Lauren Christine Pollard of Bartlett posted a $10,000 bond last Thursday in a child abuse case. According to other media reports, the case stems from allegations in March that she bruised a child’s face during potty training.
Pollard, 26, worked at the Sonshine Learning Center, associated with Christ Church in Arlington. She was charged on March 21 with child abuse/neglect of a child under eight years old with injury, a Class D felony, and with child abuse/neglect of a child under six years old, a Class E felony.
A Class D felony is punishable by two to 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000. A Class E felony is punishable by one to six years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $3,000.
A Department of Children’s Services spokesman confirmed that both the Department of Human Services and DCS have investigated the case. DCS investigates allegations of child abuse. DHS works with childcare center licensing, and a DHS spokesman said her office investigated the facility for possible licensure violations and placed Pollard under a safety plan that excluded her from being at the center during the investigation.
On Monday, a spokesman for the child care center would not confirm or deny whether Pollard is still employed at the center but did say that Pollard was not present.
