DELEWARE COUNTY — A former day care owner was sentenced to 42 years in prison after she plead guilty to several counts of endangering children, our news partners at WBNS reported.
Rhonda Coomes, 53, appeared in Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on Monday. A grand jury indicted Coomes in April of 2024 on 14 counts of child endangerment and three counts of kidnapping. The kidnapping charges were dropped.
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Coomes is accused of harming a child by striking her multiple times in the face and nose area with the palm of her hand, our news partners at WBNS reported. She also hit the child with a hard plastic diaper wipe container, the complaint states.
The 10-month-old victim also endured physical harm when she was allegedly tossed landing on her back into a pack-and-play, WBNS reported. Court documents say the child had a black eye at the end of the day.
Parents spoke in court Monday, stating that their children suffered injuries while under Coomes’ care, WBNS says.
Coomes also spoke at court.
“I never meant to do any of this. I am truly sorry,” Coomes said.
Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge James Schuck said that each charge carried a 36-month prison sentence. Coomes will serve each charge consecutively, totaling 42 years, according to WBNS.
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