Livingston Daycare Operator to Jail in Abuse Case

A Livingston County day care owner has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years probation for child abuse.

Twenty-eight-year-old Heather Deaton pleaded guilty last month to two counts of fourth-degree child abuse and no contest to a third count. She was charged with punishing children by encouraging them to hit each other at the Kinder Cuddle Care in Brighton.

The charge came after a mother hid a tape recorder in her daughter's backpack. The recorder captured Deaton ordering a girl to hit another child in the face 20 times.

Deaton also was ordered to pay a fine and to stay away from children younger than 13. She can't apply for a day care license or care for children during her probationary period.

She had faced up to one year in jail.