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Day Care Owner Carla Faith Faces Judge In Child Abuse Case

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) -- A woman accused of hiding children enrolled in her daycare in Colorado Springs appeared in court Thursday morning.
Carla Faith, 58, is charged with misdemeanor child abuse and attempting to influence a public servant. Parents have also filed a civil lawsuit.

Colo Sprgs Daycare 2 (Carla Faith, from CSPD tweet)
Carla Faith (credit: Colorado Springs Police)

Back in November, police got complaints about a child care facility called Play Mountain Place.

Play Mountain Place DAYCARE INVESTIGATION TEACHERS 10VO_frame_288
Play Mountain Place (credit: CBS)

Officers got a warrant, and checked out the home. At first, they did not find anyone inside, but later found a false wall that led to a finished basement inside there were two adults and 26 kids, all under the age of three.

RELATED: Parent Feels 'Completely Betrayed' After Learning Day Care Operator Hid Children Behind Wall

After an approximately six week investigation, four people were arrested:

• Christina Swauger, 35, was charged with attempt to influence a public servant, a felony, and misdemeanor child abuse.

Colo Sprgs Daycare 4 (Christina Swauger, from CSPD tweet)
Christina Swauger (credit: Colorado Springs Police)

• Katelynne Nelson, 31, was charged with unlawful possession of a schedule II controlled substance, a felony, and misdemeanor child abuse.

Colo Sprgs Daycare 6 (Katelynn Nelson, from CSPD tweet)
Katelynne Nelson (credit: Colorado Springs Police)

• Valerie Fresquez, 24 years of age, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse.

Authorities have shut down a total of four facilities operated by Faith in Colorado Springs so far.

Counterpoint Preschool  DAYCARE INVESTIGATION TEACHERS 10VO_frame_258
(credit: CBS)

A lawsuit filed by parents claims breach of their duty of care to the children including, but is not limited to:

  • Placement of children in the basement crawlspace;
  • Failure to provide care for the children in a safe and appropriate location;
  • Failure to perform background checks on staff and negligent hiring of staff;
  • Failure to provide appropriate training for staff;
  • Failure to provide appropriate supervision for staff;
  • Failure to exercise reasonable care and reasonable supervision for the children; and
  • Failure to comply with Colorado's Child Licensing Care Act and the rules of the Department.
  • The children were too young to effectively communicate to the parents regarding the negligent care being provided by the defendants.
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