A 42-year-old Hatboro man is behind bars after police say he physically assaulted a child in his care at the local KinderCare, a place parents usually count on for peace of mind, not police reports. Authorities identified the suspect as Thomas Coleman, who is being held on $25,000 bail. The incident was first reported to Hatboro police on March 25.
Arrest and charges
Hatboro police say they received a complaint on March 25 that Coleman physically assaulted a child at the KinderCare located at 378 S Warminster Rd, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. After an investigation, officers arrested and arraigned Coleman on Thursday. Court records cited in the report show he faces a felony count of endangering the welfare of a child and a simple assault charge, with his next court date set for next Thursday.
What the charges mean
Endangering the welfare of a child is defined in Title 18, Section 4304 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and applies when someone supervising a child violates a duty of care. Under that statute, prosecutors can seek a third-degree felony if the alleged conduct created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Reporting and oversight
Anyone worried about a child’s safety can contact Pennsylvania’s ChildLine hotline at 1-800-932-0313 or file a report online, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Licensing or safety complaints about a daycare’s operations are handled separately by the state’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning.
What’s next
Coleman remains in custody with bail set and is due back in court next Thursday, when judges and prosecutors will consider pretrial matters and scheduling, according to court records reported by NBC10 Philadelphia. The charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
