Milpitas Daycare Closed Over Alleged Abuse Of Infant Boy
MILPITAS (CBS SF) -- A longtime Milpitas childcare facility has shut down and the owner's childcare license suspended due to alleged mistreatment of a boy there, according to the California Department of Social Services.
Stephanie's Day Care is a family childcare home located at 2216 Stratford Drive and has been operated by Stephanie Newbrough since 1995, according to a complaint filed against her.
The suspension came on April 30, after state social services department investigated allegations that on multiple occasions, Newbrough kept a child "restrained in a car seat inside a dark closet in an off-limits area of the facility," according to the complaint investigation report.
In doing so, she allegedly violated state health and safety codes protecting children's personal rights, said Michael Weston, a spokesman for the state social services department.
Weston said department Program Analyst Carla Baldwin confirmed the allegations during an unannounced visit to the Milpitas childcare center late last month.
During that visit, Baldwin reported finding an infant boy alone, strapped into a car seat facing a closet wall in an upstairs area of the home, according to the complaint investigation report.
A dozen other children were also present at the home at the time of the visit.
Following that visit, Newbrough's childcare license was suspended in order to "protect children in care at the facility from substantial threat to their health and safety," according to the report.
Newbrough could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.
The veteran childcare worker has the option to appeal the suspension order.
If Newbrough chooses to appeal, the order will remain in effect until the department issues a final decision on the allegations against her or 30 days after the department receives a proposed decision, Weston said.
If she chooses not to appeal, the department will permanently revoke her childcare license, he said.
Weston said the social services department is also working with Milpitas police to investigate the allegations.
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