Mother Urges Background Checks When Selecting Child Care

The mother of a 14-month-old girl who was the alleged victim of a videotaped beating and molestation made a plea to parents Tuesday to be more vigilant about background checks when considering day-care providers for their children.

“Home day-cares are very safe,” said the woman, who spoke on the condition that she not be identified. “You’ve just got to make sure which ones are safe.”

The abuse came to light in May, when the 20-year-old woman’s baby sitter, Lisa Leonard, videotaped the baby to determine how the toddler was getting bruised. The mother suspected that her child was falling when attempting to climb out of her playpen, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Michelle Clesceri.

But the videotape showed the baby sitter’s husband, Richard Leonard, 29, abusing and molesting the child, Clesceri said. The baby sitter turned the tape over to authorities.

Clesceri added that an unknown number of other children were also under Lisa Leonard’s care and that an investigation is underway to determine if any others were victimized.

Richard Leonard has pleaded not guilty and is being held in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail. He could face life in prison if convicted.

The mother said she found her baby sitter through an advertisement and was wrongly led to believe that the Leonards were licensed to operate a day-care facility.

Dana Williamson, licensing program supervisor for the State Department of Social Services, said that day-care providers are required by law to include their license numbers in advertisements.

Williamson added that parents searching for county child-care facilities can call (714) KID-CARE for help. Parents can also check the background of their day-care facilities by calling (714) 703-2800.