It’s still possible that at least some of the four women indicted in connection with alleged child abuse at the First United Methodist Church daycare could accept a plea deal before the February trial, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Attorneys for former day care director Abby Leach, former pastor Paige Williams and former day care employees Allison Simpson and Nina Morgan told Judge John Atkins Monday morning during a hearing that there had not been any resolution of the cases.
Butler County Commonwealth’s Attorney Blake Chambers is the special prosecutor in the case and says he still intends to speak with those lawyers in the coming weeks and believes at least some could be resolved.
He requested another court date before the February 14 trial date.
Judge Atkins scheduled another hearing for January 27 at 1 p.m. for hearing of any potential motions or acceptance of potential pleas.
Superseding indictments for eight counts each of complicity to criminal child abuse against children under the age 12 were returned in April against Williams and Leach.
The indictments allege they “breached their legal duty to protect the minor children by failing to prevent Simpson and Morgan from intentionally abusing children. In each count, the victim is described as being under the age of 13 months old.
Simpson is indicted on 30 counts of criminal child abuse. All 30 counts are alleged to have happened between December 19 of 2018 and January 18 of 2019. Eleven of the counts are against the same infant and a total of eight children are listed as victims in all of the allegations.
Morgan is indicted for two counts of criminal child abuse.
Abby Leach
Nina Morgan
Paige Williams
Allison Simpson