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Investigators ask judge to shut Just For Kids day care

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune
and JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 26, 2009

Updated: 06/26/2009 07:32 pm

The woman who runs a troubled Hillsborough County day care center has been arrested on child abuse charges, and the center has had its license yanked. Yet Just For Kids remains open.

Child protective investigators with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office say enough is enough.

Today, they filed a motion for a temporary injunction to keep Dorothy Sampson-Monroe and the day care center from caring for children.

"Maybe in the end she'll be cleared of these abuse charges," said Nick Cox, regional director for the Department of Children & Families. "Until we know that for sure, I'm not willing to risk these children's safety, and neither is the [sheriff], obviously."

Last week, two days after Sampson-Monroe was charged with four counts of child abuse, investigators say two things happened: The center was told that its license was revoked, and there was another report of physical abuse to a child. Details weren't immediately available on the most recent abuse allegation.

The day care's license was declared void because the woman listed as the owner on the license application said she is not involved with the business. But Sampson-Monroe has continued to care for children in the building, telling officials she is not charging for the service.

Sampson-Monroe and Just For Kids Center have repeatedly violated county ordinances, state statutes and state administrative codes, resulting in actual and threatened harm to children, according to the motion.

"Defendants have been notified in writing … that they are to cease and desist from providing child care without a license," the motion states. "However, the facility has remained open and even had another report of institutional child abuse initiated since their child care license was revoked."

On Oct. 29, the county's child care licensing office received an application for a license from Just For Kids Centers. Two days later, the licensing office served Sampson-Monroe a cease and desist order not to operate Just For Kids without a license. She refused to sign the cease and desist order, investigators say.

The person who signed the initial request for a license later asked for her name to be removed from paperwork associated with Just For Kids. Another person, Carol Maultsby, requested a license for Just For Kids on Nov. 26.

The center received a license allowing it to operate for 2009. That license was later made a provisional one between Jan. 26 and July 26 after the licensing board learned fire drills hadn't been conducted in January and the director's credentials were expired.

Last week, Maultsby asked for her name to be removed from paperwork affiliated with the center because she hadn't ever been involved with Just For Kids. As a result, licensing staffers told Just For Kids on June 19 that the center's license was revoked and that the center needed to close.

Sampson-Monroe was sent letters on June 19 and on Tuesday informing her that she needed to cease and desist from operating the center. Law enforcement hand delivered her a third cease and desist letter Thursday.

The letters were ignored, and the center has cared for more than five children each day this week, investigators say.

According to the motion, prior issues with the center include: Noncompliance with screening requirements by failing to give proof that staffers had undergone mandatory criminal history checks.

Noncompliance with adequate supervision, after inspectors found four children sleeping in a room with no staffers present.

Noncompliance by allowing children to be in an 88-degree room and by letting infants be in a 91-degree room last month

The motion says Tampa police have been called to the center to respond to:

An April 8 allegation of physical abuse to a 1-year-old child. At this point, no one has been charged following that allegation, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said.

An April 9 report of a lack of supervision of children.

An April 24 allegation of aggravated battery on a pregnant woman – after a Just for Kids staffer allegedly attacked the mother of a child attending the center.

A June 8 disturbance involving a recently fired Just For Kids staffer who refused to leave.

The June 17 allegation of abuse to four children – in which Sampson-Monroe was arrested.

The June 19 report of physical abuse to a child.

The embattled center on East Busch Boulevard is allowed to continue business because it is not charging parents, officials said this week. But the motion says the county's licensing staffers have learned at least one parent has paid for child care.

Day-care licensing program spokesman Michael Bross said investigators on some days have counted as few as six children at the center; some days as many as 10.

Sampson-Monroe, 47, was accused last week of inappropriately disciplining four children between 3 and 5 at the center. In 2005, she was arrested, but ultimately not prosecuted, on suspicion of aggravated child abuse. She also was arrested this month on a driving under the influence charge.

Sampson-Monroe could not be reached for comment this morning.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.

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