Lawrence School child abuse; directors failed to prevent abuse, sentenced
Lawrence School child abuse; 2 directors sentenced
Prosecutors say two women failed to prevent child abuse when they were directors at the Lawrence School Daycare in Waukesha. Testimony at Thursday's sentencing left the victims? parents in tears.
WAUKESHA, Wis. - Prosecutors say two women failed to prevent child abuse when they were directors at the Lawrence School Daycare in Waukesha.
Testimony and sentencing
What we know:
Testimony at Thursday's sentencing left the victims’ parents in tears.
Two supervisors who worked at the now-closed Lawrence School in Waukesha now admit they should have done something to help children being abused in their day care.
The Lawrence School
"I never wanted this to happen. I wish I could take it all back," said Annmarie Fraker.
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Lawrence School child abuse trial, teacher guilty on 4 of 5 counts
A Waukesha County jury found Heather Miller, a former teacher at The Lawrence School, guilty on four of five counts in a child abuse case from 2022.
Annemarie Fraker initially lied to police when asked if employee Heather Miller was abusing children. She testified for the state in Miller’s trial last week, helping prosecutors secure a conviction.
"We ask you take into account the role she played in helping bring the truth to light."
Parents were grateful Fraker finally told the truth. Miller abused three one-year-olds.
Annemarie Fraker
Prosecutors say she threw one across her classroom and another child struggled to breathe as Miller held her down.
"There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about the children involved," said Kathryn Ascher.
Prosecutors say Kathryn Ascher could have stopped abuse that spanned months.
Kathryn Ascher
Multiple witnesses reported Miller’s actions to Ascher.
"You completely failed in this case to protect these children," said Judge David Maas.
The judge sentenced Fraker to one year probation.
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He sentenced Ascher to eight months in prison and four months of electronic monitoring along with two years' probation.
She was taken into custody immediately.
"Kathryn’s actions are despicable – to allow a known child abuser to stay employed working with innocent and vulnerable one-year-olds."
The woman who abused the children – Heather Miller – will be sentenced in November. She faces more than two decades in prison.
The Source: FOX6 was in court for the sentencings. FOX6 has previously reported on the child abuse at Lawrence School.