KING, N.C. — A North Carolina woman who worked as a part-time helper at a church preschool is charged with assault and child abuse after authorities said she repeatedly pinched three 1-year-olds.
Elizabeth Renee Mills, 19, was arrested by King police one week ago, the Winston-Salem Journal reports. Arrest warrants say Mills is charged with three counts of misdemeanor assault on a child under 12 and three counts of misdemeanor child abuse. Court records show Mills has been released from custody on her written promise to appear in court on Nov. 17.
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According to warrants, Mills pinched two girls and a boy on their torsos and arms, causing bruises and sores. The warrants said the offenses occurred from Sept. 7 to Oct. 8, and the victim ranged in age from 1 year, 8 months to 1 year, 11 months.
Mills was fired as soon as church officials learned about the allegations against her, said Sid Main, principal of Calvary Christian School. The preschool’s security-camera footage showed the children being assaulted, Main said.
King police are still investigating the matter, police Capt. Ian Tedder said.
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