility itself," said Rosas.
Currently, police are looking at this one incident and have no indications of more child abuse. The state licensing board is aware of the investigation and any plans to shut down the center will be determined by them.
I'm not going to enroll my kids in this one, I don't. I don't care if it's true or not, this soon as I know that," said Norma Fredd, a Marina parent who considered enrolling her three-year-old son into the development center. "So I don't want to enroll my child, you know? I'm a mom too, for two kids and, um definitely, you know the burns they already have the kids who get abused, so it's too hard."
