A plea hearing is set for three former employees of Appletree Learning Center and Academy in Stone Mountain, accused of child abuse incidences that allegedly took place at the daycare facility. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, the hearing for Alexis Renee Swain, Cori Chambers, and Cassandra Artis Chambers is scheduled for Wednesday morning in front of DeKalb County Superior Court Chief Judge LaTisha Dear Jackson.
The charges brought forth involve incidents where children, ranging from six months to nearly three years old, were reportedly subject to cruelty. Alexis Renee Swain, 28, faces 29 counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. Cori Chambers, 21, has been charged with 5 counts of the same charge. Cassandra Chambers, age 56, is facing one count of Failure to Report Suspected Child Abuse, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The investigation was sparked by a parent's complaint back in 2022 after noticing injuries on her child's face.
The daycare in question, located on East Ponce De Leon Avenue, became the focus of scrutiny when evidence of inappropriate disciplinary practices surfaced. Specifically, Alexis Swain stands accused of inflicting "cruel and excessive mental or physical pain" on nine children, detailed in warrants that claim acts of striking a child with an open hand, and slamming another into a wooden chair. Additionally, Cassandra Chambers allegedly reviewed security footage showing physical altercations but failed to report these incidents to the authorities.
The case regarding a fourth defendant, 78-year-old Cherretta Hull, is still awaiting proceedings. She has been charged with 19 counts of Cruelty to Children in the First Degree. Hull's accusations include hitting a child in the face and using a baby bottle as a weapon against another. Her warrants describe acts that were done "maliciously," causing "cruel and excessive mental or physical pain," to seven children.
