The Associated Press via
NBC News
A Colorado daycare owner convicted of keeping 26 children hiding in the basement of her business two years ago was sentenced to six years in prison after parents said some of the children suffered trauma, including trouble sleeping and anxiety.
A judge sentenced Carla Faith on Thursday after a jury convicted her in August of more than 24 counts of child abuse and other crimes.
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Faith was only licensed to care for up to six children at her private Colorado Springs daycare and could only have two children under the age of 2.
Police went to his Mountain Play Place daycare in November 2019, after receiving reports that there were more children than allowed and found 25 children in the basement, including 12 children under the age of 2, prosecutors said.
Carla Faith was sentenced to six years in prison for keeping 26 children hiding in a basement, even though her license only allowed her to care for six children. El Paso County, Colorado Sheriff's Office.
There were two adult employees supervising them in the basement and one of them, Valerie Fresquez, accepted a plea deal and testified at Faith's trial, local network KRDO-TV reported.
The 26th child who had been in the basement was picked up by a parent while police were at the daycare, authorities said.
Many of
the children had dirty or wet diapers and were sweaty and thirsty,
according to court documents.
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When police arrived, Faith
repeatedly told an officer that there were no children there and that the home had no basement,
but the officer heard children's music and a crying child from the basement, according to the affidavit.
Another officer discovered a false wall and moved it to reveal the basement ladder, according to the affidavit.
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During Faith's sentencing on Thursday, the children's parents and relatives packed the courtroom and told the judge that their children had suffered trauma since they were in daycare, citing sleep problems and anxiety, KOAA-TV reported.
Mother Kim Marshall said her two sons are still receiving counseling.
"We sleep with the lights on in our house," he said.
“My children are anxious.
They fear the world.
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Faith's attorney, Josh Tolini, said she had a hard time saying “no” to parents who wanted to take their children to her daycare and that the situation got out of control.
She made some "incredibly bad decisions on how to do it," Tolini said.
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Faith was convicted of 26 counts of child abuse, attempt to influence a public servant, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.
KRDO-TV reported that the charges against Fresquez will be dropped if he complies with some unspecified steps.
A daycare employee, Christina Swauger, was convicted of the same charges as Faith and is awaiting sentencing.
In addition, an arrest warrant was issued for another former daycare employee who did not appear in court, said Howard Black, a spokesman for the Colorado 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
