Child abuse charges filed against Wichita daycare provider who had license suspended
A Wichita daycare provider whose license was suspended earlier this month after she allegedly forced one of her foster children to sit in a hot bath has been formally charged with two counts of child abuse.
Ija M. Hall, 29, operator of His Loving Hands Home Childcare at 357 N. Erie, made her first appearance in Sedgwick County District Court on Tuesday morning. She is free on a $25,000 bond and “is not to have contact with the victim in the case or any child under the age of 12,” Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Dan Dillon said by email.
A lawyer listed for Hall in court records did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The criminal complaint filed in the case accuses Hall in one count of “unlawfully and knowingly” causing “great bodily harm, abusive head trauma, permanent disability or disfigurement to a child.”
In the other child abuse count, Hall is accused of torturing or cruelly beating, striking or kicking the same child. The child is younger than 6, the complaint indicates.
A Sept. 12 emergency suspension order issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment says Hall admitted to smacking the foster child on the back, causing bruising, and “making (the child) sit in a hot bath,” resulting in second-degree burns on their buttocks, thighs, genitalia, feet and legs. Some of the child’s injuries were described as “deep second-degree burns.”
Authorities first questioned Hall after the foster child was hospitalized on Sept. 5. Other children in Hall’s care also had scratches, red marks, abrasions and bruises, the emergency suspension order says. One was missing teeth.
Hall initially gave differing statements to medical personnel and law enforcement about how the children were hurt. Wichita police arrested her on Sept. 9.
The children were taken into police protective custody.
Hall’s next court date is Oct. 7.
This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 2:21 PM.
