A Florida mother was sentenced to probation for punching a 10-year-old girl in the face because she thought the child was holding up a single-occupant restroom at a daycare that she wanted her daughter to use, according to court records.
Latoya Gaines, 48, of Panama City, pleaded no contest on July 17 to child abuse and was sentenced to 24 months of probation, court records show.
A Bay County judge also ordered Gaines to perform 100 hours of public service work and undergo drug, alcohol and mental health counseling.
According to her arrest affidavit, Gaines arrived at the Bay County daycare facility on April 24 to pick up her 5-year-old daughter and another child in her care when she “became involved in an altercation with [the victim] regarding the use of a single-occupant restroom.”
Gaines “demanded” that the victim leave the restroom “so Gaines could use it with her child,” per the affidavit.
“[The victim] requested Gaines wait her turn, at which point the altercation escalated,” the document said.
Police say Gaines “intentionally struck” the 10-year-old girl in the face with a closed fist, causing “visible bruising” around the child’s eye. Gaines then left the facility on foot with her two daughters.
Witnesses at the daycare “corroborated the reported incident” after the victim’s mother came forward to report it, the affidavit states.
Officers went to Gaines’ residence to try to make contact with her, but she was not home. Police reached Gaines by phone, and she admitted to being involved in the “altercation inside the daycare,” according to the document.
“[The victim’s mother] advised she wished to pursue charges,” the affidavit said.
A Facebook account under the name Latoya Gaines, from Panama City, posted on April 29 that Gaines was innocent and being falsely accused.
“Everyone in this lil city where everyone knows everyone buisness [sic]….Did anyone stop & think about what was said & thought this is not the Latoya Gaines I know,” the account wrote in all caps. “Because if you know me you would know without a doubt I did not do this…. I’m sure their [sic] are some people that are gonna say negative stuff cause that’s what sone [sic] people would think but like I’ve I said if you know me then you would say to yourself this is not true It’s a bold face Lie.”
Court records show Gaines began her probation on July 21.