The defendant, who worked as a “toddler class leader at the daycare,” was responsible for toddlers aged one year to one year and eight months. During her employment, on various occasions over approximately one week, the defendant assaulted five toddlers at the daycare and behaved aggressively towards them. The defendant aggressively lifted the toddlers and placed them in cribs and chairs, pushed them aggressively, slammed them forcefully to the floor, hit them with her hands, and shook the cribs to put them to sleep, causing their heads to sway from side to side.
The defendant confessed as part of a plea agreement and was convicted of five separate charges of aggravated assault.
During the sentencing arguments, Adv. Adi Yosefi from the Central District Attorney’s Office requested that the defendant be sentenced to 21 months of actual imprisonment, emphasizing the severity of the defendant’s actions and the increase in violent incidents in daycare centers by caregivers in recent years.
The court sentenced the defendant, as stated, to 15 months of actual imprisonment, a suspended sentence, and compensation to the victims totaling 16,000 NIS.
In the verdict, the court noted that the phenomenon of violence that has spread in Israeli society crosses borders, sectors, and genders, and requires a general mobilization of systems, starting with the legislator, through law enforcement agencies, and ending with the courts. “The defendant’s actions are evil, difficult, and ugly,” the court ruled. “Through her behavior, the defendant violated the toddlers’ right to protection of their safety, physical and mental health, and peace of mind.”
During the trial and at the prosecution’s request, the defendant was prohibited from engaging in the supervision and care of helpless minors.
The prosecution will continue to act with determination to prosecute anyone who decides to harm innocent young children.
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