On Tuesday in north Bexar County, sheriff’s deputies arrested a daycare worker after interior surveillance video appeared to show her yanking a child by the arm, causing the child to hit their head on classroom furniture. Authorities identified the employee as 50-year-old Veronica Jimenez and charged her with injury to a child, reckless bodily injury, a state jail felony under Texas law. The child was medically evaluated, and the daycare’s management fired Jimenez after reviewing the footage.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said deputies reviewed surveillance video from inside the classroom that showed Jimenez forcefully grabbing the child, which led to the child falling and striking their head, according to KSAT. Investigators told the station they interviewed Jimenez and found her explanation of what happened did not match what was captured on the video. Deputies said the child was examined for a possible head injury, and that they responded to a licensed daycare in north Bexar County.
Booking records show Jimenez was taken to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center on the injury to a child charge, and those same records indicate she was released later that day, KENS5 reported. The station also noted that daycare management terminated Jimenez after seeing the video and notifying law enforcement. Officials have not publicly released the name of the daycare.
What the charge means
Texas law defines “injury to a child” in Penal Code section 22.04, which covers acts or failures to act that cause bodily injury to a child 14 or younger, according to Justia. When prosecutors allege reckless conduct that results in bodily injury, the offense can be pursued as a state jail felony. Under Texas law, a state jail felony carries between 180 days and two years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000, per Justia. Whether prosecutors move forward on that theory will depend on medical records, witness statements, and the findings in the investigative file.
Daycare response and oversight
Leadership at the daycare told investigators they fired Jimenez after watching the surveillance video and contacting law enforcement, KSAT reported. Licensed child care operations in Texas must follow minimum standards set by state regulators, and complaints or suspected abuse can trigger investigations by both law enforcement and child care licensing staff. The state’s child care licensing contact materials explain how officials review complaints and conduct inspections, and parents with licensing questions can find more information through Texas Health and Human Services.
What parents should do
Parents concerned about a daycare’s practices can ask the facility for incident reports and, when available, copies of relevant video. They can also report worries directly to the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or through the online portal at Texas Abuse Hotline. This story will be updated as officials release additional details.
