UPDATE: Hearing continued, parents defend daycare

A Jefferson City daycare center accused of taping an infant's mouth shut to keep it from crying will likely remain closed through at least the middle of October.

Thursday, at the initial Department of Human Services hearing at the DHS office in Dandridge, parents defended Noah's Ark nursery.

At that hearing, the nursery was granted a continuance. Meaning, they'll remain suspended but have more time to prepare their case and find legal counsel.

Kim Trentham, the nursery's owner/operator says she's working on finding an attorney and already has one in mind to defend her center.

"As owner/operator of Noah's Ark preschool I'm broken hearted and I'm devastated by this week's event," she said.

While the hearing provided few new details about what the state alleges happened, the mother of the infant involved is shedding light on a side of the daycare that hasn't been seen.

Her viewpoint on the ordeal might surprise some parents.

"It wasn't the daycare's fault. I mean, it was just the person who did it. It wasn't the whole daycare," Nicole Toner, the mother of the 4 month old infant allegedly involved said.

Toner says she's not sure what should happen if her son, DeShuan, had his mouth taped shut.

The boy seemed fine at the hearing Thursday, giggling outside the DHS office. His mom says she'll let it all go.

"I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and trying to move on with it," she said.

Other parents are sticking up for the daycare as well.

"I trust Kim, I trust her judgment. I know she'd always make the right decisions as far as my child was concerned," Wendy Webb, a parent

Webb and another mother, Christina Raymond say they've never had any problems. They hope Noah's Ark nursery is back afloat--- with their 2 kids inside very soon.

"One thing my daughter does everyday when she leaves, she gives everybody a hug. I know she is not in any harms way if she does that," Raymond said.

DHS has said they're seeking to remove the center's license.

There was no update on any possible criminal action against the two caretakers in the case.

Previous from 9/27/07 at 5:30pm:

The suspension hearing for a Jefferson City daycare accused of taping pacifiers in children's mouths has been postponed.

At the hearing Thursday, the owners of Noah's Ark Nursery School had not yet retained an attorney, so the administrative law judge continued the case.

The suspension remains in place until the next hearing; that date has not yet been set.

PREVIOUS:Daycare suspended for taping pacifiers in babies' mouths

A Jefferson City daycare has been shut down by the state. The Department of Human Services responded to an anonymous complaint that a worker at Noah's Ark Nursery School on Russell Avenue taped a baby's mouth shut.

A DHS spokesperson says they found a four-month-old boy in a darkened room with a pacifier taped in his mouth by two pieces of two-inch clear packing tape.

According to DHS reports, one worker, Angela Gentry told officials it had happened before.

A spokesperson for the agency tells 10News two caretakers are involved with the investigation, Gentry and Kimberly Ball. Each allegedly claimed the other was responsible for the incident.

For one mother in Jefferson City, she says she's angry, but not surprised by the suspension.

"It's just one thing after another and it needs to be stopped, it really does," said Shondra, who asked us not to use her full name for this story.

In May, she enrolled her daughter at the nursery for one day. She believes her 11-month-old daughter was basically neglected during her time there.

The chart that's supposed to be used to track diaper changes and feeding didn't add up with the supplies that were left over at the end of the day.

"They said they'd changed her about five times. Only two diapers were gone. For an 11 month old, she goes through a lot of diapers in a day," Shondra said.

She filed a complaint with the DHS tipline telling them about her suspicions. In her specific case, DHS did not find cause for action.

This week, DHS did find cause for action however. On Wednesday the state served the facility with a suspension order. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in the DHS Dandridge office.

The agency says they plan to ask a judge to permanently take away the center's license.

"I think the daycare should be gone. I think without a doubt they should be prosecuted. I want to see them pay for what they've done," Shondra said.

The daycare is licensed for up to 24 children from six weeks to five years old. It has been in business since 1993.

The Department of Human Services Website gives Noah's Ark three stars in the categories of Director Qualifications, Professional Development, Compliance History, Parent/Family Involvement, Ratio and Group Size, Staff Compensation, and Program Assessment, resulting in an overall rating of three stars.

That is the highest rating the department gives. You can find more information about the evaluations here.

CLICK HERE to read the suspension order against the daycare.

The DHS noted that the investigation started due to an anonymous complaint and encourages parents with concerns to call their Childcare Complaint Hotline at 1-800-462-8261.