Three Grand Junction childcare employees face child abuse charges

Three employees at the Centro de la Familia childcare facility in Grand Junction, Colorado, were arrested following allegations of child abuse. Ashlee Davis was charged with misdemeanor child abuse after reportedly using her weight to restrain an 18-month-old child, an incident that was partially captured on video and reported to Child Protective Services. Two other staff members, Jennifer Bertoch and Dana Bocconcelli, were charged with child abuse, complicity, and failure to report the abuse, as they allegedly did not fulfill their legal duty as mandatory reporters and attempted to cover up the incident. All three women are no longer in jail and have upcoming court appearances related to the case. The district attorney's office expressed public safety concerns regarding the bond proceedings for Davis. The situation has raised concerns among parents and underscores the importance of mandatory reporting laws in childcare settings.