Minister, former day care director booked for complicity to abuse indictments

First United Methodist Church Senior Minister Paige Williams turned herself in at the Christian County Jail Monday morning and was served with a Christian County Grand Jury indictment warrant for complicity to child abuse.

As previously reported, the grand jury returned the indictments Friday against the 61-year old Williams and 32-year old Abby Leach of Hopkinsville, who was the former day care director at the church.

The indictments allege they ‘intentionally breached their legal duty to protect’ seven children under the age of 13 months by failing to prevent former day care employee Allison Simpson from intentionally abusing those children.

The alleged incidents happened between December 1, 2018 and January 28, 2019, according to the court documents.

Simpson was arrested in January and charged with second degree criminal child abuse and two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment. A warrant alleged she, “subjected a 10 month old baby in her care to cruel confinement and punishment and wantonly engaged in conduct toward another baby, 8 months old, which created a substantial danger of serious physical injury to both babies.”

Leach turned herself in at the jail Friday and was served with the indictment warrant.

All three suspects are out on bond.