Ocala Daycare Worker Faces Multiple Child Abuse Charges

Karla L. Penalverty-Gonzalez, a 33-year-old employee at All Star Learning Academy in Ocala, Florida, was arrested on eight counts of child abuse and one count of resisting an officer after allegedly abusing six infants aged 4 to 9 months between March and July 2025. The allegations include rough handling, forced feeding, violent shaking, near suffocation, and shoving a child to the floor, with at least one incident recorded on video by another employee. Reports of her behavior were initially made to daycare supervisors but were not addressed promptly, allowing the abuse to continue for months. The Department of Children and Families has mandated remedial training for the daycare staff as a result. Ocala police are continuing to investigate the management’s response and are asking anyone with information to contact authorities. The case highlights ongoing concerns about internal reporting practices and child safety in daycare settings.