Florida preschool teacher caught repeatedly punching 4-calendar year-outdated charged with felony abuse, police say

A former preschool trainer in Florida was charged with felony kid abuse after deputies reported she was viewed regularly punching a 4-yr-outdated kid in the head earlier this 7 days.

Ashley Richards, 32, was arrested Wednesday at the Kindercare Discovering Heart in Dunedin, Florida just after she was allegedly caught punching the youngster in the head additional than when, authorities said.

A witness informed the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office that she read screams coming from the playground when she appeared in excess of and noticed Richards punching with "the two an open up hand and a closed fist in the again of the head and aspect of the head," an arrest affidavit mentioned.

Ashley Richards, 32, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on Aug. 10, 2022.  (Pinellas County Sheriff's Business)

The unknown witness also informed deputies that she noticed Richards force the kid to the floor, prompting the witness to pull out her cell cellular phone and start out filming the remainder of the conversation, authorities claimed.

OKLAHOMA Person ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS 3 Young ones IN MURDER-SUICIDE Concerned IN ONGOING DOMESTIC DISPUTE, Police SAY

"Do you want me to strike you?" Richards can be heard asking the 4-calendar year-previous in the recording, the affidavit claimed.

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived at the scene and questioned each Richards as well as the 4-12 months-previous.

Richards denied ever hitting or striking the little one, however she did acknowledge to placing her hand over his mouth to stop him from laughing, the sheriff’s business reported.

FLORIDA STEPFATHER Located Guilty Right after WAITRESS Takes advantage of Top secret Take note TO Preserve Boy or girl ABUSE Victim

The 4-yr-aged made available a different description of functions.

The youngster informed deputies that Richards struck him "as a variety of punishment," hitting his head and eye immediately after he was preventing with his brother, in accordance to the arrest affidavit.

Kindercare Learning Heart told WFTS the teacher was placed on administrative go away "till further more notice" in advance of saying the teacher had been fired amid an ongoing investigation.

"Nothing is extra significant to us than the basic safety of the small children in our care," Kindercare Finding out Organizations said in the assertion. "The teacher’s alleged actions do not mirror who we are or the teaching we provide our lecturers. We are performing with the police to determine what may or may well not have took place."

A Google Maps image of Kindercare Finding out Heart in Dunedin, Florida. (Google Maps)

Richards was at first booked into the Pinellas County Jail before she was unveiled on a $5,000 bond, jail data suggest.

Simply click Below TO GET THE G3 Box News App

She was very first hired as a preschool instructor at Kindercare Discovering Centre in March 2021.