A Georgia magistrate judge has been the target of threats after she granted bail to a daycare worker charged with battering a one-year-old boy, officials said.
Chief Magistrate Ann Marie Rose-Emmons released Yvette Thurston, 54, of Bainbridge, on a $44,000 bond on Aug. 16 after Thurston was arrested on Aug. 11 in connection with injuries sustained by one-year-old Clay Weeks following his first day at Little Blessings Child Care, according to court records and statements from local authorities.
Thurston faces charges that include first-degree aggravated battery and three counts of first-degree child abuse, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and local prosecutors said. Authorities allege the child suffered a black eye and deep scratches to his face and neck and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
District Attorney Joe Mulholland issued a statement in the days after Thurston's release condemning threats directed at the magistrate and warning that his office would prosecute anyone who sent menacing communications. "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."
The infant's father, Cory Weeks, said in a social media post that initial explanations from the daycare suggested another child had caused the injuries with a plastic toy. Weeks said he watched surveillance footage that showed a different account of what occurred. "Nothing we saw was for the faint-hearted, especially happening to such an innocent soul," he wrote. Weeks said he and his wife continue to contend with the effects of the incident and have warned other parents to question explanations for injuries received while children are in care.
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) placed the Little Blessings Child Care center under an emergency 21-day closure and said Thurston has been terminated from her position while the agency conducts an investigation into the allegations. The agency did not release findings as of the court appearance that followed the arrest.
Local law enforcement and prosecutors said the investigation remains active. Prosecutors must still present evidence to a grand jury or file formal indictments in the case, and as with all criminal matters the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The controversy over the bail decision drew attention from residents in the Bainbridge area and prompted online postings urging legal authorities to take action. Mulholland's statement made clear his office would seek to protect judicial officers from harassment while continuing to pursue criminal charges against the defendant.
Thurston's arraignment and any upcoming hearings will determine how the case proceeds through the courts. State child-care licensing officials and investigators are continuing their review of records and video related to the infant's enrollment and the events at the center.
Clay's parents said his three-year-old brother also attended the same daycare. The family has not provided additional medical updates beyond confirming the child's hospitalization and care following the incident.
The situation has highlighted scrutiny of oversight of daycare providers in Georgia and renewed calls from some parents for closer review of how facilities respond to injuries. DECAL officials said their emergency action and the criminal investigation are separate processes that each follow state procedures for protecting children and enforcing licensing standards.
As the criminal case advances, prosecutors and licensing officials said they will continue to coordinate with law enforcement to determine whether additional charges or administrative actions are warranted based on their findings.