DALEVILLE, Ala. (WDNews) — Two former employees of a Daleville daycare have been sentenced to prison after admitting to abusing children in their care.
Kailey Gilley and Magan Koker, who worked at Happy Hearts Christian Academy Daycare, were each sentenced to five years in prison as part of a 20-year split sentence. After completing their prison terms, both will serve 36 months on probation.
The women are required to serve the full five years and are not eligible for parole or early release. William Filmore imposed the sentences following emotional testimony from parents. The sentencing hearing spanned two days.
One mother told the court she felt overwhelming anger and heartbreak after watching surveillance video that investigators said showed both women striking her child. That child was later found to have bruising and swelling, prompting a hospital visit and a police investigation that led to the arrests.
Testimony revealed that multiple children were mistreated at the facility, with one child suffering repeated abuse. An investigator outlined the scope of the incidents, while parents described ongoing impacts on their children, including night terrors and difficulty adjusting to new childcare settings.
The daycare is no longer operating. Happy Hearts Christian Academy closed following the arrests and public outcry.
