A Georgia magistrate judge has been the target of threats after she granted bail to a daycare worker charged with allegedly battering a one-year-old boy, authorities said.
Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Rose-Emmons released Yvette Thurston, 54, of Bainbridge, on a $44,000 bond on Aug. 16. Thurston is charged with first-degree aggravated battery and three counts of first-degree child abuse for injuries prosecutors say were inflicted on a boy identified in court filings as Clay Weeks following his first day at Little Blessings Child Care.
The boy's father, Cory Weeks, wrote on Facebook that surveillance footage reviewed by the family showed the assault and that his son was left with a black eye and deep scratches on his face and neck. Clay and his family sought emergency medical care after the parents discovered the injuries, Weeks said. The father wrote that the injuries were so severe he suspected the conduct had occurred previously.
Thurston was arrested on Aug. 11. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) placed the Little Blessings center under an emergency 21-day closure, and DECAL said Thurston has been terminated from her position. The agency said it is investigating the matter.
Joe Mulholland, the district attorney for the county, issued a public statement condemning threats sent to Rose-Emmons after the bond hearing and warning that his office will prosecute anyone who sends menaces to judges or their families. "The rule of law is the foundation of our community," Mulholland wrote. "Our judges deserve to perform their duties without fear for their safety. You may not like their decisions, but you don't have the right to threaten them or their families."
Court records show Thurston faces the aggravated battery and child abuse counts in connection with the injuries, which the family and prosecutors say occurred after Clay's first day at the daycare. The child's parents say another child initially was blamed for the injuries until the family's review of surveillance footage, which they say contradicted the daycare's account.
The case has drawn local outrage and prompted warnings from the students' family to other parents to question explanations from childcare providers. Cory Weeks wrote that parents should not hesitate to ask questions about how injuries occurred and to be skeptical of reassurances and staged "happy" photos when concerns arise.
Prosecutors have not released additional details about the surveillance footage or the investigation beyond the charges, and no trial date has been announced. The DECAL investigation will determine whether additional state action against the facility is warranted under Georgia licensing rules.
The release of a defendant on bond is a routine part of the criminal justice process in Georgia, where magistrate judges have authority to set bond amounts in many misdemeanor and felony cases pending indictment. Prosecutors said they will continue to pursue the child abuse and aggravated battery charges against Thurston while also urging the public not to respond to court rulings with threats.
The matter remains under active investigation by DECAL and county law enforcement. Court filings and statements from the district attorney’s office indicate that the prosecution is ongoing; beyond the bonds and the emergency closure of the daycare, officials have not provided a timetable for next court appearances or for DECAL’s administrative findings.