Pre-trial conferences for the four suspects charged in connection with alleged abuse of infants at the First United Methodist Church daycare were continued Wednesday as defense attorneys await evidence from the Commonwealth.
Allison Simpson is charged with 30 counts of criminal child abuse, Nina Morgan is indicted for two counts of the same charge—while former church daycare director Abby Leach and former church pastor Paige Williams are charged with complicity to first-degree child abuse.
Michael Thompson is now representing Morgan and said Wednesday morning that he needs to receive the evidence and have time to look over it. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jerad Smith says evidence is also pending for one of the other suspects and it should be all turned over to the defense attorneys by June 3.
The indictments against Simpson and Morgan allege they placed the victims “in a situation that may cause serious physical injury, causing torture, cruel confinement or cruel punishment.”
Indictments against Rev. Williams and Leach allege they ‘intentionally breached their legal duty to protect’ seven children under the age of 13 months by failing to prevent Simpson from intentionally abusing those children.
All of the alleged incidents happened between December of 2018 and January of last year.