A Colorado day care owner was arrested after police said they discovered 26 preschoolers hidden behind a fake wall in the basement.
Carla Faith, 58, was arrested for reckless child abuse without injury and attempt to influence a public servant. Other employees, Katelynne Nelson, 31, Christina Swauger, 35, and 24-year-old Valerie Fresquez, were arrested as well.
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Police in Colorado Springs Play visited Play Mountain Place after hearing reports of overcrowding at the facility that was only authorized to take care of six children.
When police arrived, Faith told them that there were no children there because they were at a park. When one of the deputies noticed backpacks from the children, she allegedly said that she was volunteering to clean them for a soccer team.
Faith initially claimed there was no basement, though an officer said they heard music and crying and followed the noise to an unfinished basement with a fake wall. Authorities said that many of the children, all under the age of two, were dehydrated and many were sitting in dirty diapers. Two adults were also allegedly found behind the fake wall.
The license for the facility has been suspended by the state and two other day care centers run by Faith were forced to close.
She posted $3,000 bond and is expected in court next month.
